The times., 1898-07-13
OUR EASTERN ISLANDS.
The Varying Commerce of the Phil
ippineS-
(From the NutionaI Gsor-anl

(From the National Geographic Msgazine.)
During the year 1896 the total foreign
commerce OF the Philippine islands
amounted 10 $3oS062 80. the exports
amounting to $2O.115. go and the imports TO
SO, ,6S1, ,250. Of the total foreign trade that
with the United Kingdom amounted to
s9.s3i.590 that with the United States 10
S5,1i5,3a3 that with France to g. - 500.
with Japan TO S. iS6.691, with Germany TO
S96S,e2S. and with other countries. inclu-
ding Spain. 10 s9.4SS.25S.
The ratio OF imports 10 exports among
these different countries. varied in a very
striking and highly significant way. While
the United States purchased 81 sS2 81
worth, or 2l6 per cent of the exported
products of the islands. she sold 10 them
il return only SI62.31 worth of products
of her own mills and mines and forges.
From the United Kingdom. however the
Islands purchased commodities TO the
value OF 8. 461 go. or about one-third of the
value OF their exports to that country
France sold to them almost as much as
she bought from them, while Germany
sold them more than three times as much
as she took from them.
The principal articles of export are ma
Mia hemp. sugar, copra and tobacco. Dur
ing the ten years ending June So 1891. the
average annual exports of sugar were 3g1-
S14.65S pounds. of which the United States
took annually an average Of I67. IL 906
pounds. and the United Kingdom an aver
age of 12S1i5.274 pounds, the United States
taking a larger amount than the United
Kingdom six years out OF ten. The exports
of sugar attained their maximum in 1859.
when they amounted 10 40S. ~. .161 pounds.
of which the United States took 2S4, ,654 552
pounds, or Cos per cent, and the United
Kingdom 1l3143.S4l pounds, or 277 per
cent In 1897 the total amount exported
was only 153576, 125 pounds. OF which the
United-KingdOm took IO6 57S. .63S pounds
or 69.4 per cent. and the United States
, 1925 ,1S2 pounds. or 2S.2 per cent.
During the same period of ten years,
from 1855 TO 1897. the total exports of ma
Mia hemp averaged 651,se7 bales per an
nrm, of which the United Kingdom took
an average OF $50 767 bales, and the
J United States an average Of 265.3If bales,
the United Kingdom taking a larger
amount than the United States seven
years out of ten. The exports OF this
product reached their maximum in 1897.
when they amounted TO S25.0 OBS bales. of
which the United States took 4l7.47S bales.
or 500 per cent. and the United Kingdom
$50, ,1S2 bales. or 46.7 per cent.
Copra is exported mainly 70 the couti-
nent of Europe. the shipments in 1897
reaching a total of SOL 49, pounds. The
same year the exports of leaf tobacco
amounted TO 69.S}3.325 pounds. of which ex-
actly 50 per cent went to the continent Of
/ Europe. The cigars exported aggregated
156.9160 90. of which S1.570 900 went to China
and Japan. There were no shipments Of
leaf tobacco TO the United States, and the
cigars exported to this country amounted
only to 2.2S5. 900.
The chief imports of the Philippines are
rice. flour, dress goods, wines, coal. and
petroleum. OF the exports from Spain to
the islands i'm 1896. the cotton fabrics alone
were valued at Sl.915s51. and of the Brit
ish exports for the same year cotton man.
ufactures and yarn had value of 81. i94.
los. In the exports of the United States
to these islands, however, the various
manufactures of cotton only figure TO the
extent of s971i. Manufactures of fax,
hemp, wool, and silk appear in the Span
ish exports to the value of S2S6 Sil, or 76.T
per cent more than the entire export
trade of the United States to the islands
in the year in question. The exports Of
paper. leather, and wood from Spain in
1896 had an aggregate value of 1856. 100, or
nearly four times that of the total ex-
ports from the United States. All these
products well as others that might be
mentioned, could as well be supplied from
this country.