The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-19
PORTO RICO As A MART
In 1890 It's Foreign Trade Was
Thirty-Six Millions.
COMMERCE WILL R O
Exports Consist Almost Entirely of Agri-
cultural Products-The Business of
tho Island Was Increasing Be-
fore the War Broke Out.

Washington, July 1S.-In view of the
present war plans, a comprehensive
statistical report on the trade of Porto
Rico. just prepared under the direction
OF f. III. Hitchcock, chief of the foreign
markets section of the agricultural de-
partment, and approved by Secretary
Wilson, is OF unusual interest. 1t shows
Tor the nrst time the figures of the COM
merce for 1886 of SPANS eastermost
West Indian island. During the cal
endar year 1896, the foreign trade of
Porto Rico, according to the official re-
turns. attained a total value of $50, 625,-
l20, exceeding all previous records and
being a gain for the year of more than
sl5, 0OO, 600. In 1926 the total imports
and exports had an annual value of
$SS, SaO.535. as against $24, SOL, 217 in 1887
81. Imports into Porto Rico generally
have somewhat exceeded exports, but
In 1896, for the first time in over a de-
shipped TO foreign markets was slightly
greater than that of the imported
wares. The exports for 1896 had a val
ue of SIS, SCI, 433, decidedly the largest
on record, while the imports for the
same year., SIS. 2S2, 500, were surpassed
only in 1894, while the foreign goods re-
ceived amounted to $40, 0S6, 436.
The foreign rad of Porto Rico is
nducte chiefly with Spain, the Unit
ed States, Cuba, Germany, the United
Kingdom and France, having an an
nual average value of $685. OLA, which
was 20.S0 per cent. of the total valua-
ton placed upon the islands commerce.
The United States ranked second.
The value of. the goods exchanged av-
eraged $6.s45, 1852 a year. or 1904 yer
cent. of the total. Cuba's trade with
Porto Rico amounted TO 13.41 per cent.
of the total, having an average yearly
value of "a, COG. 220.
In 1896. the latest year covered by
the Porto Rican statistics, which Mr..
Hitchcock succeeded in obtaining indi-
rectly in advance from the colonial adj
ministration of the island. there were,
besides the six countries cited, nine
other countries with which the island
had a trade exchange of 5000. 900. They
follow:
British possessions, other than the
East Indies. S2,039, 74s; Italy, LOAF, S44;
British East Indies, 1886. S89; Austria
Hungary, $3.50. 1888; Belgium, $29I,41;
Argentine, s251 ,s44; Uruguay, s22S, 1913;
Netherlands, $170.5s6; and Denmark.
$137, 215. SPANS trade with Porto Rico,
according to Spanish returns, increased
in value from s4.929, 779 in 1887 to VIZ
GA, 1856 in 1896. The chief gain was made
in exports from Spain to the island. the
value for 1896 amounting to S.28S,49S
against only $3,411,21S for 1888. During
the same year imports from Porto Rico
advanced from 81, 53S, 565 to $5.374,457.
The islands exports consist almost
entirely of agricultural products. OF
imports manufactured articles do not
greatly exceed the agricultural imports,
which in 1895 were valued al s7,1l7,S5o.
made up chiefly of rice. wheat. f1our
and hog products. Fish. woods, leather
and tobacco also were extensively i'm
ported. Most of the rice imported is
supplied by the British West Indies
Germany and Spain. Coffee and sugar.
the leading products of the island, are
the important factors in the export
trade.