The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-19
CENTRAL AMERICAN TRADE.

Competition Between the United states
and European Countries.
New York Journal Of Finance
The foreign commerce of the Eve Central
American republics is from $35. 000, 600 to
$40 00O, 600 yearly, the exports being $21.-
100000 and the imports from SIS. 600 900 10
81 100000. The largest trade is done by
Guatemala. and her little competitor, San
Salvador, follows closely after, the trade of
each averaging about SIC, 0OO. 600 annually
Costa RIGA has trade of about 81 900, goo
and Nicaragua about IS 500. 900, the repub-
lie of Honduras and British Honduras
each having about s., 000. 600.
The largest share of the export is in
coffee, of which the various states contrib
ute about $1l, OO0, 600 annually, Guatemala
and Costa Rica being the largest producers.
About one-sixth of the supply of the Ham,
burg market is secured from these coun-
tries and distributed from thence into
every section of the world. Silver is also
largely exported. and various products of
the field and forest Bananas, oranges
and lemons, nuts and fruits are exported
in large quantities. OF the total produce
sent to foreign ports 81. 623 600 came to this
country, SC, 5a6,O00 to Great Britain and
81, 12S, eco to France.
The imports received are mainly from
the United States. In cotton goods.
however, the English market supplies
the demand, notwithstanding the close
proximity OF our own manufactures.
The English study the wants of the
market, and are able to undcrsell the
American goods, both upon plain goods
and those of o better quality. The
Americans do not furnish the kind of
goods required, do not cut them the
proper lengths and are apt to bestow too
much labor upon them. 1t is claimed also
that to some extent. the Americans pre-
stunning upon the ignorance of the trade in
these states, have sent to their markets
goods which were underweigat or OF lower
quality than was represented. This, 1t Is
said, has somewhat affected the trade with
this country.
In breadstuffs we send to Central Amer
lea about 1921 900 in value, and possess
complete monopoly of the trade, SO far as
there is any demand for fionr and wheat.
The main food for the masses OF population
in those countries is mixtures OF corn.
ground by the same agencies which were
in vogue in ancient Egypt In IRON ana
steel we furnish about $3.50. 900 per year; in
provisions. $o65 900, and In wood anu man
ufactures, $204 600.
England. on the other hand. sent TO
Central America over 5000, 600 In cotton
goods. WUlte our OWN iEi pUAtA W sHNoo
republics were valued at only $5oOooo. In
iron and steel which were the only other
large importations Of Great Britain, the
English were somewhat below our own I'M
portation. The total importation by Great
Britain was 81. 70s. 600, three-iourths OF
which was cotton goods, while our own To-
tai was 81, 49,, 900.
Both in exports and imports our trade
is increasing rapidly with the countries OF
Central America. our imports having IN
creased from $40. 900 900 to SIG, 000 600. while
in exports to this country the trade has
increased from $14 ZOO. 600 to $4,000, co..
OF the goods admitted from these countries
into our ports, about 4 per cent. are
dutieble.
Our trade with this section is showing
material increase in recent years. With
British Honduras il has increased rapidly.
Our steamers largely outnumber those OF
England in the ports Of this country,