18 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Customs Collections of Sagua. 



' Sagiia"s customs duties for tlic eleven 

 months ending November 30th were 

 $264,056.00 in lyoy and $211,651.00 in the 

 previous year, an increase of over $52,- 

 000,00. The largest gain was in Septeni 

 l)er, that month's receipts for 1909 show- 

 ing an increase over 1908 of over 

 $8,000.00. 



Cart drivers engaged in th*- lumber 

 trade in Havana struck recently for an 

 increase of 10 per cent, in wages. 



Taxicabs have been imported for ser- 

 vice in Havana's streets. The legal fare 

 is double that of the horse-drawn coaches 

 during the daytime. This is twenty 

 cents for one or two persons anywhere 

 within the city limits, and twenty-five 

 cents for three persons. The taxicab 

 hour rate is $2.50 for two persons. 



Carts used in Santiago for carrying mer- 

 chandise through the streets of tliat city. The 

 framework and wheels are stout but simple and 

 interlaced with ropes on which the boxes and 

 barrels are placed. Quite a load is carried, as 

 the illustration shows. 



Carretas que se usan en Santiago de Cuba 

 para llevar mc-rcancias por las calles de la ciudad. 

 La armazon y las rueaas son muy fuertcs y de 

 construccion sencilla, y estan entrelazadas con 

 cuerdas, sobre las cuales se colocan los cajones 

 y barriles. Como se ve por cl grabado, pueden 

 soportar una pesada carga. 



The United States trade with Cuba 

 for 1909 shows an increase in both im- 

 ports and exports over 1908. In the 

 latter year, imports were $79,114,972 and 

 in 1909, $107,334,716. The exports in 

 1908 totalled $42,451,224 and in 1909, 

 $48,217,689. 



Mr. John B. Jackson, the newly ap- 

 pointed Minister to Cuba from the 

 United States, and Mrs. Jackson are ex- 

 pected to reach Havana late this month. 

 They are coming from Berlin by way 

 of New York. 



Republic of Cuba Revenues. 



The Republic of Cuba has issued a 

 statement of revenues to the New York 

 Stock Exchange for the past three years 

 ended June 30, 1907, 1908 and 1909, as 

 follows: 



1909. 1908. 1907. 

 Customs re- 

 ceipts $22,143,055 $24,740,594 $24,733,183 



Special ta.xes 3,627,377 3,785,380 3,987.165- 



Other revenues 2,725,180 2,687,007 2,761,97) 



Boot and Shoe Duties. 



Shoe manufacturers in the United 

 States are concerned about the recom- 

 mendation of President Gomez to the 

 Cuban Congress that the import duties 

 in boots and shoes be increased, says 

 the Washington (D. C.) Times. It was 

 learned February 3 that diploimatic rep- 

 resentations will be made to the Cuban 

 Government protesting against legisla- 

 tion along the lines indicated by the Cu- 

 lian president. 



The understanding is that an attempt 

 will be made to build up a shoe indus- 

 try in Cuba. It is pointed out that in- 

 asmuch as the United States practi- 

 cally controls the boot and shoe mar- 

 ket in Cuba an increase would be re- 

 garded as legislation directed at the 

 United States. 



The shoe trade of Cuba now amounts 

 to more than $4000.000, which is a 100 

 per cent, increase during the five-year 

 period from 1903 to IQ07, due to a 30 

 per cent preferential. 



Fred J. Rice, representative of the 

 National Shoe and Leather Association. 

 has been in conference with Senators 

 Lodge and Crane, and others who repre- 

 sent districts where shoes are manu- 

 factured. 



U. S. Boot and Shoe Exportation to Cuba. 



The distribution of American boots 

 and shoes covers a wide range of coun- 

 tries, and tropical and sub-tropical coun- 

 tries offer the largest market for this 

 class of manufactures exported from the 

 country. Cuba stands at the head of the 

 list, fully 35 per cent of the year's ex- 

 ports of boots and shoes having been 

 sent to that republic. The average ex- 

 port price in the 11 months of the cal- 

 endar year of 1909 was $1.16 per pair; to 

 other West Indies $1.05 per pair. — U. S. 

 Dept. of Commerce and Labor. 



<')n February 5th the Cuban Govern- 

 ment assured the State Department 

 through the American Charge d'AfTaires 

 at Havana that there is no intention 

 on its part to increase the duty on 

 .American shoes, as reported. 



