The evening times., 1898-12-09

Philippines were 100 tonnage, Ill, 4s1)
carrying y 90 tons of cargo and Is ISL
tons of bunker coal. During the same
period, lo9 ships cleared for the United
States tonnage, 22l,9i5l with l73.G21 tons
of export cargo. Lamke & Rogge brok-
ers i'm their freight circular dated Octo-
ber -. say:
- Philippine business has been trans
acted. Notwithstanding all the difficulties
that were stated to have arisen. and a
number of boats has been taken UP on
timC-charter terms at fairly good rates
The difficulties referred to are prln-
cip1liy ne heavy tariff duties which
make Il impossible to sell a certain class
Of goods in Manila AT present. AS an ex-
ample might be mentioned the return
from Manila of l4eb dozen bottles of
aegated waters in consequence OF the du-
~ being pIohibitivc. However. it is ex-
pected that these difficulties will soon ad-
just themselves At date of writing there
is demand fo- sailing vessels for Amer
ilsn ports. There are eight sailing yes
se!s in port at this moment. and cargo
for New York is accommodating rapidly
Regarding our principal imports from
AmeriCin-keroscne oil and ffour-there IS
Il steady demand. During the two weeks
ended September p Shewan. Tones & Co.
report the arrival from the Pacific coast
OF seven steamers carrying 81. ~ sacks
Of -four, ut a selling price varying from
$50 10 s2.35 Mexican per sack.
For the haIf year ended September 50
Is.S. the exports fron. this co.ony To the
States as invoiced in this consulate
amounted 10 s4.S43.Oi6 Mexican. In COM
parison the exports to Manila between
the dates August Is and September 90. as
recorded in this consulate. amounted "a
. t5r, .EL
rive "a true conception OF the vast vol
une Of imports that poured into Manila
during the for;y-two days cited, it would
be- necessary 10 multiply this by two. Ia
cover the value Of the transit cargoes
thar were not invoiced I'm this offi.4.
IN the harhor masters report for the
year is97 the total tonnage entering and
clearing from This port amounted To Is.
S3Sl III tons. Tnerc were IS 1l3 arrivals. OF
tonnage of 7,9eS. .6o6 tons. OF this rum.
bsr 46lS were steamers. 80 sailing vcs-
sels. and 2S.sS9 iunks
''All items show an increase over the
year 1886 During the year 1897. Is Arlari-
can vessels entered this port with cargoes
ard 66 in ballast. while 1O2 American YES
scls cleared. with caTSoes and ten ill bal
last.
1t can be readily understood how diff.
cult 1t is tn cover the entire subject of
imports and exports of this colony. when
the fact that this is a free port, without
custom house. is taken into considera-
tion. The prosperity OF the colony is
rather reflected in the local newspapers
and the market letters" and share re-
ports" published by local firms Ii Is an
interesting fact that on account of its
geographic position, the colony Of Hong
kong benefits commercially by political
upheavals of any nature that occur On
the entire ASiatic coast. If a rebellion
breaks out in southern China both the
rebels and the Government come to Hong
kong for their munitions of war. and. al
though the colonial government has for
the past year forbidden the export OF
arms. thousands of MauSer rifles have
found their way into the rebelIiouS dis
tricts. The numerous rebelliCns in the
Philippine Islands that have occurred In
previous years, have made big demands
upon this market for the sinews of war
Our fleet, it is estimated, left in Hong
kong over 81, ,G00, 600 gold during the war.
THE price of silver has not varied
greatly during the past two years, its
extremes ranging between i6 and As cents
ITO endeavor to cover the entire COM
mercial question in Hongkong would en-
tail report on southern China the Phil
ppine Islands. Formosa, and all adjacent
territory, and involve interests so vast
. and varied that the impossibility of COM
plying is apparent