The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-19
The HAWAIIAN TRADE.
STATISTICAL CIRCULAR ISSUE or
INTEREST AT THIS TIME.
Over Ninety Per Cent Of the Commerce Was
With the United States.

washington, July 19.-Hawaiian COM
merce during the last 10 years Is the SUD
iect of a circular just issued by the de-
partment OF agriculture. The paper
was prepared by #. ii. Hitchcock. chiet
of the division Of foreign markets. under
the direction Of Secretary Wilson. The
facts set forth bear directly upon the
current discussion OF the annexation
OF the Hawaiian islands to the United
States and are as follows:
1.-THE comparison Of statistics shows
that the United States controls 30 per
cent of the entire trade of the islands.
The total value Of exports and Imports
of Hawaii for 1896 was $21.57S,SS2. OF
which about two-thirds, $15.515,2S0 was
the value OF goods exported. The aver
age of exports Of the 10 years. 1SS7-1S96.
was $l1, ,052. .141, and of imports, $5.422, 459,
leaving an average balance OF $5,62S, 6Sl
in favor Of exports.
On this traffic 91-2 per cent was with the
United States during the first five years
Of the decade, and In the second five
years this lead Of this country over other
countries was increased to 81 .92 per cent.
Another ID preston of the situation may
be gained from the statement that our
trade with the island in 1885, according
to Hawaiian statistics, reached $50, ,924,-
3OG, the largest amount ever recorded,
while the highest figures previously were
for 1890, when a total Of 81, ,332, ,631. 80 was
reported.
The United States, however. does not
vet hold so high a position in furnishing
goods for Hawaii as in taking the pro-
ducts of the islands. If the average OF
exports for the 10 years. nearly 81, ,00O,-
600 a year. the United States has bought
practically all. Only " of per cent has
been sold to other countries. or the
goods purchased by Hawaii on the other
hand. the United States furnished only
about three -fourths.
However, II is chiefly In our sales to
the islands that the trade Is growing.
The annual average Of these sales for
the five years, 1887-1891, was 81 ,376, 312,
but for 1891 90. $4,496275; while the ex-
ports to Hawaii for last year amounted
to St, ,464. .20S. nearly 100000 more than
for any previous year.
The goods coming from Hawaii to the
United States are mainly agricultural
products, while the shipments in the
other directions, except breadstuffs, are
chiefly manufactured. Our imports OF
sugar make the largest item In the trade,
while our imports Of rice come next.
Next in order are our exports OF bread
stuffs, cotton goods. fertilizers, ma
chinery. lumber. tobacco, wire and
chemicals II is noticeable that ship
ments of American live stock, meats.
apples and corn amount y very little.
Prior to 1875, when the first reciprocity
treaty was made between the United
States and Hawaii. their total commerce
averaged only 81. $50. 1885, Since that date
a comparatively steady growth has
brought the total to more than Ave times
that amount. Figures are furnished FOL
the first 10 months Of the fiscal year 1897
as compared with the same period fr
1896. They show large increases In the
important items of trade. The other
countries whose trade with Hawaii ap-
pears to be growing are China anc
Japan, taken together. ard Canada.