12 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Paper Wrappers in Cuba 



The principal Cuban fruits and vege- 

 tables requiring paper wrappers for ship- 

 ping are pineapples, grapefruit, tomatoes, 

 and eggplant. 



Cuban exports in the best years about 

 1,000,000 crates of pineapples. The stan- 

 dard crate contains from 18 to 48 pine- 

 apples, for which an average of 33 paper 

 wrappers is required. These wrappers are 

 of two sizes — 12x15 and 15x15 inches. 



Dealers estimate the annual grapefruit 

 crop at from 300,000 to 350,000 crates. 

 The number packed in a crate varies from 

 36 to 96, the average being between 60 

 and 70. Wrappers 12x12, 14x14, and 16x16 

 inches in sizes are used. 



Eggplant is grown on the Isle of Pines 

 and in various parts of the island of Cuba. 

 Statistics of the amounts raised are not 

 available. The Isle of Pines is said to 

 ship approximately 40,000 crates annually, 

 with 18 to 48 eggplants in each crate. The 

 dimensions of the wrappers are the same 

 as for grapefruit. 



From 50,000 to 70,000 crates of toma- 

 toes are exported annually from Cuba. 

 The crates contain from 144 to 180 toma- 

 toes each. The wrappers are 9 inches 

 square. 



The general practice is for Cuban ship- 

 pers to purchase their paper wrappers di- 

 rect from the manufacturers in the United 

 States. One large fruit exchange pur- 

 chases wrappers for the growers constitut- 

 ing its membership. Wrappers for citrus 

 fruits are purchased in the winter, while 

 other wrappers are bought during fall and 

 winter. 



The market for paper bags for lining 

 sugar sacks has practically disappeared. 

 During the period of high sugar prices a 

 few Cuban sugar companies attempted to 

 sell "washed" sugar for direct consumption 

 in the American market. Owing to the 

 readiness with which this unrefined sugar 

 absorbs moisture, the jute sugar bags were 

 lined with paper sacks. These, however, 

 failed to keep the sugar dry. With the 

 drop in the prices of sugar the possibility 

 of selling "washed" sugar disappeared, and 

 there are no indications that further at- 

 tempts will be made in that direction. 

 One sugar company reports 50.000 paper 

 bags on hand, which were bought to line 



sugar sacks. There is no probability that 

 these can be used. — Assistant Trade Com- 

 missioner C. A. Livengood. 



Improvements in Business Outlook 



Events of potential importance in 

 Cuban politics and industry during the 

 month of June clarify the outlook for the 

 fiscal year 1922-23 and predicate more 

 satisfactory financial and economic condi- 

 tions for this period. The political events 

 consisted of important readjustments in the 

 Government, including changes in the per- 

 sonnel of the Cabinet, a reduction of em- 

 ployees and the adoption of other econ- 

 omies in all departments of the Govern- 

 ment, the passing of a reduced budget for 

 the new fiscal year, and the consideration 

 of ways and means of liquidating the float- 

 ing debt. An important industrial factor 

 was the sugar market, with reactions 

 brought about by rising prices and a crop 

 that exceeded expectations and estimates. 

 In the commercial world fertilizer was the 

 most active commodity, and sales for the 

 month showed a marked improvement, 

 though June is usually considered a dull 

 month for that business. Iron and steel 

 imports for June exceeded the figures for 

 May, and indications are that July will 

 show a further slight increase. 



Means Proposed to Meet Indebtedness 

 The Cuban Government has a current 

 indebtedness variously estimated at from 

 $60,000,000 to $140,000,000. This con- 

 sists of back salaries due Government em- 

 ployees, bills for supplies for hospitals, 

 prisons and other public institutions, claims 

 for work done on public contracts, etc. 

 How to meet these obligations is one of 

 the chief problems facing the present Gov- 

 ernment. Increased taxation, issuance of 

 interior bonds, and the contracting of an 

 exterior loan are some of the means pro- 

 posed. Once this matter has been settled, 

 one of the greatest obstacles to the return 

 of public confidence will have been re- 

 moved. 



Sugar Crop Exceeds Expectations 



The present sugar crop of Cuba, which 



had been previously estimated at 3,500,000 



tons, has exceeded expectations. On July 



15, with 13 mills still grinding, 3,900,000 



