The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-05

factories. IL supplies approximate
ly half of Cuba's exports and con-
sumes two-thirds of Its total i'm
ports
Like other countries, Cuba has
undergone some painful economic
and political experiences in the past
few years, the old order depending
perhaps too much on sugar values
and tobacco for income, and I'M
porting most of life's necessaries.
To the statistically minded, the
Importance of Cuba and the United
States to each other may be seen
by examining the figures relating
to Cuba's foreign commerce. They
show the United States as the
largest factor in this exchange, with
the United Kingdom coming second.
In 1882 the United States took $751;
$4,000 of the SS0,672,0O0 total ex-
ports of the island, and for the
same year the total imports into
Cuba amounted to S51, ,024, 900, the
United States supplying $27, 7,65S,OOO
of that amount
Compare those figures with the
1927 statistics, which show total i'm
ports of $257 $4,000 and exports
from Cuba of $500, ,7O5,0OOl
On the other hand, American IN
vestments in 1927 were calculated
at one and a half billion dollars
by 1892 this figure was raised to
$1,750O00,OO0. The bulk of these
investments are in sugar proper
ties, but large sums also are in real
estate, railroads, public utilities,
and government bonds.
In view of the fact that the bulk
Of Cuba's foreign trade is with the
United States and that the Amer
! lean monetary investments In the
island are tremendous, whatever
touches Cuba affects many Ameri-
cans, and whatever happens in the
United States affects Cuba.
We fought a war with Spain that
cost many American lives and many
millions of dollars, both at the
! time and in subsequent pensions ia
Spanish war veterans, in order tO
help Cuba gain her freedom and
place her fairly upon the path OF
economic progress.
Years later an American tariff
deeply affected the island.
Supplying Her Own Needs.
The Cubans point out that the
tariff threw United States doors
wide open to importation of sugar
from the Philippines, where only 4C
per cent of the total investment In
the sugar industry is capital from
the United States, and closed then
in the face of Cuba, where the cap
ital invested is 81 per cent from the
United States.
Cuba formerly imported practi
cally all of her flour and eggs from
the United States. Under the de
pressed sugar prices she embarked
upon program of development OF
local industries and diversificatior
of manufactures to supply her owr
needs. In 1927 she imported $S,
692,000 worth of wheat flour from
the United States; in 1882 she pur
chased only S2,94SOO0. For the
same years the value of fresh eggs
purchased in the United State.
dropped from $2,666,OO0 to zero
canned vegetables fell from S4O3.
600 to $4,000; lard from $1O,S41,
! 600 to 81, ,20S,000, and so on-all de
creases more or less directly trace
able to the fact that the price o.
sugar fell from 2.69 cents per pount
in 1927 to as low as 81 of a cent il
May, 1882!
An evidence of this change is OBJ
served in the growth of home man
ufactures. Shirts, underwear, shoes
straw hats, and linen suits are be
ing made on large scale never
before known.
The production of cotton and ray
on socks and stockings has become
an important industry, and loca
manufacturers are turning out ray
on garments for women.
The dried beef industry. which
plays a major part in the island:
food supply, is growing, and can
ming factories have recently beer
established for tomatoes, pineap
Piles and other products. Two fac
tories are engaged in making cans
During normal times one can pas.
weeks travelling around the pictur
esque island, for there are some goot
roads. The beautiful rolling conn
try, dotted with quaint. palm
thatched huts, and the stately roya
palms, like huge feather busters
are never-ending sources of delight
The new Central highway now
spans the island from Pinar del Rio
to Santiago, total distance of 20.
miles. 1t was built at a cost OF
S120,000,G00 and is a fine piece OF
road. There are no railroad cross
ings, for all such points have beer
! either over or under-passed.