The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-25
PROSPECTIVE MARKETS
BENEFITS THAT AMERICANS MAY
DERIVE AS RESULT OF THE WAR.
Trade of Cuba and Porto Rico-what
the People of the Islands Bny and
SelI-ImpOrts and Exports.



WASHINGTON, July A-The markets
which are likely to be opened in Cuba and
Porto Rico to American producers and
manufacturers are the subject of much at
tention and inquiry just now. Large NUM-
bers of letters reach the Treasury Depart
ment and Bureau of Statistics asking for
information regarding the class of articles
imported into these islands, and the coun-
tries which have Ecen supplying these ar
ticleS. This information will be given in
elaborate form in the next monthly publ
cation of the Bureau of Statistics, the
Summary of Finance and Commerce. and
will show that Cuba has been, under nor
NAL conditions, buying annually about
100000 worth of goods from Spain,. about
100000 worth from Great Britain, less
than million dollars worth from France,
and less than million dollars worth from
Germany, while from the United States her
purchases have ranged from .$S.OOO.OOO to
$24 100000 in value. The imports intoaCuba
have been, of course. light during the past
year or more, and fair estimate of her
purchases can only be obtained by examina-
ton of the figures for the year 1896 or earlier
years.
The imports into Cuba and Porto Rico
from Germany in 1892 amounted to 6.020000
AAASAA~AS' tAS VI a pClAi6 otNN4iASs
in 1898 it dropped to 5,OO5 900 marks. in 1894
to S,S1O,OOO in 1895 to 1880 coo marks. and in
1896 to 4,5O3OOO marks The largest item in
these imports from Germany was iron and
manufactures of iron, which in 1895 formed
nearly one-third of the total exports from
Germany into Cuba and Porto Rico.
From France the importations into Cuba
and Porto Rico amounted to 5,277. 500 francs
in $685. the franc being valued at 1873 cents;
S7476 95 in 1884, 799 1872 in 1885, and Lib $50 in
1926. The largest item among these imports
into Cuba and Porto Rico from France was
jewelry and fancy articles, which formed
nearly one-third of the total the next larg-
est being textiles of WOOL 1873. 1853 francs, and
prepared medicines, 11,2S4 francs.
The imports into Cuba and Porto Rico
from the United Kingdom were valued at
e. 1856 in 1884. es4s 1888 in 1895. and a722 $50
in Is. The largest of these imports from
the United Kingdom in 1896 were cotton
goods, 92SS673 sterling; linens. e137 6S4;
iron, wrought and unwrought, E7S,663; ma
chinery, 44a,24l; hardware. cutlery ETC.,
922, 1885, coal and other fuel, G35. 429.
From Spain the imports of the year into
Cuba in 1896 were 134, 461, 675 pesetas the
value of the peseta being, according to the
Mint Bureau 1913 cents. The imports from
Spain in the year. 1896 were larger than
those in any preceding year in the decade.
The largest item Of the 1896 imports into
Cuba from Spain was hour. 20 326, $50 pese-
taS IN Values SHOES, I1,24J, f6O peSetaS; sam
dals, 13 3,510 pesetas; fire arms. 1851 200;
wines, 7,347045: preserved food, 4,742,361; oil.
3,316,218; manufactures of fax and hemp,
3,7O0,0S7; soap, 3,17686; wax and stearine,
2,095, 622; manufactures of wood, 2.257, $40;
smoking paper, 1885, 231; beans, 1,S7S019; rice.
1,494.849, corn, 1,4S2 SIS; onions and potatoes,
LOS, lis; pressed meats, 1.5S1,570; soup pastes.
1,435.999; saffron, LII, 260; packing paper,
1,420,235; wooden blankets, 1,099, S56-no other
article passing the million-pesetas line.
The exports from Spain to Porto Rico
amounted in 1896 to 37,660609 pesetas in
value, larger sum than any other pre-
ceding year in the decade, The. largest item
was cotton manufactures, 2439.76 pesetas;
shoes. $3.50. 740; sandals, 1901 $3.50; rice.
1852. ST. soap, l. 255, S14; oil. 1902 O75-no other
item reaching 1,0e0,C00 pesetas in value.
The imports Of the United States into
Cuba in 1897 were, according to our own of
fetal reports $3.50 49, in 1885, 81, $50 $50; in
1895, $12 S07 $751; in 1894 $50 125 3d. and in $685.
when they reached the maximum, $24. 49,
Cos, having been in 1892 81. $50. and in 1891
S12 224, SS8. The reciprocity. treaty with
SPAIN made under the tariff act of 1890
went into effect Sept. l. 1891, and continued
in force until Aug. 2S 1894, so that the bust
ness of the fiscal years 1892, 1893 and 1894
was transacted under that treaty with the
exception of July and August of the fiscal
year 1892.
The following table shows the total ex-
ports from the United States to Cuba DUR
no the