New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-03
GREAT GAIN FOR EXPORTERS.

The advantages of the commercial treaty with
Spain are divided equally between American
farmers and manufacturers. w. II. L. Hughes
manager Of the New York and Cuba Mail, Is
more familiar with the tNde OF the island than
any other merchant Of this town, and his en-
thusiastic comments upon the Convention ex-
pressed in yesterdays Issue are decisive lie
declares that American manufacturers can mo-
nopolze the trade of the island under the new
conditions. il they will only find out what are
the precise requirements of the people. Inc
concession of 80 per cent on glass and stone
ware, hardware and cutlery, furniture, rubber
goods and many other manufactures, and OF 20
per cent on petroleum, cotton manufactures
rope. paper, leather, boots and shoes, TRUNKS
watches. clocks, carriages and many other ar
ticles will suffice for the introduction OF Ameri-
can goods if the trade be inteligentiy sought
and Systematically developed. The Tree nSt IN
cludes, moreover large classes OF iron manu-
features, machinery wood manufactures anu
provisions Of all kinds. Canada is threatened
with the loss of it's trade in fish, potatoes, vege-
tables, hay, beans and provisions. American
merchants with superior shipping facilities VIII
inevitably crowd out their northern competitors.
American flour paying practically about ~
cents barrel will drive Spanish flour ont OF the
market. Except for revenue purposes the Mad
rid Government might as well have put IL on the
free list, for with so small a discrimination III
favor of Spanish -four it cannot hold It's place
in the Cuban market The reduction OF duties
from So 60 IL to 90 cents will enormously
cbosgen the cost of living on the island. Thou
sands of natives who have never eaten wheat
bread will now have il at low prices. The re-
dnction of duties on provisions of all kinds VIII
have corresponding effects The number OF
consumers of American food products VIII be
largely increased by cheap prices and the export
trade from this market will be more thar
doubled the i1iSt wear. A glance at the tar1
schedules Of the island now in force Will CON
vince the most sceptica opponent Of the Adj
mnstration that a very great impetus will be
imparted to C1e export trade by the reciprocity
negotiations. The treaty is great gain for the
industrial interests OF the United States and es-
pecially for farmers and the iron trade
The placing of coal on the free list may have
an important effect upon the methods OF sugar
production in the island. Two large mills dur
ing the last year have been experimenting WIN
marked success in the manufacture of sugar by
the diffusion process. In Europe this Is the
method employed in making beet sugar, and by
the invention Of labor-saving machinery the cost
has been greatly cheapened. When cane is
treated in the same way much larger percent
age of sugar is obtained than by the ordinary
milling process. Coal, however, is essential as
fuel and 50 long as there was duty upon 1t
there was no hope of introducing the diffusion
process on large scale. Free coal, which can
be carried down for low rates from Newport
News Baltimore and Philadelphia in the fleet
of ore steamers already in the iron trade of
Santiago, will enable planters to test the new
method in an economical way. Great results
may follow.