Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-18
SPANS FOREIGN TRADE.
Interesting Statistics Prepared by
Frank II. Hitchcock

RANK II. hitchcock.
A bulletin on the subject of Spain's for
eign trade from 1891 to 1898 has just been
prepared by Frank Fl. Hitchcock of the
Agricultural Club Two topics treated in
detail are: Spanish commerce, navigation
and shipping. OF the total tonnage trans
ported to and from Spanish ports in the
years mentioned, the United States. with
a record of 3.91 per cent, was the fourth
country of Importance that amount being
carried by merchantmen entered and
cleared in the trade of the united king
dom.
Of the mercha ndise carried by vessels
entered at Spanish ports during the years
1891 to 1898, the United States furnished
56S per cent.
OF the goods carried by vessels cleared
during 1891 to 1885, the united kingdom
was the destination of 1913 per cent. The
United States received 315 per cent; Cuba
2.62 per cent
SPANS commercial transactions with the
rest of the world amount annually to more
than S3O0D0,O0O. In 1893 the merchandise
imports amounted to 1851 $50, $40 and the
exports s155.355, 159 The average value
for 1891 to 1895 was Shoot 4IO as COM
pared with 1911 9J6, 123 Tor the preceding
five years.
SPANS foreign trade is largely mari
Tune. Of the merchandise imported and
exported during 1891 to 1895 only 1919 per
III
per cent was carried in seagoing vessels.
The impoctations and exports made under
the Spanish flag during 1888 amounted TO
$1IG,9o9SO6, and those under flags Of other
nations to only Sis. las, SO.
OF the foreign commerce of Spain during
1S1 to 1880 about 40 per cent was trans
acted with four countries, viz: France,
3l-ll per cent; the united kingdom, 22.05
per cent: Cuba. 1920 per cent. and the
United States. 632 per cent. The total
value of the merchandise annually ex-
changed between Spain and Cuba. Porto
Rico. the Philippines. the Canares and her
various minor pc sessions exceeded $780,.
oo,oOu. The United States ranked third
among the sources of Spain's import trade
during 1881 to 1885, furnishing 1874 per
cent OF the value of such imports Cuba
came next with 4.46 per cent, while Porto
Rico supplied 264 per cent. OF the mer-
chandise exported from Spain during the
same time, 3i.41 per cent went to France
G.32 per cent to the united kingdom 1G:I;
per cent to Cuba and BAT per cent to
Porto Rico, while the United States came
eighth in the list of countries to which
Spanish exports were consigned The
average yearly value of the goods trans
ported by Spain to and from France in
Spanish vessels was So. 655. AIS: to and
from Cuba in Spanish ships SO, O6I 536;
the united kingdom, $27 GS1, 1O4 Porto Rico,
50 400, 149, and the United States 50 3o2 123
OF the merchandise shipped from Spain
IN Spanish vessels. 36.I7 per cent went to
III
per cent to Porto Rico. Coal, which con-
stitutes the most important item among
Spain's non-agricultural imports is pro-
cured chiefly from the united kingdom the
receipts from the United States amounting
10 less than one per cent of the total.
During the calendar year 1885 there were
entered and cleared at Spanish ports &c.
S36 merchant vessels. OF these vessels 49,
100 carried the nag of Spain and 1858 yes
sells the flags of other nations.
The average yearly tonnage for the five
years 1891 to 1895 was 24.374 $50, while
that for the preceding, five years was only
% 400. $50. This increase was due to the
growth in the tonnage of the Spanish mer-
chantmen.
On December 81, 1898, the latest date for
which there are available statistics the
merchant marine OF Spain comprised 1S3
vessels, having an aggregate tonnage of
I19.5I2. Compared with :he statistics for
1856, the figures of 1898 show a slight in
crease in the size of the feet and a rather
marked one in its tonnage. The steam
vessels increased from 43i In 1856 to 523
in 1895.
1t is shown that for the five years from
1891 to 1895 inclusive the Spanish shipping
was conducted somewhat more extensively
from the customs districts along the At
lantic than from those on the Mediter-
ranean sea. The ships entered and cleared
on the Atlantic amounted annually to S19,-
Io4 as against So, 1873 along the Mediter-
rnueap