Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/838

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CUBA

and minerals. In 1918 the tobacco manufactured in Cuba was valued at 33,829,627 pesos, and consisted of 331,705,125 cigars, 341,803,660 boxes of cigarettes, and 378,426 pounds of cut tobacco. In the year ending June 30, 1919, 135,290,443 cigars and 9,037,301 boxes of cigarettes were exported. In 1918-19 the sugar ciop was4, 446,229 tons (valued at 457, 305, 858 dollars): in 1919-20 it was 3,735,425 tons (valued at 1,005,451,080 dollars). The total area of the sugar plantations is 1,384,812 acres. In 1918-19 there were 211 sugar mills. Rice growing has recently been started. The principal fruits exported were pineapples, bananas, citrus fruit, and cocoanuts. The production of honey in 1917-18 amounted to 165,000,000 gallons, of which 125,000,000 gallons were exported.

Cuba's production of rum in 1915 was 696,067 gallons, and in 1914, 420,517 gallons; of alcohol, 2,021,116 gallons in 1915, and 649,722 gallons in 1914.

On December 31, 1918, the live stock in the island consisted of 3,965,600 head of cattle, 779,496 horses, and 64,570 mules.

Cuba has forest lands, many of which are in private ownership, but the forests belonging to the State have an area of about 1,250,000 acres. These forests contain valuable cabinet woods, such as mahogany and cedar, besides dye-woods, fibres, gums, resins, and oils. Cedar is used locally for cigar- boxes, and mahogany is exported. Many other hard woods are used for railway sleepers, carts, ploughs and other local purposes.

In the district of Santiago de Cuba, copper, manganese, and iron mines are worked. The iron mines employ over 4, 000 workmen, and supply on an average 50,000 tons of ore per month to the United States. Gold is found but little worked. There are rich beds of asphalt which are not largely worked. Great efforts are being made to develop petroleum wells.

Commerce.

The value of the imports and exports (including bullion and specie) for 5 years (1915-1917, ending June 30, and 1918 and 1919 calendar years) were as follows : —

-

1015

1916

1917

1918

1919

£

54,514,611 73,369,102

£ 59,524,443 82,665,060

£

71,515,304 114,582,074

Imports Exports

31,089,644 60,858,353

49,655,655 71,314,270

The imports and exports were distributed as follows

Countries

United States.

Other American Couutries

United Kingdom

Spain. . ., ,

France. . ..

Other European countries

Other countries.

Total

Imports from

1919

1918

Dollars

222,262,276

30,867,088

9,154,567 10,892,529 7,044,221 2,862,838 26,149,261

Dollars 272,192,946 •27,257,687

8, 746, 505 i ■:<] 1,198

9,905,719

3, 257,488 20,305,020

Exports to

297,622,215 357,570,522

1918

Dollars

293,997,619

9,428,079

95,817,20.)

6,775,875

5,656,957

495,154

1,154,301

413,325,251

1919

Dollars

23, 04 1.87S 6,646,679 1,909,987

572,91«,373