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vately owned passenger automobiles. On the same date, according to rough estimates, there were about 175,000 radios and 20,000 mechanical household refrigerators in use throughout Cuba.

CHIEF ECONOMIC ACTIVTIES

Agriculture. Although Cuba has during recent years made substantial progress toward agricultural and industrial diversification, the island is still dependent mainly upon sugar for its prosperity. The volume and value of sugar exports are determining factors in the economic trend, and are directly reflected in imports and other commercial activities. During 1933, when exports of sugar and molasses reached a low level of $61,000,000, Cuba's imports aggregated only $42,000,000. Improved returus from the sale of Cuban sugar in the United States market (which purchases from 75 to 80 percent of all Cuban exports) resulted from tariff concessions under the Reciprocal Trade Agreement of 1934 between Cuba and the United States, and from sugar legislation enacted in the United States in 1934 and subsequent years. As a result, Cuban sugar and molasses exports had in 1937 increased to about $146,000,000 and imports to about $130,000,000. In 1938, however, when sugar prices were somewhat lower, imports were roughly $23,500,000 below those of the preceding year.

Although exports of Cuban tobacco and tobacco products have been gradually declining during recent years, they nevertheless totaled almost $15,000,000 in 1937, and exports of fresh fruits and winter vegetables aggregated almost half that amount.

Agricultural diversification, stimulated by the protective-tariff policy inaugurated in 1927, has made substantial progress, and Cuba is now self-sufficient in a number of farm products, including coffee, corn, eggs, dairy products, and jerked beef, which were formerly purchased abroad in substantial quantities.

Mining. Mineral production consists mainly of iron, copper, manganese, and chrome. Cuba estimatedly has one of the largest iron-ore reserves in the world. Exports of minerals (chiefly the four just named) amounted to more than $7,000,000 in 1937. The mining of gold is on the increase; other ores mined include silicious ore and barytes. Petroleum and natural naphtha are produced in small quantities, but several foreign companies are engaged in large-scale drilling operations in the hope of finding oil in important quantities.

Manufacturing.-Although Cuba's principal industrial activity is the manufacture of sugar, there are many secondary industries on the island. Some of these-cigar making, cabinet making, distilling, brewing, confectionery manufacture, petroleum refining, and paper making-have been established for many years; while others-including the spinning, weaving, and knitting industries, meat packing, vegetable and fruit canning,

manufacture of tin and other containers, paint and varnish manufacture-post-date the 1927 tariff.

Industrial development has been handicapped by a lack of natural power resources. No coal is found on the island, and its hydroelectric resources are extremely limited. Should explorations for petroleum lead to the production of oil on a large scale, it would doubtlessly provide an important stimulus to further industrial expansion.

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

TRANSPORTATION

Representatives visiting Cuba usually go directly to Habana, the most important commercial center and distributing point, through which more than 70 percent of Cuba's imports clear. If other cities are to be visited, an itinerary may be easily arranged.

STEAMSHIP SERVICE.-The Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Co. operates an overnight service from Miami to Habana. During the winter months, from about December 15 to March 15, this company operates a daily service from Miami to Habana and return; during the remainder of the year sailings from Miami are twice weekly. The Peninsular & Occidental also offers year-round sailings, twice weekly, from Tampa, via Key West, to Habana.

From New York.-Steamship service out of New York is frequent, several lines offering direct service between New York and Habana. The New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co. (Ward Line) and the United Fruit Co. operate weekly services; while the Munargo Line (a United Fruit Co. subsidiary) operates a fortnightly service via Nassau and Miami.

From New Orleans.-The United Fruit Co. operates a weekly direct service from New Orleans to Habana, while the Vaccaro Line (Standard Fruit & Steamship Co.) offers a weekly service on its south-bound trip only.

Other Services. The Lykes Bros.-Ripley Steamship Co. offers approximate fortnightly sailings from Houston and Galveston to Habana on their south-bound trip. The United Fruit Co. offers weekly sailings from Boston to Habana; this service, however, is not on a definite schedule. Ships of the Panama-Pacific Steamship Co. call weekly at Habana on the east-bound trip of their coast-to-coast service; while ships of the Grace Line call at Habana every 3 weeks on the north-bound voyage of their service between New York and the west coast of South America. During the winter months, cruise ships touring the Caribbean, or making a round-the-world cruise, frequently make Habana a port of call; and on these the traveler can often obtain passage from New York to Cuba.

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Several lines offer regular sailings from Habana to Mexico and Central American countries and the Panama Canal Zone. The United Fruit Co. boats also call at Santiago de Cuba en route to Honduras and Guatemala, and the Pacific Steam & Navigation Co. offers approximate monthly sailings from Habana to Kingston (Jamaica), Panama, and South America.

European lines operate regular services between Habana and parts of Europe, Central America, and South America.

AIR SERVICE.-Pan American Airways maintains daily service between Miami and Habana. Several planes are operated daily during the tourist season (from about December 15 to March 15).

In addition, Cuba is connected through the international service of Pan American Airways with other points of Latin America by regularly scheduled flights as follows: HabanaMexico, weekly; Habana-Central America, via Cristobal, twice weekly; Habana-South America, via the Atlantic and the Antilles, three times a week, and via the Pacific, twice weekly. There is a connection with Jamaica three times a week. At Antilla connection is made three times a week for Miami, and also three times a week for Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Atlantic coast of South America. At Santiago de Cuba the line connects with the international service for Jamaica once a week, and for Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and South America once a week also. From Cienfuegos, connections are made three times a week for Jamaica, and twice a week for Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the Atlantic coast of South America, also twice a week for Cristobal, Panama, and the Pacific coast of South America.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION.-Steamship Service. The Isle of Pines Steamship Co., in conjunction with the United Railways of Habana, offers sailings from Batabano, Habana Province, to Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). First-class through fare, one way, $6.40; round trip, $10.23, good for 15 days. Train leaves Habana at 7:25 p. m. and arrives at Batabano at 9 p. m. the same day. Boats leave immediately upon arrival of train, arriving at Nueva Gerona at about 7 the following morning. The through boat-train fare includes stateroom on the boat.

The Empresa Naviera de Cuba, S. A. (Cia. Naviera de Cuba, S. A.) offers frequent coastwise service sailings, calling at practically every Cuban outport. Every 3 weeks they operate a round-trip service from Habana to La Guaira, Venezuela, via Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, Ciudad Trujillo (Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and Curacao.

Air Service. The Cia. Nacional Cubana de Aviacion, S. A. (subsidiary of Pan American Airways) operates a daily (except Sunday) passenger and mail service between Habana and Guantanamo, via Cienfuegos, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Manzanillo,

Preston, and Santiago, and a service between Santiago and Baracoa, with Antilla, Preston, and Cayo Mambi; also a service, three times weekly, from Santiago to Baracoa, via Guantanamo. Railroads. There are about 3,500 miles of steam railways in Cuba. All important commercial centers can be reached by railway. The two most important lines-the United Railways of Habana and the Cuba Railroad-collaborate in operating a through service from Habana to Santiago de Cuba. The junction point of the two railways is at the city of Santa Clara.

The standard first-class fare on Cuban railroads is 2 cents per passenger-kilometer, but substantially lower rates are in effect between points where active bus competition is encountered. Several of the railroads offer special round-trip weekend rates, in some instances at considerable saving over the straight one-way fare.

COMMUNICATION

Telephones.-There is telephone service in almost every locality in Cuba; telephone installations throughout the island totaled 52,847 as of December 31, 1938. Long-distance telephone service to most foreign countries and radiotelephonic communication to ships at sea are available.

Postage. The first-class letter rate from the United States to Cuba is 3 cents per ounce or fraction thereof. Daily airmail service between Cuba and the United States is available at a letter rate of 10 cents per half ounce or fraction thereof. Cuban post offices issue and cash international money orders. Parcel-post service between the United States and Cuba is offered, and rates are reasonable.

Newspapers.-Several Spanish-language daily newspapers are published in Habana, the most widely read of which are the "Diario de la Marina," "El Pais," "El Mundo," "El Crisol," and "Avance." Other important Spanish-language daily newspapers are published throughout the island. There is one Englishlanguage daily, The Havana Post, which circulates largely among American residents.

Telegraph.-The Cuban Government maintains the domestic telegraph system through approximately 374 telegraph offices distributed over the island.

Cables. The Western Union Telegraph Co. operates three cables between Habana and Key West, from which point connection is made with all parts of the United States. The West Indies Cable & Wireless Ltd. (part of the British Imperial System) maintains cable service between Habana, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba. Cable service is available to the islands south of Cuba.

The Cuban All American Cable Co. (Postal Telegraph) has direct submarine cables to New York and Miami. This company maintains three cables between New York and Fisherman's

Point (Guantanamo Bay), Cuba, for the West Indies and both coasts of South America.

Wireless. The Cuba Transatlantic Radio Corporation, a subsidiary of the Radio Corporation of America, has the following wireless direct circuits; Habana to New York; Habana to San Juan, P. R.; Habana to Madrid; Habana to Berlin; and Habana to New Orleans. It also has a domestic circuit within the Republic of Cuba, between Habana and its branch offices at Cienfuegos, Camaguey, and Santiago de Cuba.

The wireless service formerly handled by the United Fruit Co. at Cape San Antonio, Cuba, communicating with Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, New Orleans, and Panama, is now taken care of by the Cuba Transatlantic Radio Corporation. In addition to its telegraph and wireless service, the Cuba Transatlantic Radio Corporation maintains a Program Transmission Service, through a radio link, between Cuba and the United States, by means of which Cuban broadcast stations are connected with the broadcast networks of the United States.

The Press Wireless of the United States maintains a press circuit between New York and Habana, the Habana terminal being operated by Teleradio, S. A., a Cuban corporation.

A coast-to-steamer radio service is operated by the Cuban Government, which maintains radio apparatus at Morro Castle (in Habana), Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, and Santiago de Cuba.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

There are no specific requirements regulating the entrance of American or other foreign commercial travelers in Cuba. American commercial travelers enter Cuba as tourists or transients. No formalities are necessary for tourists remaining in Cuba not more than 6 months or for transients whose sojourn does not exceed 30 days. No passports or visas are required of American citizens.

It is recommended that commercial representatives or others entering Cuba for an indefinite or permanent stay obtain (from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in Washington, D. C.) full information as to the requirements in their case.

ARRIVAL AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Baggage. Ordinary baggage, consisting of wearing apparel, toilet necessities, and other articles for personal use, is not subject to duty. Personal baggage can be dispatched to Cuba from any point in the United States through an express agency. It is suggested, however, that the traveler, whenever possible, bring all needed baggage with him, so as to facilitate its customs clearance on arrival in Cuba.

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