The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-13
MANILA VIEWED
AS AN ENTREP0T.
Countries Commercially adjacent are
Enormous importers.
GOODS THAT AMERICA PRODUCES
Constitute More Than Half of Their
Importations - As Distributing
Point for These Maniia's Possi-
biIitics Are Boundless.

| WASHINGTON, December Especial
! More than a billion dollars worth Of
| goods are every year imported into th'
| Countries commercially adjacent TO th'
Philippine Islands. and more than half
that amount is composed of the class OF
articles produced or manufactured IT. the
United States and offered FOR sale by her
people TWO tables just prepared by the
Treasury Bureau Of Statistics present
some startling facts as to the consuming
power OF the countries in easy reach Ca
Manila as an entrepot and distributing
point.
From Manila to Hong Kong and Can
ton, the gateway TO Southern China, is
but half the distance from New York to
Havana. and from Manila TO Yokohama,
Port Arthur, Shanghai. Bangkok, or the
Straits Settlements is in each case dis
tance but little If any greater than from
New York 10 Havana. The great ports
and cities OF British India and Austrsl-
asia, while somewhat more distant are
much nearer 10 Manila than 10 any other
general distributing point for the great
classes of merchandise which the coun-
tries in question produce.
THEY ARE ENORMOIS.
The importations into these -four coun-
tries-Japsn, China. British Australasia
and British India and Straits Settlements
as above Indicated. amount 10 nearly 4
billion dollars a year. Those Of Japan,
which decade ago were less than $50,
100000. are now more than 800 100000 and
steadily Increasing. Those Of China have
increased 20 per cent. in the last decade
and now amount to nearly S2O0OoO0o0 a
year Those Of British Australasia are
about 800 100000 a year. and those OF
British India and the Straits Settlements,
which show an increase of about 10 per
cent. in the decade, are S0,OO0NO an
nually.
GOODS WE PRODUCE.
More than half this enormous sum
Of the imports If these four great. coun-
tries are. as above indicated, classes Of
tricles produced in the United States
and offered for sale by her people OF
cotton and cotton goods alone the i'm
ports into these four countries AMOUNT
Ia round numbers To Sl30,Oo0,WO per an
mum. and of this amount but little over
SiOO00,OOI worth is from the United
States. the great cotton-producing coun-
try OF the world. Imports OF iron
and steel into the four countries IN ques-
ton amount to over s300W,Wo and OF
this &7O0.c00 worth comes from the
United States. The imports Of Ie4theF
and manufactures amount 10 S""VV"'
and less than one million dollars OF that
sum from the United States; WooQ ana
manufactures thereof 10 ABOUT elsht
millions annually. and less than $2,0o0.c0
of it rom the United States; machinery
not included under the bead Of iron ana
steel manufactures, TO $2O.OJ00oo, OF which
less than 100000 were from the United
states. chemicals, drugs. etc, amounted
to mora than ten million dollars with
less than one million of IL coming from
this Country. OF the Sl700o.0o0 worth OF
mineral oils imported into the four coun-
tries IN question, we furnished over one
half last year. OF the Sl5.VoVw worth
of breadstufs furnished 10 those coun-
tries. our share was less than SoOe0ow
worth, and Of the 5000 900 worth OF coal
we furnished less than / per cent.
WE SHOULD DO BETTER.
or the three million dollars worth OF
provisions. we furnished but little more
than a quarter OF a million collars
worth,
OF the eleven great classes OF articles
Of cotton. iron and steel
leather wood, machinery, chemicals,
oils. breadstNns. provisions, coal
and raw cotton. China imported m 1871
ninety million dollars worth, and OF that |
sum. eleven million dollars worth came |
from the United states.
Japan imported in 1897 ffty-eight mill |
lion dollars worth, and Of -2at sum, |
twelve million dollars worth came from |
the United States: ritish Australasia J
imported sixty-four million dollars
worth, Of which twelve million dollars
worth came from the United States, and |
British India ten million dollars worth. |
IF which three and half million dollars
worth was furnished by the United |
States.