The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-07
PHILIPPINES TRADE.
Great Growth of American Commerce
with the Far East.


Washington, June THE monthly
summary of finance and commerce, is
sued Saturday by Mr.. Austin, the new
chief of bureau of statistics, was prompt
and timely. Besides making its appear
ance earlier than at any time in more
than three years, it contains fifty pages
of especially timely information on the
details of the commerce of the Philip
pines and adjacent country. A single
table OF the series shows the population
in easy commercial proximity to the
Philippines to be $50, 600 900, and their
annual purchases over 1000, 000, 900,
Other tables show the details of the
trade of these countries, the articles
they buy and where they buy them, the
growth of American trade and that of
other nations with them, the per cent
of this commerce obtained by the
United States and other nations, and
many other details which will prove
extremely valuable in view of the in
tereSt just now felt on this subject.
An examination of the details of these
tables shows that the purchases made
by those countries adjacent to the Phil
ippineS are largely of the class of arti-
cles produced in the United States. The
imports into China, for instance, in
cluded in 1896 over $64, 100000 worth of
cotton goods, against less than $780,
600, 900 worth in the preceding year;
over 81 900, 900 worth of wooden goods
against less than 100000 worth in
1895; an increase in exports of wheat
14OQE IGOIl S4OZ, 4GI, IN 1897, TO Sl,ZlOrOOS
in 1886; an increase in machinery from
$674,752 in 1892, to 81, 66S, CTS in 1896 The
export of cotton cloths from the United
States to China increased from 81 GAP
yards, in 1898, to 140, 121 035 in 1897; min
era1 oils from 81, SIS, 055 gallons, in 1898,
to ~, 1921, 1S4 gallons in 1897; provisions
from S25,942, in 1898. to $45,640 in 1897;
manufactures of tobacco from SIG, 1874
worth in 1898, to 1929, $50 worth in 1897;
the total exports of merchandise from
the United States to China in 1897 being
three times as much as in 1898.
From the United States to the Brit
ish East Indies the exports of cotton
cloth also increased in 1897 as compared
with 1893, although they were not as
great in 1897 as in 1894 and 1895. The
exports from the United States to the
Dutch East Indies nearly doubled from
1898 to 1897, the chief articles being ma
val stores and mineral oils, the increase
in the latter being from Is. $40 gal
Ions in 1898 to 1895, 998 in 1897, in the
face of the competition from Russia and
elsewhere.
The tables also show the steady
growth of the exports from the United
States to Hong Kong, which, as the
distributing point for that part of the
world, is an especially important index
to the trade possibilities of that section.
The table shows that the exports to
Hong Kong in 1897 were nealy 80 per
cent greater than in 1894
The most rapid growth of American
commerce with that part of the world
is shown by the tables of imports into
Japan. They show a steady growth from
1898 to 1897, the exports from the United
Safes to Japan in 1897 being more than
four lines as much as in 1898. This gain
is shown in nearly all articles exported
to that country. Wheat flour increased
from s., 1876 barrels in 1898 to 237, 126 bar
rels in 1897, cotton from 793,242 pounds
in 1893 to 80, OIL, 254 in 1897 cotton cloth
from S9,052 yards in 1898 to ISIS, 985
yards in 1896 sole leather from 667 ,6S2
pounds in 1898 to 1854 ,05S pounds in 1897
fine fv-o11 1
Abs, 1886 pounds in 1897, and manufac-
lures of iron and steel from $193, 900
worth in 1893 to So, AT 900 worth in 1897.
To British Australasia American ex-
ports have increased from 1921. 22S in
1898, to ST., 460, 2S3 in 1897. This increase
is noted in nearly all lines of goods, es-
pecially manufactures. Agricultural
implements increased from 1924, 429 to
$3.50, 9S5; cycles, carriages and cars from
S258,479 to 81 ,044, $50; cotton rnanufact-
ures from $50, 629 to $249, 80; clocks and
watches from $85,369 to S165, 42O; canned
salmon from 1,64S,770 pounds to 1850 SO
pounds; wire from 1,640, 773 pounds to
II, 380,9 pounds; machinery from $780, |
551 worth to 1881, $50; leather and manu-
features of froms20S. 200 to s697. 654; min
eral oils from S11,S11, $50 to SIG, S37, 914 !
and parafffne wax from 314 SOB pounds !
to 2,213, 124 pounds.
To French Oceanica the exports of |
flour increased 80 per cent in value from
1898 to 1897; canned salmon. so per cent; !
manufactures of iron ana steel, 20 per |
cent, and wine 100 per cent.
Taking the group of countries ada |
cent to the Philippines, including China, |
British India and East Indies, Japan
Corea, Hong Kong, Asiatic Russia and |
Oceanica, the exports of the United |
States are shown to have increased |
from $27, 421, S31 in 1893 to SCI 927 SIS in |
1897, but still are less than 6 per cent |
of the total imports of the countries in |
question, thus showing the possibilities |
which still await the producers and ex- |
porters of the United States in those !
countries whose doors are now being |