The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-05-01
CUBA's COMMERCIAL RISE.
Rapid Development of Foreign and
Local Trade


Local Trade.
The Acting Secretary Of War made pub
lie yesterday very important and inter-
esting report upon the commercial and in
dustrial conditions in Cuba In spite OF
many obstacles natural to a country ruled
as Cuba has been for many hundreds Of
years, the report shows that the future
OF the island under a stable government
promises a development of wealth far be-
yond the dreams OF avarice of its Spanish
conquerors.
The report states that the prevailing
opinion among all classes OF merchants
and business men is that the near future
Will witness marked and decided devei-
opment of business and commercial enter
prises of all kinds. The peculiar and spe-
cial conditions of the island show, the re-
port says, that its commercial and agri-
cultural future must be prosperous in
spite OF the rayages and destruction of the
late war and the legacy OF mutual dis
trust and enmity which the war left
Even these adverse circumstances. it is
believed, are transitory, and will lessen as
old interests revive and new ones are
created. They will totally disappear, it
Is thought, when the country is thoroughly
rehabilitated- Already, the report says,
some of the capital taken away during the
years OF war is returned, and new capital
is being attracted by the certainty of prof
1t, while the increasing business of the
customhouse demonstrates better than
anything else a revival of enterprise
among business men.
Tobacco is now being actively cultivated
in those sections of the country where it
has never heretofore been grown. 1t will
continue to be one of the most important
resources of the island. This is true not only
on account of its intrinsic value as an ex-
port, but because of the profitable occu-
patton it affords to thousands OF laborers
in the country and in the manufactures
in the cities and towns. At the beginning
OF the present year the sugar crop was es-
timated at about two hundred thousand
tons. Later estimates, however, based
upon the actual production at the end Of
March. and better knowledge of the good
condition OF the cane. indicate that the
production will reach three hundred thou
sand tons
In regard to applications that are being
received from time to time to remove Or
lessen the duty on various articles of
general use in the United States with the
object of increasing their importation into
the island, the report states that in many
cases the existing tariff does not stand
in the way of importations from the United
States. The removal Of all duties, it is be-
lieved, would give little or no encourage
ment to such Importation. Many articles
in common use in the United States are
not suited to the physical conditions of
! Cuba
During the month of March, 1899 200
vessels of all kinds. OF a total ton
| mage of 213,2S tons, entered the port Of
| Havana. and ia vessels. of a total tonnage
of 1s0,4S3 tons, cleared from that port for
| foreign ports.
| OF those entered, $50 were steamers, of
| a total tonnage of 1879, 105 tons, and so
were sailing vessels, of a total tonnage Of
| 1417S tons. OF those cleared. 135 were
steamers, Of total tonnage OF 1I0,i34
tons, and SO were sailing vessels, of total
tonnage of 10,049 tons.
OF the steamers entered GA were Ameri-
| can, q English, 20 Spanish, and "a from
| other countries; and of the sailing vessels
entered AZ were American, English, l
| Spanish, and l from other countries. or
| the steamers cleared 81 were American,
| "a English, "a Spanish. and 80 from other
| countries; and of the sailing vessels clear
ed SO were American, English, Spanish,
and / from other countries.
| During the month OF March last $50 YES
| sells. of a total tonnage of Is, 004 tons. en-
tered the port of Havana from ports in the
| Island of Cuba. OF these 20 were steamers
| OF a total tonnage Of S.147 tons. and 100
were sailing vessels, OF total tonnage
of 6,S57 tons.
One hundred and thirty vessels
cleared from the port of Havana Tor ports
in the Island of Cuba. OF total tonnage
az - $50 tons. OF these IA were steamers,
of a total tonnage of 4.16S tons. and l25
were sailing vessels. of total tonnage
of S.0S9 tons.
During the month of March last, there
landed at the port of Havana Abs pas
| sengers of whom 1884 came from the
United States, 1.l06 from SPAIN ana oos
from other countries. During SAID montn
GAGS passengers left the port OF Havana
for points outside the Island of Cuba
There were exported from Havana during
the said month Is, $50 bales of leaf tobacco.
weighing 961 .9l6 kilos, net; 193iS,Si9 CT
CARS: 5S1 $50 packages of cigarettes, and
II. 279 kilos of cut tobacco or 'picadura-
OF this the greater part went 10 New
York. the remainder being distributed
among Tampa, Key West, and New Or
leans. in the United States; Vera Cruz, In
Mexico: Saint Nazaire, in France; Fort de
France, in Martinique; Santander, BARGE
Iona Cadiz, and Coruna, in Spain; Santa
Cruz de Teneriffe Palmas. in the Ca
naries: Colon and Baranquilla, in Colon
bia: La Guayra, in Venezuela, and Guaya-
Gull. in Ecuador.
During the month there were exported
from this port 4,09f,si6 kilos OF various
classes of merchandise which do not pay
duty, principally sugar. old iron. pineap-
pies. palms, preserved fruits, honey, spol-
ges, etc
The total of all the receipts for all the
ports of the island of Cuba during the
month of March, 1899. was sl,26l ,Si5.53
OF this amount the sum of $23, S35 was re-
funded during the month on account of re-
funds of duties, fines, ETC.. leaving total
net collection of 81 ,23S, 010.25. The total
for salaries of customs employees during
said months was S14 .11492, and the total
for rents. supplies, etc. and all other ex-
penses for customs during the month was
S4553S6, making the percentage of the
cost of collection OF customs revenues all
over the island OF Cuba during said month
1.5l per cent.
The salaries of the Havana customs
house. amounting to S23. 76l. So were not
actually paid during the month OF March
hence the low percentage of cost Of coilec-
ton for this month. If they be counted as
paid during the month of March, the per-
centage of cost of collection all over ths
island would be 3.43 per cent.
CHICAGO'S TRACTION DEAL.