The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-19
CUT IN OUR CUBAN COMMERCE..
The War Costing This Country Heavy
Loss In Trade.

Washington, June ia significant re-
port on our trade with Cuba for 1887 TO
1897, prepared by Chief Hitchcock of the
foreign markets section of the agricul-
tural department. has been promulgated
by Secretary of Agriculture Wilson.
The statistics show very clearly the eff
feet OF the present hostllities in Cuba
upon the commercial intercourse OF the
United States with the island.
During the last fiscal year, 1896, the to-
tai value of our Cuban trade amounted
to only A7,5is,6l0 as compared with $1O2-
S6i,2N in 1898, the year preceding the
breaking out of the war. This was fall
ing off OF more than 50 per cent. In three
years.
Returns already available for the cur
rent fiscal year indicate n still further
decline. the records for the nine months
ending, March 81, 1897, placing the total
value of trade for that period as low as
$14 ,926,Sl7
At this rate the figures of the fiscal year
1897 will hardly erach 500 000. 600, OF less than
one-hfth the value recorded for 1898
During the early years of the present
decade our Cuban trade had received
material impetus, the years 1887 to 1898,
inclusive, showing uninterrupted gains
and but for the opening OF the war a stlll
greater expansion, IL Is predicted, probably
would have followed. AS 1t Is, however,
commercial interchange between the
United States and Cuba has been very
largely abridged.
Continuing, the report says: "Our inn
ports from Cuba have generally been much
in excess Of our exports to that island,
the balance of trade being decidedly
against the United States. During the
ten years, 1887 to 1896, the value of the
merchandise imported averaged $59. 1858, $50
per annum and that Of the merchandise
exported TO only $l4.Ol7,572 per annum. In
1896. the imports fell to $40Ol7. 73O; exports
to H,530SS0. The remarkable decline In
our trade with Cuba from July 1, 1896. to
March 81, 1897, occurred chiefly in the case
Of imports, the total value of the mer-
chandlse imported during the nine months
amounting to only 1884, 1871, or little more
than the value of the exports for the same
period, the latter being returned at $6Osi,
9S6
"Of the merchandise imported into the
United States from Cuba fully 90 per cent
is agricultural. Sugar, she most impor-
tant of the products imported from Cuba
amounted in value to more than 70 per
cent of the entire imports for the decade
The heavies shipments on record were In
1924, reaching in that year as high as
2,l27, 502, 3i9 pounds; value, $63 147 745. I'M
portations of sugar were much smaller
in the two succeeding years, amounting
In 1895 to only 1903, III, 312 pounds; value,
s24.102,S 1876. Returns for the nine months
ending March 81, OF the present year. ex-
hibit a stu greater falling of, the total
importation being only 2O5,57g,7e5 pounds;
value, s4,25l,654. Molasses imports from
Cuba, which in 1894 amounted to 1855, 759
gallons, valued at S1,4lS, 412, were reduced
in 1896 to 1,7i0161 gallons. valued at $12s,-
a. The largest Importation of leaf to-
bacco, the next important commodity,
prior to the fiscal year 1896 was In 1888
reaching 1854. Ssi pounds; value, S1O6i
1853. These uninterrupted shipments
are probably accounted for by
the fact that the western
end OF the island where the chief tobacco
growing districts are situated. has only
recently been invaded by the opposing
forces. Since the invasion OF this region,
however, there has been a great decline
in our importations OF Cuban tobacco, tho
record for the nine months ended March
81, 1897, placing the total amount received
during that period at only 3,413, $3.50 pounds,
valued at $751; 93. According TO the re-
turns for the corresponding months OF
the fiscal year 1896, the importations dur.
ing that period amounted to q 0S5, 251
pounds, valued at SS05s. 647."
The report contains numerous tables
showing In detail the extent TO which the
importations OF all kinds have steadily de-
clned since the outbreak OF the rebellion.
The most important manufactured pro-
duct imported, except cigars, cigarettes
and cheroots, comprised In value more
than half Of the non-agricultural Imports
for the decade The returns for them last
year were $3,07S,275, against 1885,, 955 In
1890. As to exports from this country to
Cuba, the relative Importance OF the ag-
rlcultural articles has Increased during
the last few years. The shipments of lard
to Cuba during the ten years aggregated
SIS, 10000 in value. forming nearly one
half of the total agricultural exports.
For the last fiscal year there was an ex-
traordinary fall IN this class OF exports
amounting to only 81, 81, 105. Bacon and
hams attained their highest figure In 1888
since which time they have steadily de-
clined
Breadstuffs steadily decreased In the last
three years. last years total shipments
being only S774,792 or a little more than
a fifth of the value returned for 1893
Wheat. -four and Indian corn suffered
marked decline, as did other articles OF
food.
MIX is one Of the few commodities
whose expectation increased last year, but
the falling or In butter and cheese was
80 great that the total value OF the three
dairy products exported declined from
sl2S,09S IN 1893 TO $S1. 40 I'm 1896
Iron and steel, manufactures OF wood
and coal and mineral oil, have also mate
rally declined In the last few years.
-e-o-s