The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-20

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 1S.-Secre-
tary Wilson, Of the agricultural department
has authorized the publication of a bulletin
on the subject of SPANS foreign trade from
1891 to 1895 inclusive, prepared by Frank H
Hitchcock. the chief of the section Of for
eign markets. The facts brought out are
of particular interest at the present time
Two general matters are treated in de-
tail in the publication, viz: Spanish com
merce proper and shipping and navigation
1t is shown that of the total tonnage trans
ported to and from Spanish ports during the
years 1881 TO 1855, inclusive, $40 per cen;
was carried by merchantmen entered and
cleared III the traue with the United King
dom. France ranked second with 12.97 pei
cent of the total. and the Netherlands with
S.52 per cent stood third. The United States
with a record of 391 per cent was the
fourth country in Importance. Belgium
fifth, with 2.35 per cent and Cuba next with
Pa per cent.
OF the merchandise carried by vessels en-
tered at Spanish ports during the years 1891
to 1888 inclusive, 56.54 per cent came from the
United Kingdom. France furnished 9.43 per
cent Russia $50 and the United States 56S
per cent OF the goods carried by vessels
cleared during 1S91-1S95 the United Kingdom
was the destination of 5S.2S per cent. France
received 1l.4S per cent; the Netherlands II. 81
=
Cuba 262 per cent.
Spaln's commercial transactions with the
rest OF the world amount annually to
more that $500 100000. In 1895 the merchan-
disc imports amounted to $161 S29 SIC and the
exports to $155. 1856, 759. The average value
for 1S9l-1S95 was $315077,44O as compared
with $3l1 1856, 1913 for the preceding five years.
SPANS foreign trade is
LARGELY MARITIME.
OF the merchandise imported and ex-
ported during 1S91-1S95 only 1919 per cent
was transported by land, while SAL per
cent was carried in sea-going vessels. Dur
ing the earlier years Of the decade 1885,
1880 more than one-half of SPANS maritime
commerce was carried by foreign vessels,
but since 1891 there has been a change ana
the national shipping is now in the
aScendancy.
Sanish flag during 1898 amounted to $146,-
69,SO6 and those under flags of other ma
tons to only $l15, 49, 76.
OF the foreign commerce of Spain during
1S91-1S95 about 20 per cent was transacted
with four countries, viz: France 81 IL per
cent the United Kingdom, 90 05 per cent;
Cuba, 1920 per cent and the United States,
6.32 per cent. The total value Of the mer-
chandi5e annually exchanged between
Spain and Cuba Porto Rico, the
Philippines, the Canaries and her various
minor possessions exceeded $50 900 Co., The
United States ranked third among the
sources of Spain's import trade during
1S91-1S95 furnishing 1924 per cent of the
value Of such imports. Cuba came next
with 4.46 per cent, while Porto Rico sup
piled 2.64 per cent.
FRANCE HEADS THE LIST.
Of the merchandise exported from Spain
during the same time "a per cent went to
France: % SO per cent to the United King
dom; SO per cent to Cuba and 3.47 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 transported by Spain to and
from France in Spanish vessels was $32,-
55.47S, to and from Cuba in Spanish ships.
49,, 064 536, the United Kingdom S27 ,069, 104,
Porto Rico, So, 499, 14O, and the United
States, 50, 1902, 1913. OF the merchandise ship
ped from Spain in Spanish vessels &c. z
per cent went to Cuba, q so per cent to
France, 1.72 per cent to Porto Rico Coal,
which constitutes the most Important item
among SPANS on-agricultural imports is
procured chiefly from the United Kingdom.
the receipts from the United States
amounting to less than per cent of the
total.
During the calendar year 1895 there were
entered and cleared at Spanish ports 80, S5i
merchant vessels. OF these vessels Is, 1863
carried the flag of Spain and II 6S7 vessels
the flags of other nations.
The average yearly tonnage for the five
years 1S91-1S95 24,374 939, while for the pre-
ceding five years was only %, 499, $50. This
increase was due to the growth in the tom
mage of the Spanish merchantmen.
On December 81, 1895, the latest date for
which there are available statistics the
merchant marine Of Spain comprised 1888
vessels, having ar aggregate tonnage of
1882. Compared with the statistics for 1886,
the figures for 1895 shows slight increase
in the size of the fleet and a rather marked
enc in its tonnage. The steam vessels in
creased form 431 in 1886 to 523 in 1895.
1t is shown that for the five years for 1891
to 1895 inclusive the Spanish shipping was
conducted somewhat more extensively from
the customs district along the Atlantic than
from those on the Mediterranean sea The
ships entered and cleared on the Atlantic
amounted annually to 1904, as against
Is, 1888 along the Mediterranean.