THECUBAREVIEW 29 



Goi^D, Chrome, and Asphalt 



Although gold has been found in various parts of Cuba, especially in the Provinces 

 of Santa Clara and Oriente, only the Holguin Exploration Co. has of late years actively 

 engaged in its extraction from the mines of "Aguas Claras" at Holguin, Oriente. The 

 ore extracted yields about an ounce to the ton and monthly ore production is calculated 

 at some 6C0 tons. During 1908 no gold was mined, but in 1909 the production amounted 

 to 759 tons of ore, while in 1910, there were 7,369 tons mined, and in 1911, 1,151 tons. 

 During 1912 to 1916 no gold ore was mined, but in 1917 some 2,800 tons were mined, 

 and in 1919 about 2,360 tons. The total quantity of gold ore extracted during the 12 

 years from 1908 to 1919, was 14,439 tons, of which 582 tons were exported. 



The mining of chrome in Oriente was undertaken in 1918 by the Spanish-American 

 Iron Co., which operated the mine "Caledonia," and produced 8,058 tons, of which 

 6,450 tons were exported during the year. The "Compania Minera de Moa," in Oriente, 

 extracted 2,500 tons of chrome from the old mining concession "Cromita," but none 

 was exported. It is calculated that in this mine and the two other old claims, "Narciso" 

 and "Cayaguan," the company has in sight some 130,000 to 150,000 tons of ore, with 

 a richness averaging 36 per cent of oxide of chrome, and considerable iron and traces 

 of nickel. In Matanzas various deposits of chrome have been opened, from which it 

 is estimated some 1,050 tons of ore have been mined. 



Of the numerous deposits of asphalt located up to 1919, especially in the Provinces 

 of Pinar del Rio, Habana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara, only a few have been operated 

 for any length of time. In Pinar del Rio the mines at Mariel were worked during 

 the years 1909 to 1912, and according to unofficial records a total of 65,613 tons of 

 asphalt was extracted, of which 63,538 tons were exported. Asphalt mines in Santa Clara 

 and Camaguey have also been operated on a small scale and the asphalt shipped through 

 the port of Caibarien. 



Forest Products 



Cedar and mahogany are the principal woods exported from Cuba. There were 

 23,360,980 cubic feet of logs and lumber valued at $1,219,794 exported in 1914. In 

 1917, exports of logs and lumber amounted to 5,697,420 cubic feet at a value of $564,300, 

 as compared with exports of 12,812,000 cubic feet of various woods valued at only 

 $362,806 in 1918 and 963,481 cubic feet valued at $77,085 in 1919. There were 1,028,034 

 quintals (100 kilos or 220 pounds per quintal) of vegetable fibers valued at $53,834 

 produced in 1914, while in 1919 the output was 814,663 quintals valued at $236,634. 

 In the six years 1914-19, a total of 3,041,777 quintals valued at $394,572 were produced, 

 of which 122,443 quintals valued at $244,068 were exported. 



Public and Private Construction Work 



Public construction works now being carried out or completed since 1920 are of 

 the most limited description, owing to economic conditions in Cuba. Some road repair- 

 ing and construction has been done, and a certain amount of similar work is either 

 in process of completion or under contract. Until the financial affairs of the Repubhc 

 are once more stabilized nothing of importance can be undertaken. 



Private building operations begun on an important scale during the period of 

 prosperity and inflation, were almost entirely stopped by the financial crisis of 1920, and 

 no large development or construction work is being done at present, with the exception 

 of two docks at Habana, begun in 1921 and 1922, respectively, and the Hershey Co.'s 

 railroad between Matanzas and Habana, which was opened to traffic over the whole 

 line on October 1, 1922. This road will form an important addition to the lines of 

 communication between Habana and Matanzas, opening up another section of country 

 en route. During 1922, however, there has been an increased activity in small private 

 building, due to a lack of confidence in the banks on the part of investors and a con- 

 sequent diversion of their funds to real estate. 



In Habana especially there is considerable building of low and medium cost 



