The Washington times., 1903-07-29
CATTLE INDUSTRY
TO THRIVE IN CUBA
New Tariff Law Seeks to
Promote Stock Raising.
FEW CLASSES EXEMPTED
Special Favor Shown to Animals That
Can Be Used for Breeding Pur-
poses-Large Horses Wanted.

That Cuba is determined to build up
great cattle industry in her bounda-
ries Is disclosed in the new tariff law,
the details of which were made public
last evening by the Department of Com
merce and Labor. The report comes
from United States Minister Squiers. The
importation of cattle from the United
States is not mentioned specifically in
the law, but shipments from a majority
OF the Central and South American
countries are.
AS to free entrance, the United States
Is not mentioned, and the classes Of
cattle coming under tariff exemption are
Few. These are ewes. cows suitable for
breeding purposes. calves, cows with
calves. Jersey, Guernsey, Devon, Dur
ham. Hereford, Porto Rican, and ArRen-
tine Republic bulls. provided they are
proven to be such.
In the classes which nust nav duty
Florida has no reason to complain, as
the law fixes the duty which Cubans
must pay on beef imported from that
state at only S4.6S on male cattle weigh
Ing more than 557 pounds. On Honda
ras cattle weighing more than 627
pounds the duty is placed at $3.50. On
Mexican cattle. which must weigh more
than I'll pounds. the tax is s64s. Co
lombians and VenezueIans must pay
$40 on cattle weighing sl4 pounds
This class of cattle is understood to be
ready TO go to the butcher Immediately
after landing.
Building Up Beef Business.
Following this clause of the law. there
Is section providing for the admission
or lean cattle at a general rate of 81 SIS
head, but none of the lean cattle i'm
ported can be slaughtered until after
they have been three months on the ISL
and This section contemplates the
building up of beef business by allow
ing importers to bring in their lean cat
tie and fatten them in Cuba The slaugh-
ter OF female cattle which can be used
for breeding purposes is prohibited. No
mention is made of the ''porko Ameri-
cano grande," or, in other words, the
great American pig, which is left with
out law.
The men who drafted the law think
large as those Of the United States This
Is apparently shown in the effect OF tie
law. which compels the importer TO pay
more on small animals than on large
ones. Stations which stand more than
four feet nine inches high and donkeys
four feet two inches tall are 10 be ad-
mitted free. Mares suitable for breed
Ing purposes are taxed $277. Mares not
fit for breeding purposes are dUtlable to
the extent OF s15.8e. The tax on geld
ings is the same. All other kinds OF
horses and all mules are taxed The ex-
portation OF all cattle Is prohibited;
Great Facilities for Stock Growers.
That Cuba is going 10 become a great
cattle country before many years elapse.
is certain. The best grass in the world
is obtainable all the year round in the
hill and mountain countries. ami water
is plentiful. There are no Billiards or
drcughts 10 deplete the herds. Better
than all. the island is so shaped that the
herds car Ia q march OF a day or two
be driven TO a seaport.
Some Americans located in the island
after the ar and went 10 breeding cat
tie. They have been successful. and are
rapidly acquiring fortunes One of them
was in Washington recently on a visit
and he said that in Cuba all stock
raiser had to do was to lie back in the
shade and watch his cattle grow.