THE CUBA REVIEW 



19 



cane growing there would probably be a 

 steady market when the sugar industry 

 again becomes prosperous. But quick re- 

 sults have not been essential except under 

 war conditions. Virgin lands are available 

 for extension of cane plantings and these 

 are often merely burned over and planted 

 without any plowing. 



Further, while a well-cared-for tractor 

 could compete with oxen and manual labor 

 in unit cost even before the war, the 

 actual performance of tractors is limited 

 greatly by carelessness in the handling of 

 the machines. Generally the Cuban ope- 

 rator is lacking in knowledge of the proper 

 methods of handling and caring for the 

 tractor which he operates. Workmen have 

 almost no mechanical training and some 

 tractor users have found it necessary to 

 import mechanics from the United States 

 at high wages. Occasionally prejudice 

 against the new methods introduced by 

 tractors runs so high that workmen create 

 difficulties for the operators and in some 

 instances have even attempted to bribe 

 demonstrators to do poor work. 



Types of Tractor Used 



Both wheel and tracklaying types of 

 tractors are used successfully in Cuba, the 

 number of wheel tractors in use far out- 

 numbering those of the tracklaying type. 

 For heavy work the latter is preferable, 

 and for light work both types operate satis- 

 factorily. Wheel tractors of 10-20 to 15- 

 30 horsepower are most generally used. 

 Disk-plow equipment is employed, except 

 when the machines are for use in the lighter 

 soils of the Isle of Pines. Disk equip- 

 ment for the lighter machines is 2 or 3 

 disks, of 24 inches diameter. Few harrows 

 are sold, but when the work of disk har- 

 rows is actually demonstrated, it is ap- 

 preciated. 



There will be few sales of tractors until 

 the sugar industry again becomes prosper- 

 ous, and when that time comes the large 

 stock which many dealers have on hand 

 will restrict the imports of tractors from 

 the United States. In the meantime, the 

 manufacturer who wishes to enter or con- 

 tinue in this market must conduct his 

 own propaganda and educational work, 

 as the Government takes no active interest 

 in the introduction of modern agricultural 



methods, and the facilities of the local 

 dealers and importers are not such as to 

 enable them to carry on an effective cam- 

 paign with the purpose of creating renewed 

 interest in the use of tractors. — Acting 

 Commercial Attache Chester Lloyd Jones, 

 Habana. 



Rubber Goods Market in Santiago 



The Santiago district of Cuba offers a 

 fair to good market for rubber goods, par- 

 ticularly in automobile tires, rubber 

 clothing, and toys made wholly or partly 

 from rubber. No goods of this kind are 

 manufactured either in Santiago or Oriente 

 Province, and at present the requirements 

 are met for the most part by the United 

 States. In regard to rubber tires, the 

 American Consul at Santiago reports the 

 market as "fairly good," since it is esti- 

 mated that 7,000 automobile and motor- 

 truck tires are sold every year. They 

 are handled by garage and retail supply 

 houses, who purchase them from dis- 

 tributors and general representatives in 

 Havana, although there are a few firms in 

 Santiago which have sub-agencies for 

 American tires. There are no jobbers in 

 the district, and distributors allow dealers 

 30 to 60 days. One company, however, 

 requires settlements on a specified day in 

 each month. All standard sizes of tires 

 are sold in the district, the straight-side 

 type being most used. A slight demand 

 exists for clincher tires in millimeter sizes. 

 No direct importers are located in Santiago. 

 A good market is reported for rubber 

 clothing, including raincoats, and this is 

 also supplied almost entirely from the 

 United States, the articles being imported 

 by wholesale and retail clothiers. Insu- 

 lated wire and cables are also used quite 

 extensively, and are received by dealers in 

 electrical supplies, by electric light com- 

 panies and sugar factories. Imports of 

 rubber soles and heels are small, the United 

 States being the only source of supply. 

 These goods are imported by shoe dealers. 

 Toys are shipped from the United States. 

 Spain, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands 

 and France. They have a fairly good sale, 

 and are imported and sold retail by stores 

 dealing in fancy goods, etc. 



