The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-08-25
our { !, TRADE. y 1IT1tH III CUBA.
An Inviting Field tor the Mnterprise
Oharacteristic Of Anet3oanS.
xxfensavo Trado TransActlons Deewesa
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1Gathaes feE Un3esA 1&oeeo

Troy Press. Inc 6c0rclLy OF UuStWO1.
thy statistics renders 1t impossible to
do more thsn approximate in touching
upon the commercial relations between
that country and the United States,,
and the best data that can be obtained
in this direction come from the British
consul general at Havana. While Cuba
raises and exports to this country vast
amoun<s Of tobacco, Its exports of
sugar greatly outweigh In value the
tohacco 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-
zine BY e. Sherman Gould, c. e.. shows
that between 1891 and 1894 Cuba fur.
nished one-third Of the. entire cane
sugar production Of the world. No
doubt much of this expectation to this
country in turn Is exported In other
forms, certain quantity finding It's
way back to Cuba in the formof sweet
goods" Itmay be said, therefore, that
the entire commercial existence. Of
the island, Il dependent. upon sugar.
On the other hand the cultivation OF
the cane, the grinding OF it, the treat
ment of the Juice and the necessary
transportation require vast amount
OF machinery. implements, rails, locor
motives and other rolling stock.
The total yearly value Of all czports
from Cuba to this country Is; estimated
at about 500, ,ooo, 600. This great value
in exports, then, is sent by . country
without manufactures to the great
est manufacturing country in the
world, aud one In which the danger Of
overproductiop is supposed to be =
standing menace, It is therefore, ap-
parent that these imports should be
paid for by us with manufactured
goods. Yet the balance OF 'trnde is
largely against us. The total value Of
the exports from the United States to
Cuba last year was but about 81, ,6O0,-
600, less than one-half the value of the
imports from that country. There is
evidently room for over $50, ,OO0, 900
worth Of our manufactured goods in
Cuban markets. Worse than this, about
one-hah of the value Of our exports
the past year-which is proportionate-
" the same for many preceding years
consisted Of bread-stuffs, provisions,
ETC., while wood and woodworks
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 prosperitv and even her very cx-
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 c.n-
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
'son the square" The market is one that
recognizes and fully appreciates fair
dealing. Further, the Americans are at a
disadvantage, we are inforned- by their
careless selection Of their representa-
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 toau countries, for that
matter. There would be little com
plant Of overproduction If we were To
take advantage Of every market that
| offered, no matter how insignificant 1t
might at first appear. We should be
constantly on the lookout for new
marlets in every psrt 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 IL hardly con
sistent to see the balance OF trade
against as 90 heavily - Is shown BY
the figures given by tho British consul