Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-21
HAWAII.

Now that the Hawaiian Islands are
to hereafter form part Of the Amer
lean confederation all information
pertaining to them must be OF the
widest general interest. Very timely
therefore Is u document Just issued by
the bureau OF statistics ut Washing
ton relating to the commerce. finance,
produce and population Of those ISL
ands. At the very outset II appears
that the United States since the reci-
pcocity treaty Of 1876 has had a large
share OF Hawaiian commerce. Prior
to 1876 the annual sales OF the United
States to the Islands had never, save
in two exceptional cases, reached ST.
100000, With 1877 the $1,000, 900 line
was permanently erased, and since
that date American exports TO the ISL
ands have steadily grown, passing the
100000 line in 1879, exceeding ST.
100000 in 1883. $4,000, 900 In 1890, pass
ing the S5,o00,000 line In 1891, and
promising to reach nearly S6,000,oo0
this year.
or the exports from the islands the
United States has also had the lions
share since the treaty Of 1875. In 1875
only about 81 per cent OF the exports
from the islands came to the United
States. In 1877, the year following
the treaty, over 90 per cent. came and
has since continued In about the same
proportion, OF the S2000O0.o00 worth
OF exports from tho islands since tho
reciprocity treaty Of 1875 more than
SlS0,000,000 worth have come to tho
United States, aud OF tho 500, 000. 900
worth Of imports into the islands dur
ing that time $7o,000,oo0 worth wero
from the United States, Sugar, Of
course, appears as tho ch.of article Of
expectation from tho Islands, though
rice has been for years an item OF con-
siderable value. and OF late coffee.
pineapplos aSd bananas have taken Inn
portant rank In the expectations Of the
islands,
The imports rs above indicated are
mostly from the United States, those
Of 1876 being divided among tho great
nations as follows: The United
States, $5,464,o00; Great Britain, s756.-
900; China. $299.000; Japan, $4,000;
Germany, S14S,000; Australia, $4,000
Tho largest items In tho list OF Inn
ports are groceries and provisions,
$b?0,SSb; machinery. $S4S 1906: fertil-
Tiers, s332,2 cotton goods. 1911, 99l;
clothing. s292 $50; hardware and agri-
cultural implements, s27s.267; grain
and feed, $273,753: lumber. s255.242.
tobacco, $194 1899; flour, $l69, 900; build
ing materials, $i02, $3.50; and, besides
these. scores of articles ranging In
value from 100000 downward.
The population at tho last census
was in round numbers 100000. OF whom
$1,000 were Hawaiians, $4,000 Japan
csc, u 900 Chinese, $4,000 Portuguese,
$3.50 Americans, 1850 British and L.
iS0 Germans. The receipts of the In
tular government are $4,000 an
nually. OF which about one-third 10
gathered by tariff taxes. one-third by
internal taxation and one-third from
miscellaneous sources. The expen-
ditures are slightly less than the re-
ceipts.
1t Is now to be expected that trade.
population and production will be
vastly and speedily increased ms re-
suit OF the fortunate alliance which
tho islands have, after long effort, been
able to make
Strategically the islands are OF con-
siderable Importance to the United
States, provided this nation keeps ut
all times fleet strong enough to re-
tain them. Their acquisition OF
course means radical change In tho
policies Of the republic. large and In
creaslng naval appropriation annually
and more general participation In
the worlds affairs and also In the null
tirlying ENVIRONMENTS which are ever
testing the diplomatic genius OF foreign.
powers.