The St. Johns herald., 1894-11-29
OUR TRADE WITH CUBA.
An Inviting Field for the Enterprise
 Characteristic of Americans.
Extensive Trade Transactions Between This Country and the Island-Good Markets for United States
 Products

Cuba is country of practically two products-sugar and tobacco-and one zlarllet-the United States, says the Troy Press. The scarcity of trustwor- thy statistics renders it impossible to do moro than approximate in touching upon the commercial relations between that country and the United States, and the best data that can be obtained ia this direction come from the British consul general at Havana. While Cuba raises and exports to this country vast amounts of tobacco, it's exports of sugar greatly outweigh in value the tobacco production. Further than this nine-tenths of the entire amount of sugar exported comes to this coun- try. The table referred to, which is reproduced in the Engineering Maga- zire by E. Sherman Gould, c. E., shows that between 1891 and 1894 Cuba fur nished Cne-third of the entire cane augar production of the world. No doubt much of this exportation to this country in turn is exported in other forms, a certain quantity finding its way back to Cuba in the form of sweet goods" It may be said, therefore, that the entire commercial existence of the island is dependent upon sugar. On the other hand the cultivation of the cane, the grinding of it, the treat E1cnt Of the juice and the necessary transportation require vast amount of machinery, implements, rails, loco motives and other rolling stock.
 The total yearly value of all exports from Cuba to this country is estimated 2t about SGO, 100000. This great value in exports, then, is sent by d country without manufactures to the great ct manufacturing country in the world, and one in which the danger of oycrproduction is supposed to be standing menace. It is, therefore, ap- parent that these imports should be paid for by us with manufactured gCods. Yet the balance of trade is largely against us. The total value of the exports from the United States to Cuba last year was but about S23, ,60O,- 600, less than one-half the value of the imports from that country. There is evidently room for over S3O000,000 worth of our manufactured goods in Cuban markets. Worse thansthis, about one-haf of the value of our exports the past year-which is proportionate- ly the same for many preceding years consisted of bread-stuffs, provisions, etc, while wood and woodworlzs amounted to about one-eighth, and coal, iron, hardware and machinery en- tered the list for about One-fourth of the entire amount.
 Without going further into detail it is sufficient to state that Cuba offers an inviting field for American enterprise. Her prosperity and even her very ex- iStence may be said to depend upon her commercial relations with this coun- try. It ought to be comparatively easy for us to complete the commercial con quest of the island; but, as we have said in referring previously to our commercial transactions with other countries, we should deal with her only lon the square" The market is one that recognizes and fully appreciates fair dealing, Further, the Americans are at a disadvantage, we are uniformed, by their  tives in Cuban markets. Many of them are reported to be too sharp dealers, and few of them are able to speak Spanish. We should be ready to give the Cubans exactly what they want and are willing to pay for. The rule should apply to all countries, for that matter. There would be little com plaint of overproduction if we were to take advantage of every market that offered, no matter how insignificant it might at first appear. We should be constantly on the lookout for new markets in every part of the world and for every product manufactured with in this country. With the United States practically in control of the commerce of Cuba, it is hardly con- sistent to see the balance of trade against us so heavily as is shown by the figures given by the British consul general at Havana.