16 THE CUBA REVIEW 



Cuban Trade and Economic Review for 1921 



By Consul John R. Putnam, Habana, September i, ig22 



The Republic of Cuba, comprising the island of Cuba and a number of adjacent 

 islands, has a total area of 44,164 square miles, of w!-ich 41,634 square miles are 

 represented by the island of Cuba, 1,180 by the Isle of Pines, and 2,350 by the other 

 islands. The island of Cuba has a coast line of about 2,200 miles and is 730 miles 

 long. Its greatest width is 130 miles and it is 25 miles in width at the narrowest point. 



Population and Principal Cities 



The Republic has a population of 2,?8Q,004, of whom 1,816,017 are native whites, 

 2 72,030 foreign-born wl ites, principally of Spanish descent, and 800,957 colored. The 

 principal cities are: Habana, population, including Marianao and Regla, 408,696; 

 Santiago de Cuba, 62,083; Camagiiey, 41,909; Matanzas, 41,574; Cienfuegos, 37,241; 

 Cardenas, 27,477 Sancti-Spiritus, 23,572; Manzanillo, 22,331; and Santa Clara, 21,694. 

 In 1920 there were about 1,360 miles of public highways. 



There were 2,740 miles of railways in the Republic in 1919, exclusive of privately 

 owned lines on sugar estates and not open for public service. 



The climate is subtropical, the temperature ranging between 66 and 87, and 

 averaging 77° F. The maximum rainfall is 65.4 inches and the minimum 35.5 inches. 



Language, Currency, Exchange, Postage 



While English is spoken by a large number of persons engaged in business, and 

 may be employed in addressing the majority of Cuban firms, it is believed that better 

 results will be obtained if Spanish, the language of the country, is used. 



The currency of Cuba is based on the peso, which has the same value as the 

 American dollar, and currency of the United States is legal tender in Cuba. There 

 are no Cuban bank notes, those of the United States being the only ones in circulation. 

 Exchange is favorable for the sale of American drafts and checks, which are generally 

 accepted at par by the banks. In selling drafts on the United States a charge is made, 

 which fluctuates, amounting at times to over one-half of 1 per cent. The usual American 

 domestic postage rates apply to correspondence for Cuba. There is, however, no 

 regular parcel-post system, though packages containing books, etc., weighing not over 

 4 pounds, m.ay be sent by mail at 8 cents per pound. 



Transportation Facilities 



The nine principal ports of Cuba in the point of tonnage are Habana, Matanzas, 

 Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Cardenas, Nipe, Caibarien, Sagua la Grande, and Nuevitas. 

 Habana, WMth about half the total tonnage of Cuba entering its harbor and the center 

 of the trade of the island, is by far the most important. Of $44,400,000 collected in 

 duties for the year 1919 nearly $34,000,000 were paid at Habana. Santiago de Cuba 

 stands second in actual importance, with customs duties amounting to over $3,000,000 

 in 1919. It is the center of trade for the eastern end of the Republic. 



There is connection by rail between Habana and all parts of Cuba, and by sea with 

 all Cuban ports. In general, merchandise is imported through Habana, where the more 

 important firms have their headquarters from which they distribute throughout the 

 island. The sea connections of Habana, as well as the other ports in Cuba, are excellent 

 W'ith practically all important countries. Those with the United States include a 

 service for freight and passengers daily by ferry steamer to Key West, with through 

 rail connections to all the principal cities in the United States, as well as freight and 

 passenger lines to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, Mobile, 

 Galveston, Tampa, San Francisco, etc. Many other steamers call at Habana and the 

 smaller ports of Cuba to load and discharge cargo, and there are regular steamer 



