26 



T H E C U B A R E /' / E JV 



Habana Samples Fair 



Plans are under way for holding the 

 first of a series of annual samples fairs in 

 Habana, Cuba, from February 9 to Feb- 

 ruary 24, 1924. The promoters of the 

 idea are m communication with the Cuban 

 Department of Agriculture for the purpose 

 of securing Government recognition of the 

 fair as of oflficial character. The pro- 

 moters also give assurance that Cuban 

 railroads and various foreign steamship 

 companies will grant concessions in pas- 

 senger rates to visitors from various points 

 in Cuba and abroad. 



The purpose of this exhibition, as an- 

 nounced by its directors, is to afford an 

 opportunity to the manufacturers and 

 merchants of the world to display their 

 products in the rich buying market of 

 which Habana is the center. It is pointed 

 out that since Cuba sells mainly two 

 products, sugar and tobacco, and buys 

 almost every class of merchandise, the 

 island is essentially a consumers' market 

 and therefoie well chosen as the site of a 

 samples fair. During the season selected 

 for the fair the population of Habana is 

 regularly augmented by numerous tourists, 

 many of whom constitute potential buyers. 

 The site which is being most strongly ad- 

 vocated for the exhibition comprises an 

 area of about 25,000 square meters located 

 in the neighborhood of the President's pal- 

 ace in Habana. 



Announced rates to be charged exhibit- 

 ors range from $12 per square meter up- 

 ward (minimum space, 6 square meters), 

 according to the class of accommodations 

 chosen by the exhibitor. Exhibits will be 

 classified under 24 general heads so that 

 practically every kind of product mxay be 

 included. Full details concerning the Ha- 

 bana Samples Fair may be obtained by ad- 

 dressing: "Oficina Nacional de Relaciones 

 Comerciales Internacionales, Edificio Banco 

 Nacional de Cuba 254, Habana. Cuba. 

 (Assistant Trade Commissioner C. A. 

 Livengood, Habana.) 



Machinery Exports 



Exports of sugar machinery from the 

 United States to Cuba for the fiscal year 

 ended June 30, 1923, were valued at S3,- 

 711,307 according to figures published by 

 the Department of Commerce. The value 

 for the preceding twelve months was S4,- 

 392,269. Shipments during the recent 

 fiscal year comprised 89 cane and bagasse 

 conveyors, valued at $48,303; 1,320 cane 

 mills, worth $132,510; 124 centrifugals, 

 $73,192; and 27,445,152 pounds of other 

 sugar mill machinery, valued at $3,457,802. 



During the month of July, 1923, the last 

 month for which figures are available, the 

 exports included 3 conveyors, 113 mills, 2 

 centrifugals, and 3.351,567 pounds of other 

 machinery, making a total value of $431,- 

 561. The totals for the seven months 

 ended July 31, 1923, were 28 conveyors, 

 847 mills. 36 centrifugals, and 10,374,625 

 pounds of other machinery, the total val- 

 ued at $1,522,967, and for the seven 

 months ended July 31, 1922, 36 conveyors, 

 553 mills, c>2> centrifugals, and 10,010,138 

 pounds of other machinery, the total val- 

 ued at $1,543,890. 



Dr. Acosta 



Dr. Jose R. Acosta, formerly Assistant 

 Secretary of the Treasury, has been ap- 

 pointed Judge of the Higher Court of 

 Havana. 



Cedar Substitute 



Cigar boxes made of cedar have always 

 been regarded by manufacturers as neces- 

 sary to produce the best grade of cigars, 

 but the growing shortage of this material 

 and its increasing cost have forced many 

 of them to use substitutes which lack the 

 quality of fragrance which makes the cedar 

 desirable. The problem has been to find 

 a cheaper wood that could be used and so 

 treated that it would give the cedar aroma 

 to cigars. 



The United States Department of Agri- 

 culture has been at work on this problem 

 and has tried to add the quality possessed 

 by the cedar to more or less odorless 

 woods such as poplar, tupelo gum and red- 

 wood. Specially treated paper inserts have 

 been used in boxes made of these woods, 

 and manufacturers who have tried them 

 have made very favorable reports. The 

 work is not finished, but there is every in- 

 dication that the method will prove practi- 

 cal. Nearly all of those who have tried 

 the inserts report that the artificial aroma 

 produces results similar to that of true 

 cedar wood boxes. 



