New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-12
VALUE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
LARGE EXPORTS INTO COUNTRIES NEAR
THE ISLANDS
SMALL SHARE OF THD UNITED sTATEs-MANILA
AS DISTRIBUTING POINT

SMALL SHARE OF THB UNITED sTATES-MANI1.A
AS A DISTRIBUTING POINT
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSEl
Washington Dec. ll.-More than billion dollars
worth Of goods are every year imported into the
countries commercially adjacent 10 the Philippine
Islands and more than half that amount is COM
posed Of the class Of articles produced or manu-
featured in the United States and offered for sale
by her people. Two tables just prepared by the
Treasury Bureau Of Statistics present some start
ling facts to the consuming power Of the coun-
tries in easy reach Of Manila as an entrep6t and
distributing point. From Manila TO Hong Kong
and Canton the gateway TO Southern China, Is only
half the distance from New-York to Havana. and
from Manila to Yokohama Port Arthur. Shang-
hal Bangkok or the Strait Settlements. is in each
case a distance little. If any. greater than that
from New-York TO Havana. The great ports and
cities Of British India and Australasia. while some
what distant. much nearer 10 Manila
than to any other general distributing point FOR
the great classes of merchandise which the coun-
tries in question produce.
The importations into these four countries
Japan, China British Australasia and British
India and Strait Settlements. as above indicated
amount to nearly d billion dollars year. Those
Of Japan. which decade ago were less than S5h-
5000. are more than $l0,cD"o and steadily
increasing. Thos, OF China have increased 20 per
cent in the last decade. and now amount TO nearly
about $4,000 900 year and those of British India
and the Strait Settlements which show increase
Of about 10 per cent IN the decade are $31,vDrp
annually.
SMALL EXPORTS FROM THIS COUNTRY.
More than half this enormous sum Of the imports
OF these four great countries is due to- as above
.ndca ted classes OF articles produced In the nted
States and Offered for sale by her people. OF cot
ton and cotton goods alone the imports into these
four countries amount in round numbers to Sl3Op'-
900 a year and o; this amount little over S00NoO
worth Is from the United States the great cotton
producing country OF the world. Imports OF iron and
steel into the four countries In question amount to
over 100000 and OF this 100000 worth comes
from the United states. The imports OF leather and
manufactures amount 10 100000. and less than
81 5000 OF that sum from the United states W ood
and manufactures thereof amount 10 <s,vp.W an
uuallv and less than 100000 OF II were from the
-nIted States. machinery, not included under the
head Of iron and steel manulac,utss, 10 s1' ni,
States. Chemicals. drugs, etc. amounted 10 more
than 100000 with less than *iv'tnp OF II COM
ing from this country. OF the $lI,1UOD worth or
mineral oils imported into the four countries In
question this country furnished over one-half las
Year OF the sl3.0"occ worth OF breadstuns fur-
nished TO those countries the United States share
vas less than s. ON 90 worth and OF the 100000
worth of coal. this Nation furnished less than
pe61f the 100000 worth of provisions the country
he eleven great classes of articles. manufactures
cotton iron and steel. leather. wood. machinery,
chemicals. mineral oils. breadstufs provisions
coal and raw cotton China imported in 1897 500
0co 600 worth. and Of that sum sl.Uccv worth
Japan imported in 1897 $5S 900 worth and Of that
sum sl2,cc.ccO worth came from The United States:
S20oOC0O worth came from the United States and
British India sl0,co0O worth. Of which $3,jo000)
The following table shows the imports into the
four countries In question Of goods OF the leading
classes produced n the United States and offered
t1,a