The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-19

Department and approved by Secretary
Wilson Is OF unusual interest. IL shows
for the first time the figures OF tho COM
merce for the year 1895 OF SPANS east
ernmost West India island.
During the calendar year 1896 the for
eign trade OF Porto Rico. accordlg 20
the official returns attained a total value
OF S36, 624 100. exceeding all previous re-
cords and being a gain in the year OF
more than Sl5000.00O In 1925 the total
imports and exports had an average an
nual value OF S33.S10.555. as against St-
96l 2l7 I'm 1SSl-9l. Imports into Porto Rico
generally have somewhat exceeded eN-
ports. but I'm 1896. for the first time In
over a decade, the value OF the merchan-
disc shipped 10 foreign markets was
slightly greater than that OF tho i'm
ported wares.
The exports for 1896 had value OF SIS
3il $50, decidedly the largest on record.
while the imports for the same year,
slS 2S2. 690 were surpassed only In 1894.
when the foreign gods received amounted
10 SO 0S6.336. The foreign trade of Porto
Rico is conducted chiefly with Spain. the
United States. Cuba. Germany. the
United Kingdom and France having an
average annual value OF $9sss.o4 which
was $3.50 per cent. OF the total valuation
placed upon the islands commerce
The United States ranked second. the
value OF the goods exchanged averaging
&c. $500 year. or 1884, per cent. OF the
total Cuba's trade with Porto Rico
amounted to 13.H per cent Of the total
having an average yearly value OF 81
606.2 2O. During 1896. the latest year COW
cred by the Porto Rican statistics which
Mr.. Hitchcock succeeded In obtaining In
advance indirectly from the colonial adj
ministration OF the island. there were.
besides tho six countries cited. nine other
countries with which the island had
trade exceeding 10000 They follow:
British possessions. other than East In
dies. S2O89 7i9; Italy. 81 07Si3; British
East Indies. $3.50 339: Austria Hungary.
S553. 7S3: Belgium. 297,7Oi; Argentina. $751;
Sti: Uruguay 1928 1885,. Netherlands
Sl7O5S6. and Denmark. Sl37 2l5.
SPANS trade with Porto Rico. accord
ing 10 Spanish returns. increased IN value
from si929.779 in 1887 to Sl26ii.955 IN 1895.
The chief gain was made in exports from
Spain TO the island. the value for 1896
amounting to N26S,49s, against only 81
All 2l6 for 1851 During the same years
imports from Porto Rico advanced from
g. SIS. 563 10 S5.376.ij7
The islands exports consist almost en-
tirely Of agricultural produce OF i'm
ports. manufactured articles do not
greatly exceed the agricultural Agrl-
cultural imports I'm 1895, valued at ST.,
.3j2. were made up chiefly OF rice.
wheat -four and hog products. Non-agrt-
cultural imports were valued at 50 66i.-
10l. the chief goods being cotton fabrics.
whose imports reached S207N 667 I'm 1895;
fish. wood leather and tobacco also were
extensively imported.
Most OF the rice imported Is supplied
by tho British West Indies. Germany.
and Spain. Coffee and sugar the lead
ing products Of the island. are the inn
portant factors In Porto Ricos export
trade. comprising I'm value fully S per
cent. OF all the merchandise sent 10 for
eign markets.
The quantity Of coffee shipped I'm 1895
was 40 2i3.693 pounds and SIS value, So
1895. while Of Porto Rico sugar 132ftT-
2lT pounds. with a value of s39o5.7fi. were
marketed abroad. In addition 10 tho SUI
gar. S539.5u worth of molasses was ship
ped OF leaf tobacco 1856. 05i pounds
worth 3.7s7. were shipped in 1895. Cat
tie shipments for 1895 numbered 1874
head. valued at Sln.sl6 other agrlcul-
tural products exported quite extern
sively are maize, hides, fruits. nuts and
distilled spirits.
Coffee shipments increased notably dur
ing the decade. 1896 reports being the
largest OF tho ten years treated by Mr.
Hitchcock, 5S.7S0.00O pounds. valued at
sl3.37e. 0O0 The average annual shipment
1926. was SlOS72 900. against 81 9i5.0O
in 1891 On the other hand. sugar mo-
lasses and tobacco showed marked de-
clincs.
The coffee exported goes most extern.
sively 10 Spain and Cuba. these two get
ting over half. Most OF the sugar and
moasses 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 cof-
fee from Porto Rico steadily rose dur
ing the decade, 13376l70 pounds. valued
at $3.27S,7Sl I'm 1896 being a record break
er Sugar exports 10 Spain Increased
less rapidly and though the size OF I'M
ports increased their value owing 10
decline OF prices. actually declined.
SPANS non-agricultural imports nom
Porto Rico are principally bags and
sacks, guano and tobacco manufactures
OF her exports, cotton fabrics constituted
about 30 per cent. OF all merchandise
shipped IN 1926 Leather, soap. san
dals. hats and caps. paper and It's man
ufactures and candles came next In man
ufactured products. while agricultural
exports composed rice. olive oil. wines.
pulse and canned goods.