22 THECUBAREVIEW 



the increased activity of railway construction on the island during the four fiscal years 

 prior to 1921: 



1917: 



Number of ties 502,058 



Value $384,969 



1918: 



Number of ties 804,718 



Value $901,184 



1919: 



Number of ties 292,896 



Value $362,259 



1920: 



Number of ties 738,631 



Value $938,386 



During the calendar year 1921 American exports of ties to Cuba decreased materially, 

 numbering only 51,209, valued at $95,321. At present a large number of ties are on hand, 

 and as no important development in the construction of new railways may be expected in 

 the future the tie market in Cuba will likely remain dull during 1922. 



Species Imported by Cuba 



Southern pine has always been in greatest demand in Cuba, particularly in boards. 

 In comparison with the demand for southern pine, that for other soft woods from the 

 United States is of minor importance. A few million feet of cypress, white pine, spruce, 

 and Douglas fir are sold to the island. 



Since the war some parcel shipments of Douglas fir from the Pacific coast of the United 

 States have arrived in Cuba, and have been sold at somewhat lower prices than 

 southern pine. The Cuban market has not been extensively exploited on behalf of Douglas 

 fir. and the wood is not well known. On this account it is too early to estimate market 

 possibilities in Cuba for this wood, and, in the opinion of Cuban importers, an energetic 

 campaign will be necessary in order to obtain for it a firm foothold. Conditions may not 

 be propitious for such work at present, as the Cuban importers are experiencing difficulties 

 in disposing of the large stocks of other woods on hand. 



Limited quantities of spruce in years past have been exported from the Northeastern 

 States to Cuba, but this trade has now largely passed into the hands of eastern Canadian 

 mills, chiefly due to the depleted forest resources of the northeastern sections of the United 

 States. Spruce is mainly used for packing boxes, and to some extent for joinery. Spruce 

 from the west coast (Sitka spruce) has also been recently introduced, but this wood has 

 not been vigorously pushed. Sitka spruce appears to have a future in Cuba, although the 

 importers and consumers accustomed to eastern spruce have made some minor objections 

 to Sitka spruce, which may or may not rest on scientific grounds. 



White Pine (Pinus Strobus) Trade of Cuba — Other Woods 

 The American white pine trade was once very important in Cuba, but this species is 

 now largely obtained from eastern Canada, because the white pine resources in the United 

 States have been greatly diminished. Part of this trade in white pine and spruce originating 

 in Canada is handled by New England and New York exporters. 



Limited quantities of California white pine and California sugar pine have been intro- 

 duced into Cuba, but these species are not extensively known. Small quantities of Cali- 

 fornia redwood were imported during the war as a cheaper substitute for white pine and 

 Spanish cedar, but it is understood that the redwood trade has decreased lately on account 

 of the reduction in prices of white pine and cedar, which are better liked by the local trade. 



American Hardwoods — Species in Demand 

 Owing to the fact that the native hardwoods are much better suited for the Cuban 



market than imported species, the demand for American hardwood is very small. Gum, 



poplar, and oak are the principal species in demand. 



The following table gives the quantities of the principal species of lumber and timber 



exported from the United States to Cuba during the fiscal year 1913 and the calendar 



years 1919, 1920, and 1921. 



