Evening star., 1916-05-06
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES NOTED
THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA

fected an important saving by substi-
tuting petroleum for coal in its cleo
trio power house at Montevideo, states
the River Plata Review of March II.
Because of the shortage of coal, two
local steamers are being converted into
the Great Southern railway are being
modified so as to permit the use of pc
troleum instead of coal as fuel.
The report of Mr.. H. A. HimeIy, the
expert on Cuban sugars, for the week
ended April 8, 1916, indicates that on
account of the prolonged drought in
Cuba during the present sugar season
estimates of the total crop have been
reduced some $4,000 tons. making the
total crop. according to his present cal
cu1ations. 3.os0,000 tons. He also states
that the prospects are that the crop
than usual. and the end of April should
see many of the estates at the end of
their grinding season.
The government of Uruguay conducts
an experiment farm on a tract of 1000
acres of fertile land in the Department
OF Colonia, about 140 miles northwe est
of Montevideo and fifty miles east of
Buenos Aires. The work on this gov
ernment farm, La Estanzuela." is de-
scribed in a recent issue of the Reyista
del Ministerio de Industrias. One of
the chief objects of the enterprise is
the production of seeds of the best
quality, which are supplied to small
farmers on liberal terms. (See report
on seed distribution in Uruguay in
commerce reports for April L.
The Department of State is in re-
ce1pt OF telegram from Mexico City
stating that the new taxes on mining
properties will go into effect on JULY
l. 1916. With reference to precious
metal mines, the following rates will
q a
tares), 6 Mexican gold pesos each ner
annum: II to so pertenencias, ~ pesos
each; 81 to 100 pertenencias is pesos
each: over 100 pertenencias, "a pesos
each.
With reference to non-precious.
metal mines. the following rates will
prevail: One to fifty pertenencias. G
Mexican gold pesos each per annun1
hI to zoo pertenencias. u pesos each !;
2oo 10 800 pertenencias, IS pesos each
over 500 pertenencias, "a pesos each
The export tax on silver and gold
Will be 10 per cent ad valorem, and the
OF per cent
Vice Consul W. H. Lawrence of San
tos. reports that during January 712,-
o4e o bags OF coffee were shipped from
that Brazilian port, 222.031 bags GO
Ing to New York. 1881 bags to New
Orleans. 92.254 to Genoa, 54,150 to Am
sterdam. 44.327 to Stockholm, 81 500 to
Goteborg. 20,625 to Christiania, 1895
to Alexandria, 1882 to Marseil1e, 10
$50 to Malmo, 1885 to Copenhaeen,
S.1sS to Barcelona, s.l42 to Bordeaux.
1885 to London, 1000 to Bergen. 6oo3
to Buenos Aires. and 22.99S to all othe,
ports. The Brazilian bag of coffee
averages 80 kilos, or 1928 pounds in
weight
The distribution of seed wheat by the
official seed commission of Uruguay
amounted. in 1915. to 10000 bushels or
$4,000 bushels more than in any pre-
vious year. according to figures given
in the Diario Official of February IS.
The wheat was distributed on credit
terms to 1900 farmers, many of whom
would not have been able otherwise to
obtain seed. Before distribution the
wheat was cleaned and classified by
machinery installed last year and was
analyzed in the agronomic laboratory
In addition to the wheat. 3.7O0 bushels
of other seed were distributed In con
nection with the distribution work o.
the seed commission the Uruguavar
government carries eXperin,cnta
work in agriculture. growing seeds 70
sale and giving practical training +,
graduate students of the nationa
'agronomic institute.
An Cruguayan presidential decree o.
January 25. 1915, in effect April /, pro-
vides for new regulations governing
ships manifests and prescribes a spe-
cial form for the certificates of origin
authorized by the decree of September
10. 1915. Four copies of the manifest
must be presented to the Urueuayan
consul in the port of departure, and
three of them must be in Spanish. All
consignments must be specified with
great particularly and manifests must
state the numbers of the. bills of lad
ling, the marks. numbers, quantities,
nature and contents of packages, as
well as their gross and net weight OF
measurement. Copies Of the prescribed
form of manifest and of the form for
certificates of origin are on file in tho
bureau of foreign and domestic com
merce. where they may be consulted py
those interested.