The herald., 1897-07-19
HAWAIIAN
COMMERCE
According to the Officia'
Statistics
NINETY PER CENT OF TRADE
is NOW CONTROLLED BY THE
UNITED STATES
All Exports Taken and Three-Fourths
of the Imports Furnished by
This Country
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON July 1S-Hawaiian
commerce during the last ten years Is
the subject of a circular just issued by
the department of agriculture. The paper
was prepared by F. H Hitchcock, chief
of the division of foreign markets, under
the direction of Secretary Wilson. The
facts set forth bear directly upon the
current decision of the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands to the United States
and are as follows: The comparison of
statistics shows that the United States
controls 30 per cent OF the entire trade OF
islands. The total value of exports and
imports Of Hawaii for 1896 was $21, SIS, ,789
was the value of goods, exported. The
Of which about two-thirds, SIS. 5.515,23
average exports of the ten years, 1887
1897, was $11,025, ,141, and of imports
50, Az. 459. leaving an average balance OF
Sc, 6296 6S1 in favor Of exports.
OF this traffic 91.20 per cent was with
the United States during the first five
years Of the decade and in the second
five years the lead of this country over
other countries was increased to 81 92 per
cent. Another impression Of the situa-
ton may be gained from the statement
that our trade with the islands in 1896,
according to Hawaiian statistics, reach
ed $40, ,924, ,oo6, the largest amount ever re-
corded, while the highest figures pre-
viously was for 1890, when a total of
1882, 631 was reported.
yet hold so high position in furnishing
goods for Hawaii as in the taking of the
products Of the islands. OF the average
of the exports for the ten years, nearly
eleven millions year, the United States
has brought practically ALL Only one
half of 1 per cent has been sold to other
countries. OF the goods purchased by
Hawaii on the other hand the United
States furnishes only about three
fourthe
However, 1t is chiefly In the sales tc
the island that the trade Is growing. The
annual average of these sales for the five
years, 1SS7-1S91, was $4,376,312 but for
1S91-1S96, $4496,275, while the exports to
Hawaii for the last year amounted to
S5,364, 2OS, nearly $1,000, 900 more than for
any previous year.
The goods coming from Hawaii to the
United States are mainly agricultural
products, while shipments in the other
direction, excepts breadstuffs are. chiefly
manufactured. Our exports Of sugar
make the largest item in the trade, while
our imports of rice come next. Next in
order are our exports of breadstuffs, cot
ton goods, fertilizers, machinery, lum-
ber, tobacco, wire and chemicals. 1t is
noticeable that shipments of American
livestock, meats, apples and corn amount
| to very little. Prior to 1876, when the
| first reciprocity treaty was made be-
tween the United States and Hawaii,
their total commerce average was only
$780, 496. Since that date a compara-
lively steady growth has brought the
total to more than five times that
amount.
Figures are furnished for the first ten
months Of the fiscal year, 1897. as COM
pared with the same period of 1896. They
show large increases in the import items
Of trade. The other countries whose trade
with Hawaii appears to be growing are
China, Japan and Canada.