20 



THE CUBA REV IE W 



is used alone. The adjustment of the motor for 

 the modified ''motor spirit" also has an impor- 

 tant effect on the efficiency obtained. 



The changes which have been found necessary 

 are simple and var>- with the makes of machines. 

 In some, the adjustment of the needle valve in 

 the carbureter is necessary. In carbureters 

 which do not have needle-valve adjustment it is 

 necessary to bore a larger hole in the jet feeding 

 the alcohol. Cork floats must be coated with 

 wax to make them impermeable to alcohol or 

 must be replaced by metal floats. 



The deposit of carbon in the engine when 

 motor spirit is used is reported to be much less 

 than with gasoline fuel. 



Prices .\xd Prospects 

 The current prices for motor spirit as sold on 

 the street to the consumer is 27 to 30 cents. 

 This compares with a current retail price of 

 gasoline of about 45 cents. Alcohol manufac- 

 turers declare that this lower price for motor 

 spirit represents not a difference in efficiency of 

 the fuel, but a rate they make to overcome the 

 conservatism of the public which makes auto- 

 mobilists slow to take up its use. 



Alcohol fuel has certain distinct advantages in 

 the Cuban market. It is a national product 

 made from materials which, in many seasons, 

 sell at very low prices. Its use, therefore, 

 appeals to local patriotism. In addition the 

 high tariff on imported gasoline ($4.70 per 100 

 kilos) gives the alcohol manufacturer a decided 

 advantage over the foreign gasoline importer, 

 but not over the enterprises manufacturing 

 gasoline on the island. It does not appear 

 probable, however, unless manufacturing costs 

 and the supply of raw materials are greatly 

 changed, that Cuban alcohol can give serious 

 competition to gasoline outside the island, even 

 if e.xperience should prove the claims of Cuban 

 manufacturers as to its merits to be well 

 grounded. 



F.\CTORS Reg.xrdixg Production' of ]\Iotor 

 Spirit 



Within the island itself the position of motor 

 spirit is still uncertain, quite apart from its 

 mileage value compared to gasoline, for though 

 the production since July 2 last has shown rapid 

 increase, there are many factors in the cost of 

 production under normal conditions which can 

 not be estimated. In addition, the price basis 

 on which gasoline can be sold locally, if motor 

 spirit should threaten to become an active 

 competitor, is still undetermined. 



Manufacturers do not consider practical the 

 proposals which have recently been made in 

 Cuba to turn the low-price sugars into motor 

 spirit. One of the largest producers states that 

 sugar would have to be sold at about 1 cent a 

 pound to allow the retail sale of motor spirit 

 made therefrom in competition with gasoline 

 at a retail price of 23 cents per gallon. 



cember 17th, the railway rates established 

 by the Railway Commission on April 30, 

 1919, according to Chester Lloyd Jones, 

 acting commercial attache at Habana. 

 There was a very wude popular demand for 

 the reductions in rates which this new 

 law provided. 



Cuban Road Building 



Although Cuba is in great need of roads 

 and an extensive program of road building 

 has been planned, the economic situation in 

 the Island prevents immediate develop- 

 ments along these lines. As soon as condi- 

 tions improve, Cuba will be a good field 

 for construction work, in the opinion of 

 Consul General C. B. Hurst, at Habana. 



Free Importation of Iron Containers 

 for Alcohol 



A decree of November 28, 1921, author- 

 izes the importation of iron containers 

 under bond amounting to double the duties 

 otherwise payable, provided that they are 

 intended exclusively to serve as containers 

 for the exportation of alcohol. These con- 

 tainers will be required to have consecutive 

 numbering indelibly stamped upon them, 

 and in their turn will be duly counter- 

 marked in the customs house in which they 

 are received. 



Cotton Goods 



The decrease in quantities of cloth of 

 different classifications taken by Cuba 

 from the United States in October, 1921, 

 as compared with October, 1920, is shown 

 in the following table: 



October 

 1920 

 Yards 



Bleachod rioth . . . 6,0.5.^,179 



Printed cloth 2,947,12.5 



Cloth dved in piece 4,634,240 

 Cloth dyed in yarn 3,142,126 



October, 



1921 



Yards 



207,429 



578,.521 



164,049 



58,796 



Increase 

 (-f) or de- 

 crease ( — ) 



Yards 

 —5,847,750 

 —2,368,604 

 — 1,470,191 

 —3,083,330 



Reduction in Railway Rates 



The Official Gazette of December 20, 

 1921, published a law restoring, as of De- 



Boots and Shoes 



In the following table the per cent of 

 export of United States boots and shoes to 

 Cuba is shown for the fiscal years of 1913 

 and 1921: 



Per cent, distribution of exports of men's boots 

 and shoes during fiscal vears ended June 30, 1913 

 and 1921: 1913, '28.6^'^; 1921, 25.5%. 



Per cent, distribution of exports of women's 

 boots and shoes during fiscal years ended June 

 30, 1913 and 1921: 1913, 31.4%; 1921, 33.1%. 



