The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-19
$36,624,I2O.
Surprising Value OfPOrtO RicO's
Trade For 1896.
This Was a Gain of Fifteen Mil
lions in One Year.
PRODUNTG OF FARMS
OF FARMS
Constitute thePrincipaI Exports
of the Island.
Sugar Leads, but Wine and Oils
Are Important.

Washington, July 19.-In view of the
present war plans a comprehensive sta
tistical report on the trade of Porto Ri
co, just prepared under the direction of
Frank H. Hitchcock, chief of the for
eign markets section of the agricultural
department, and approved by Secretary
Wilson, is of unusual interest. 1t
shows for the first time the figures of
the commerce for 1896 of Spain's east
ernmost West India island.
During the calendar year 1896, the
foreign trade of Porto Rico, according
to the official returns, attained a total
value of $36, ga. 12O, exceeding all pre-
vious records, and being a gain in the
year of more than SIS, 100000 In 1892
Sc the total imports and exports had
an annual value of $50, $40, 535, as
against $24,961,2 PIT in 18S7-91. Imports
into Porto Rico generally have some
what exceeded exports, but in 1896, for
the first time in over a decade, the val
ue of the merchandise shipped to for
eign markets was slightly greater than
that of the imported wares. The ex-
ports for 1896 had a value of SIS, 341, 430
decidedly the largest on record, while
the imports for the same year, SIS, 282,-
500, were surpassed only in 1894, when
the foreign goods received amounted to
SIS, 0S6, 1886. The foreign trade of Porto
Rico is conducted chiefly with Spain,
the United States, Cuba, Germany,
the United Kingdom and France, hav-
ing an average annual value of SIS, $685.
074, which was $50 per cent of the to-
tai valuation placed upon the islands
commerce.. The United States ranked
second the value of the goods ex-
changed averaged $6,S45, 252 a year, or
1904 per cent of the total. Cuba'S
trade with Porto Rico amounted to
13.41 per cent of the total having an
annual yearly average of 81, SOC, 220.
In 1896, the latest year covered by the
Porto Rican statistics, which Mr..
Hitchcock succeeded in obtaining in
advance, indirectly from the colonial
administration of the island there were
besides the six countries cited, nine
other countries with which the island
had a trade involving millions. They
follow: British possessions other than
East Indies. S2,039, 749; Italy, 81, 047, 847;
British East Indies, 1886, 339; Austria
Hungary 1888. 1888; Belgium, 1927 ,701;
Argentine, $251, S44; Uruguay, 1928 1888;
Netherlands, $170,586, and Denmark,
$177. 215.
SPANS trade with Porto Rico ac-
cOrding to Spanish returns, increased
in value from $4,928,779 in 1887 to $12.
ga, 955 in 1896. The chief gain was
made in exports from Spain to the is
land, the value for 1896 amounting to
$7.26S, 498 against only 81, All, 216 for
1887. During the same year imports
from Porto Rico advanced from $2s518,-
$50 to $5,376, 457.
The islands exports consists almost
entirely of agricultural products. OF
greatly exceed agricultural Agricul-
tural imports in 1895 were valued at 81
1852, made up chiefly of rice. wheat,
flour and hog products. NOn-agricul-
tural imports were valued at SO, 1854, 101
the chief goods being cotton fabrics,
whose imports reached 5000, 667 in 1895;
fish, wood, leather and tobacco also
were extensively imported Most of the
rice imported is supplied by the Brit
ish West Indies, Germany and Spain.
Coffee and sugar, the leading products
-, s-11V A1,e .,aT
ors in Porto RicO's export trade, COM
prising in value fully IS per cent of all
the merchandise sent to foreign mar
kets. The quantity Of coffee shipped
in 1895 was 40, 243. 693 pounds, and it's
value $9,139 9S5, while of Porto Rican
sugar 1872, 147,277 pounds with a value
of $3,905, al, were marketed abroad. In
addition to the sugar, $539,571 worth of
molasses was shipped. OF leaf tobac-
co 3,665,051 pounds, worth S673,787 We're
shipped in 1895. Cattle shipments for
1895 mum bered 1874 head, valued at
$141, SIG. Other agricultural products
exported quite extensively are maize,
hides, nuts and distilled spirits.
Coffee shipments increased bly,
during the decade, 1896 reports being
the largest of the ten years treated by
Mr.. Hitchcock, So, 100000 pounds, valued
at $13379, 900. The average annual
shipment 1926 was SO 872 900 against
"a 945, 900 in 18S7-91. On the other hand
sugar. molasses and tobacco showed
marked declines.
Inc cOf1ee exported goes most eX-
tensiveIy to Spain and Cuba, the two
getting over half. Most of the sugar
and molasses is destined for the United
States, with Spain a second customer.
Spain and Cuba receive most of the to-
bacco, the trade with the United States
not being large. SPANS imports of
coffee from Porto Rico steadily rose
during the decade, Il, 376. 40 pounds
value So 278. 731, in 1896, being record
breaker. Sugar exports to Spain in
creased less rapidly, and though the
size of the imports increased their val
ne, owing to the decline of prices, ac-
tualy declined.
SPANS non agricultural imports
from Porto Rico are principally bags
and sacks, guano and tobacco manu-
facures- OF her exports cotton fab
RIGS constituted about 80 per cent of all
merchandise shipped in 1926. Leath-
er, soap, sandals, hats and caps, paper
and its manufactures and candles came
next in manufactured products, while
agricultural exports comprised rice,
olive oil. wines. DlIln and CANNED goods