The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-25
CUBA AND PORTO RIco.
Extent of Trade Which May BE Di-
verted TO This Country,

Extent of Trade Which May BE Di-
verted TO This Country.
Washington, July 4-The markets
which are likely TO be opened in Cuba and
Puerto Rico 20 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 ana bureau of statistics asking for
information regarding the class OF articles
imported into these islands and the coun-
tries which have been 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 viii show that Cuba has been, under
normal conditions buying annually about
$25,OO0,0o0 worth of goods from Spain, about
100000 worth from Great Britain, less
than 100000 worth from France and
less than 100000 worth from Germany,
while from the United States her pur-
chases have ranged from S., 000, 900 to $24-
o10000 in value. The imports into Cuba
have been, of course, light during the past
year or more. and a fair estimate of her
purchases can only be obtained by exam
nation Of the figures of the year 1895 or
earlier years.
The imports into Cuba and Puerto Rico
from Germany in 1892 amounted to 500 600
marks, the value of a mark being 23S
cents; in 1893 it dropped to 5O05, 900 marks;
in 1894 to $50 000 in 1895 to 1880, go marks.
and in 1896, 4, $4,000 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
Puerto Rico.
From France the inspirations into Cuba.
md a OFT %
francs in 1893, the franc being valued a
1913 cents; 3,747695 in 1884, 2,799,S32 in 1885
and 17l3,SS0 in 1896. The largest item
among these imports into Cuba ana Puerto
Rico from France was jewe,ry and fancy
articles, which formed nearly One-third of
the total, the next largest being textiles of
wool, 1873, 753 francs, and prepared medi-
cines III pa francs.
The imports into Cuba and Puerto Rico
from he United Kingdom were valued a
I47S,11 in 1892; II, 32l 926 in 1893; Fl, 12l 90
in 1894; f945, 1913 in 1895, and ftp, $50 in 1896.
The largest OF these imports from the
United Kingdom in 1896 were cotton goods
f235,673; linens, 1877 634; iron, wrought and
unwrought, f7S,66S; machinery, f43, 241;
hardware, cutlery, etc, f22,936; coal ana
other fuel f35, 429.
From Spain the imports of the year into
Cuba. 1896 were 13L461, 675 pesetas, the val
ne of the Deseta being according to the
from Spain In the year 1896 were larger
than those in any preceding year i'm the
decade. The largest item of the 1886 i'm
ports into Cuba from Spain was flour, 20.
326 $50 pesetas in value, shoes 17,249, $50 pc
sctas, sandals, 13, ABS, 80 pesetas fire arms,
1851. 200 wine 7,47,045, preserved food f.
142 1851, Oil, 3,3l6218, manufactures of fax
and hemp, 3,700087, soap, 3,176846, wax and
stearine 2,O95. 622 manufactures of wood D.
251 $40, smoking paper 1856, 2S1, beans ,S7S,
0l9 rice 1874 $40, corn 1,432S1J, onions and
potatoes POO. 115, pressed meats 1851 80,
soup pastes /. 1875, $50, saffron LII, 300 pack
ing paper 1420,235 wooden blankets 1,O99,-
1856, no other article passing the one mil-
lion Uesetas line.
The exports from Spain to Puerto Rico
amounted in 1895, to 37660,609 pesetas in
value, a larger sum than any other pre-
Ceding year in the decade. The largest item
was cotton manufactures, l2,4 39,767 pese-
taS, shoes 53S0,740 sandals. 3.G0l $50. rice
2632,611, soap 1,255,8H oil l POP 075, no other
item reaching one million pesetas in value.
The Imports of the United States into
Cuba in 1897 were, according to our own
official reports, $S.259776, in 1896, 1890 $50,
in 1888 81, 801 66l, in 1891. $201253 21, and in
1898 when they reached The maximum, $24,-
157 69S, having been in 1892 ST., $685. and in
1891 $12224, 88S. The reciprocity treaty with
Spain, made under the tariff act of 1890
went into effect Sept. 1, 1891, and continued
in force until Aug Is. 1894, so that the
business of the fiscal years 1892, 1898, and
1891, 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
ing the past ten years: