The Detroit times., 1915-02-22

(Roser w. Babson. famous business
expert, statistician and writer. II tour
coaditions In their relation S TO the
United States. The Name Paper) has
commissioned him 10 write = series OF
artielss or which this Is the fourth--on
Editor.)
HAVANA. Cuba. Feb. i7.-There
are three big public markets in Ha-
vana, and every other Cuban city has
one or more OF comparative import
ance.
In Havana. Tacon Is the largest.
Christina is the Oldest. and Colon IL
the newest.
All are worth careful study,
Here we find on sale the fruits.
vegetables and other products OF the
island. But you must not think that
the markets OF these cities are limited
to the sale OF garden and farm prod
ucts.
Every city In the West Indies has
some peculiar industry OF It's own
one city may make hats: another city
may make beads and another baskets.
All these products can be found In
the central market-as well az gen.
eral merchandise.
For instance. I wanted to get some
shoe strings and envelopes today.
Did i 60 to a big store? No, I went
to the public market and there found
just what wanted for half the regu-
lar store price.
Men who cannot get space at the
public market TO sell their goods. go
about the streets with push carts or
on horse back
Everywhere In the morning Ia to be
seen the milkman sitting on his horse
with big can OF milk on each side.
Then comes the baker. on horse back
also. with a great basket Of bread on
each side OF the horse.
! Even butchers travel about on
orseback-although they give one
which has been run into by q loco
motive!
This morning even saw man
riding along with three live pigs
hanging from one side Of his saddle
and string Of live chickens dangling
from the other side!
But some reader Is probably ask
ing-do you want such men riding up
and down our streets In the United
States?
My reply is--"Yes, II we are to
really <sduce the cost Of living" 1t
is not what either the farmer or
manufacturer receives which makes
our groceries and dry goods cost so
much. For instance, apples which
sell for $3.50 barrel are retailed by
the grocer for several times this price,
Cloth which sells for six cents q yard
at the mill, is marked 40 cents a
yard at the store.
We have seen considerable in the
newspapers OF late about public mar
kets In our American cities. But let
me tell you that our municipal gov.
lernments must do something more
than erect the buildings and provide
the homes for such markets.
The children OF the United States
must be trained to visit and to pa.
tronize markets as are the children
OF Latin-America-
American children are trained to
telephone the butcher. to have the
groceries Charged" and to order the
store to deliver the shoes. But the
Cuban child Is taught to visit the
market and TO select personally the
meat for, dinner; he then pays FOL
each and brings ii home In his basket
Thus. we in the United States. need
not only to learn from the people Of
Latin-America how to play; but We
also need to learn how to buy!
For fear that some Of my readers
may get too-good idea OF Cuba and
the other places which / am about Il
describe, let me close by warning al
against land agents and others whit
are Offering great bargains In Cubar
lands"
| OF course, many Of these men arr
honest In their representations; but
strongly advise you readers never Il
buy any land which you have no
personally seen.
1t is an old, but exceedingly true
Saying that distance lends enchant
ment to the View This is certainl,
ltrue OF real estate promoters schemes
Idaho California or any other sector
of the world.
Moreover, what looks good to one
does not look good to another. There
fore, don't invest any money In Cuba
or any other place about which i write
until you personally visit the place
and see for yourself what 1t look,
like.
Moreover, don't think OF going II
Cuba with the idea OF raising sugar
planting orange trees or producing
anything else for export
The middlemen, steamship people
and the United States customs OF
fcials will take all the profits!
Were l to go to Cuba, should
either be a merchant or manufactures