The Washington herald., 1908-08-09

AGAA "a u AAG AAAA-AAA-
The following article on Cuba and It's
commerce and industry was specially pre-
pared for The Washington Herald under
the supervision Of John Barrett. director
OF the Bureau of American Republics.
from data contained in the library Of the
bureau
Cubs, geographically and politically. is
our nearest neighbor among the republics
constituting the International union The
island republic was next 10 the last 10
become a member OF the union. Panama
having entered in 1896.
It IS worth considering both the geo
graphic and commercial conditions. for
greater intimacy with Cuba viii encour-
age closer relations in every way. Cuba
IS the largest. mos. populous and west
ernmost Of the GFeater Antilles. It is
shaped Ike a bow, with the couvexity
toward the north, the island Itself lying
wholly within the tropics II IS about loo
miles from Florida, 90 miles from Haiti
70 the east. s. miles from Jamaica 20 the
south. and J58 miles from Yucatau. in
Mexico, 10 the west Its length IS 1.050
miles. measured from Cape san Antonio
20 Cape Msisa at The east It's width
varies from . 70 150 miles
Its History Wei known
The earlier history OF the island IS 50
well known that II would be valueIess 10
repeat IL here. but It is well worth stating
that the economic condition Of Cuba was
very satisfactory for the year 19J7. during
which great progress was made IN indus
trial development This is a surprising
and encouraging result, because IL was
generally feared that the revolution had
destroyed the financial credit OF the
island. while j. was believed that the long
continued drought had greatly injured the
cane. tobacco. fruit. and vegetable crops.
a cyclone devastated the island during
the latter part Of the year. and this was
thought 10 have completed the injury 10
the cane and tobacco crop still remaining
after the drought II was expected. TOO.
that the receipts from customs would d.
rlinish. and the fear was general that the
revenues Of the government would not be
sufficient 10 meet the obligations and ex-
penses-
The outcome was quite the reverse OF
this prophecy- The island produced more
sugar ia 1877 than ever before IN IT'S his
tory The tobacco crop was short, but
superior in quality. and commanded the
highest price in the history Of the indus
try IL the island The fruit and vegetable
crops were large and showed gratifying
increase IN acreage over previous years.
and although the output was reduced
prices were high and gratifying TO pro-
ducers.
Customs show Increase.
The customs receipts we5e in excess Of I
that OF any preceding year. and the con
dition Of the treasury continued excellent I
Taking into consideration that this show I
Ing Is for a year Immediately following I
a drought. a revolution. and a cyclone. /
and Includes q period Of panic and world I
wide disturbance in business and finance. :
o. strikes and l0ckouts throughout the I
island that paraIyzed for months the I
cigar-uaking and building industries and F.
otherwise interfered with commerce. some /
idea is obtained Of the wonderful rich I
ness and recuperative power OF the island 4
Examining this years history. somewhat
more in detail. il Is seen that tne revenues
from all sources Tor the lscal year
lso1-> VIII aggregate S255G001C The .
budget for the ordinary expenses Of the .
government include items 20 total OF .
SO. os5s5. but the fiscal revenues q the f
year amounted 10 SzF.--S.S S.Sz-@. can IN
crease over that OF 1915 of S.-ao11D. and T.
the net savings 10 the government win
be q wholesome example Of finance. The (
customs revenue 5n 1eI7 amounted 10 s26-
3Il.596 of which 100000 came from the .
port OF Havana
Ine total foreign commerce Of the re-
public for the year was sos SO oGo. i'm
ports being S104016.1G0 and exports 500
r-s1
country OF the total imports the United
States furnished 491 per cent while So
per cent Of exports came 70 the United
states OF the exports 10 the United
States the leading articles are sugar. to-
5acco In ali forms. iron ore. and bananas
What Cuba seemed 10 need most from the
United States were wheat -four. lard coal.
lumber corn. pipes and fittings. cotton I
cloths, passenger ard freight cars. pork.
furniture steam engines and parts. Uire
hams and hardware United States i'm
I.prts from Cuba for the fiscal year 1917
show an Increase OF about - per cent
over those OF 1913. while exports 20 Cuba
have advanced I15 Der cent in the mean
time.
Sugar Crop 1,I5O.OOO Tons.
The sugar crop for 1875 is estimated AZ
!, $4,000 tons. and practically all OF L goes
10 the United States Of the Cuban sugar
(ueantng those producing su-
sar and not cane aIone}. IS belong to
Americans, e 10 Europeans. Il 20 Cubans.
the Americans havirg gained 3 and Gu
bans I. while Europeans lost s. Tobacco
production eQualed 20 coo bales. OF nearly
double that OF the preceding year and the
value amounted to 50 3G354s Of this
s2S 6s5.s0S were exported. the rest being
accounted for by native consumption.
Cuban manufacturers claim that they are
compelled by the demand for Havana TO-
1acc0 10 import large quantities from
other countries. which they make over
into so-called native product. but the
government IS trying % prevent this
'raud- and has levied an import duty OF ]
i7-50 a kilogram equals go pounds on ,
foreign Obacco-
Iron Output 75,OOO,OOO Tons.
Iron ore IS one Of Cuba's best resources.
The Bethlehem Steel Company has re-
emily acquired large deposits near san
iago. which, according 10 the reports OF
ngineers. VIII Yield 100000 tons. This Z
re contains . per cent nickel and I per
,ent chromium The discovery OF this
ract Is regarded by experts TO be one
4 the most important IN recent years
The Island contains about 100000 head
Z cattle. $4,000 horses. 5000 mules. and
i've stock breeding is becoming popular.
The quantity mas been increased within !
ecelt years BY Importation from Vene-
u7la and Mexico. but a late law, hav-
- for its purpose The Development 0f