HENEQUEN
Next to the “Manila hemp” of the Philippines, which is really a variety
of the banana, the henequen of Yucatan is probably the most important
cordage plant in the world. The name henequen is of Aztec origin, and
the plant itself, a variety of the agave or century plant family, is
indigenous to Yucatan, whence it has been introduced not only into other
sections of Mexico but also into Cuba, Central America and the west
coast of South America. No satisfactory substitute has been found for
henequen in the manufacturing of binder twine, so essential to the
harvesting of the big grain crops in the Western States of America.
Revolutions in Mexico following the overthrow of Porfirio Diaz succeeded
for a time at least in paralyzing if not destroying the sisal industry
that had made Yucatan celebrated throughout the world and had caused
Merida to be known as a city of millionaires; and shortly before the
beginning of the great European War, men who had devoted their lives to
henequen culture and who feared that Mexico could no longer be relied on
for this product, began to look over the Cuban field for opportunity for
the more extensive cultivation of the plant.
A superficial survey convinced them that large areas of soft lime rock
land, covered with a thin layer of rich red soil, furnishing all the
elements essential to the successful growth of henequen, were to be had
in Cuba. Similar soils are found in Yucatan, where the average annual
rainfall and general climatic conditions are so nearly like those of
Cuba that it is fairly to be assumed that a crop which will do well in
the one land will also flourish in the other. In consequence, large
areas, in which Cuban, Spanish and American capitalists are
interested, have been planted with henequen in Cuba.
[Illustration: THE GOMEZ BUILDING
One of the finest business buildings in Havana is the great Gomez
Building, which occupies an entire block fronting upon the beautiful
Central Park and reached by way of the Prado. Although only five stories
in height, it vies in appearance and commodiousness with the best
business buildings in any American city. Its site was well chosen for
the display of its handsome architecture and commanding proportions, and
it stands in proximity to the National Theatre and other noteworthy
structures.]
The first planting on a large scale was done by the Carranza Brothers,
of Havana, just south of the city of Matanzas, about twenty years ago;
Don Luis Carranza having married a daughter of Don Olegario Molino, of
Yucatan, and thus having become interested in the characteristic
industry of the latter country. A company of Germans afterward purchased
the property and close by the railroad station erected a very complete
plant for the decortication of the henequen and the manufacture of its
fibre into rope and cordage of all sizes, from binder twine to
twelve-inch cables. From this establishment for years the Cuban demand
was chiefly supplied.
Shortly after Cuba, in 1917, followed the United States in declaring war
against Germany, the Spanish Bank of Havana purchased this property from
the owners, and at once increased its capital stock to six millions of
dollars; two and a half million preferred and three and a half million
common stock. At the present time the estate consists of three
plantations on which henequen is grown, located at Matanzas, Ytabo and
Nuevitas, with a total area of 120 caballerias or 4,000 acres of land.
It is said that owing to the demands of the European War, and the rise
of the price from 7¢ to 19-1/2¢ per pound, the net returns of the
Matanzas Cordage Company the first year after purchasing the estate
amounted to $800,000.
The International Harvester Company of the United States has purchased a
tract of 3,300 acres of excellent henequen land near the city of
Cardenas, on the north coast of the province of Matanzas, for experiment
and demonstration, and under the direction of Yucatecos familiar with
the industry has planted it in henequen. This action was taken by this
company largely because of the uncertain and unsatisfactory conditions
of the henequen industry in Yucatan, caused by Mexican revolutions and
the arbitrary conduct of Mexican officials. In the year 1916,
444,400,000 pounds of henequen were exported from the Gulf ports of
Mexico and sold almost entirely in the United States, at 15¢ per pound,
since which time the price has risen to 19-1/2¢ per pound. This
unprecedented figure was brought about by the practical seizure of the
Yucatan crop by ex-Governor Alvarado, who allowed the actual growers
only 7¢ per pound for the sisal, he appropriating the difference between
that and the market price in New York.
Twenty more caballerias or 666 acres of henequen are owned by
independent parties in the neighborhood of Nuevitas, on the north coast
of the Province of Camaguey. The Director-General of Posts and
Telegraph, Colonel Charles Hernandez, with a few associates, has
purchased 175,000 acres along the southern shore of the Little Zapata,
that forms the extreme western end of Pinar del Rio. It is proposed to
establish here large plantations of henequen, that will give employment
to many natives of the tobacco district who are now out of work during
some seasons of the year.
The City of Cardenas, on the north coast, promises soon to become
another great henequen center, and the traveler riding west over the
main automobile drive leading out of Cardenas may view a panorama of
growing henequen spread out on both sides of the road as far as the eye
can reach. The peculiar bluish green of this plant growth, dotted with
royal palms, adds an odd color effect to the landscape, not easily
forgotten.
Putting the maximum annual production of henequen or sisal hemp in
Yucatan at 1,200,000 bales, of 400 pounds to the bale, and assuming an
average yield of three bales per acre, indicates that about 400,000
acres of land are actually producing hemp in that country; and allowing
for a margin of twenty five per cent of such area, to cover and provide
for depletion and propagation, it would seem that about 500,000 acres of
land is the approximate area now actually planted with and growing
henequen on that peninsula. These statements are made to justify the
calling of attention to the fact that large areas of more or less flat,
rocky lands exist in various localities throughout the island of Cuba,
notably in the western extremity of the Province of Pinar del Rio, along
the north coast from the city of Matanzas to the Bahia de Cardenas, on
the Cayos and, at intervals, along the north coast from Caibarien to the
Bay of Nipe, and especially along the Caribbean Coast, in the vicinity
of the Cienaga de Zapata; all of which lands are possessed of the same
physical characteristics, and are subject to the same climatic
conditions that apply to the lands in Yucatan now planted with henequen
and at the present time successfully producing sisal hemp. The aggregate
of these several areas of henequen lands is conservatively estimated at
not less than 1,000,000 acres: or double the area now planted with
henequen in Yucatan.
About 9,000 acres of these Cuban lands are now actually planted with and
successfully growing henequen; and about 5,000 acres are now producing
sisal hemp which in quantity and quality compares favorably with the
product of the best henequen lands in Yucatan. The results obtained from
these lands now actually planted and producing are conclusive as to the
results that could be obtained if other and larger areas of such lands
should be planted with henequen.
Furthermore a large part of these Cuban henequen lands are so level and
have such uniform, unbroken surfaces that, at an expense less than that
involved in preparing the henequen lands of Yucatan, they could be put
in condition to be kept clean mainly by motor-driven mowing machinery,
instead of the enormously expensive man-power machete system employed
upon the rougher lands of Yucatan. In addition to such advantages these
rocky areas either comprise, or are margined by, large areas of rich
land capable of producing many important items required for human
sustenance; while in Yucatan everything needed to sustain human life has
to be imported.
Finally, when consideration is given to the fact that sugar cane must be
cut during the dry season, while henequen can be cut and defibered more
advantageously during the wet season, it will readily be seen that the
co-ordination of these two operations, whenever possible, will tend to
solve and favorably determine the problem and cost of labor involved in
the production of both sugar and hemp. Administration expenses would
also be reduced by such co-ordination. These several advantages should,
therefore, contribute to make Cuba an active competitor with Yucatan for
the sisal hemp business, within the near future. The plan projected by
R. G. Ward for the drainage and development of the lands contained in
the Cienaga de Zapata, already mentioned in a preceding chapter of this
volume, contemplates the co-ordination of the sugar and hemp industries
upon a scale so large and comprehensive as to merit great success. The
consummation of such an enterprise should make a definitely favorable
and permanent impression upon the future of the two industries involved.
With a proper combination of capital and enterprise, the henequen-hemp
business in Cuba could readily be developed to a point where it would
rank second only to sugar in importance and profit yielding
possibilities; and such development should have a direct bearing upon
the certainty of supply and cost of the daily bread of the people of the
whole earth. It is, therefore, worthy of the most serious consideration.
Henequen offers many advantages to capital, especially to those
investors who dislike to take chances on returns. First of all, the crop
is absolutely sure, if planted on the right soil. Lack of rains or long
droughts are matters of no importance, and the plant will continue to
thrive and grow without deterioration in the quality of fiber. In Cuba
this growth is said to average one inch on each leaf per month, and
since it grows, as an old expert expressed it, “both day and night, rain
or shine, even on Sundays and feast days, there is nothing to worry
about.” Also it has practically no enemies. Cattle will not eat it
unless driven by starvation, which could not occur in Cuba. The crop is
never stolen, as the product could not be sold in small quantities.
Since the plant is grown on rocky lands, the leaves may be cut and
conveyed to the decortication plant at any season of the year.
The life of the henequen plant is fifteen to twenty years, and the
average yield in Cuba is said to be about 70 pounds of fiber to every
1,000 leaves, and over 100 pounds are said to have been secured in
favorable localities. This compares well with the average yield in
Yucatan. In this connection it may be noted that at the World’s
Exhibition in Buffalo, sisal hemp made from henequen in Cuba won the
world medal in competition with Yucatan and other countries.
The following is an authentic estimate of the cost of growing henequen
and producing sisal or fibre from the same in Cuba. One hundred acres
are used as the unit of measure:
Cost of 100,000 plants @ $40 per M $ 4,000
Cost of preparing land 1,000
Cost of planting @ $5 per M 500
Cost of caring for and cultivation during four years 2,500
------
$8,000
Cost of cutting, conveying, decortication and baling 4,000
-------
$12,000
The returns from the first cutting four years after planting should be:
100,000 plants with 30 leaves to the plant yield, 3,000,000 leaves
3,000,000 leaves (60 lbs. fiber each 1000 leaves) 210,000
lbs. @ 10¢ per lb $21,000
Cost of production 12,000
-------
Net profit per 100 acres $9,000
-------
Net profit per acre $90
Practical work in the field has demonstrated the fact that the cost of
producing henequen fibre or sisal, if carried on during a period of ten
years with the present price of labor, will amount to three cents per
pound, or $6,300 for the production of 210,000 pounds of fibre coming
from 100 acres of land. To this may be added for interest on capital
invested and possible depreciation of plant or property, $1,700, making
a total of $8,000.
This sum, representing the average annual cost of producing, subtracted
from $21,000, the normal value of the crop at 10¢ per pound, will leave
a net return of $13,000 for the 100 acres, or $130 net profit per acre.