THE CUBA REVIEW And Bulletin. 



The collections of the Havana Custom 

 House during March, 1907, amounted to 

 $1,828,364.78, a considerable increase as 

 compared with the figures for March, 

 1906. 



HIGH PRICE OF RUBBER. 



While enthusiastic rubber planters are 

 developing production in various parts 

 of the world, some of the more thought- 

 ful experts in that line are looking into 

 the future and are asking what will be 

 the position of the article when the yield 

 of the new plantations comes into the 

 market? Dr. Willis, in the Tropical Agri- 

 culturist, expresses the opinion that the 

 present price of rubber (about $1.20 per 

 pound) is too high to encourage its use 

 for new purposes. Such a development 

 of consumption, he considers, is not to 

 be looked for until rubber goes back to 

 a normal price of about 70 to 80 cents 

 per poundf. He regards any venture 

 based on a higher value than 3 shillings 

 {!]2 cents) a pound for rubber as of a 

 speculative character. 



REFUND OF DUTIES ON DAMAGED GOODS. 



The Cuban Gaceta Official contains the 

 text of a government decree stating that 

 in view of the damage or destruction which 

 has occurred, and may in future occur, to 

 imported merchandise while in cotitrol of 



the Cuban customs owing to cyclonic 

 storms, fire, or other accidental causes ; the 

 secretary of the treasury is authorized, on 

 being satisfied as to the actual injury or 

 destruction by such cause of merchandise 

 in the custody of the customs, in bond or 

 transportation under bond, or within any 

 port of entry, to abate or refund, as the 

 case may be, the import duties payable. The 

 decree is made to cover all goods shipped 

 in since October 16, 1906. — U. S. Con- 

 sular Report, March 26, 1907. 



CUBA AND THE RECIPROCITY TREATY. 



The Diario de la Marina calls attention 

 to the fact that the coming year will end 

 the advantages derived from the reciprocity 

 treaty, and yet evidently nobody in Cuba 

 is considering this matter. It foresees op- 

 position from the sugar beet raisers and 

 tobacco planters in the United States, and 

 alludes to the failure of free trade for the 

 Philippines, although they belong to the 

 United States. It also says that the Am- 

 erican government is guided by public opin- 

 ion, and it is not likely to consider it nec- 

 essary to intervene in a subject which does 

 not concern the country directly, and that 

 Cuba is condemned to utter misery if those 

 whose duty it is do not use some means 

 in her behalf. The Diario bids the plant- 

 ers to be uo and doing. 



Railways and Public (Uorks 



Governor Magoon has issued orders 

 that the Havana Electric Railway Co. 

 shall repair the bridge over Matadero 

 bridge, in answer to a request presented 

 by Messrs. Ricardo Dolz, Ignacio Pla 

 and others. Col. Black has been in- 

 structed to carry out this order and re- 

 quire the tramway company to make the 

 repairs at their expense. 



OPENING OF NEW BRANCH TO MARIANAO. 



The extension of the Marianao Rail- 

 way to Hoyo Colorado was formally 

 opened on March '16. The new line, 

 which is leased by the United Railways, 

 passes through a very rich territory. The 

 stations on this short run, of which there 

 are five, are handsome concrete struc- 

 tures. The road bed is a fine piece of 

 work, heavily rock ballasted, hardwood 

 ties and 70^pound rails were used. The 

 new service will consist of eight trains 

 on week days and nine on Sundays. 

 Snare & Triest, of New York and Hav- 

 ana, were the contractors. New cars 

 from the local workshops of the United 

 Railways and from the manufacturer in 

 the United States will soon replace the 

 present old equipment. 



Despite the interruption caused by the 

 disturbed conditions in Cuba, the United 



Railways Company has largely increased 

 its haul of sugar over last year's rec- 

 ords. 



FOR CERVANTES' STATUE. 



The committee in charge of the mat- 

 ter of erecting a statue to Cervantes, 

 which is to stand in San Juan de Dios 

 park, Havana, invite propositions from 

 artists, both local and foreign, who may 

 wish to submit designs for that statue. 



CAMAGUEY PUBLIC WORKS. 



Citizens of Camaguey are urging Gov- 

 ernor Magoon to begin the public im- 

 provements provided for by an adequate 

 appropriation of the last Cuban Con- 

 gress. 



RAILROAD SERVICE TO CHAPARRA. 



Chaparra is now in touch with the 

 main railroad lines of Cuba, the short 

 stretch of about seven miles to Velasco 

 having been completed. The continua- 

 tion of the line to a point a little north 

 of Holguin on the line between that city 

 and Gibara is also finished. Travelers 

 may now leave the Cuba Railroad it 

 Cocacom and transfer at Holguin for 

 Chaparra. The lines north of Ho'guin 

 are narrow gauge, while that to Cocacom 

 is standard width. 



