The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-20
THE PORTO RICAN TRADE
AS YET THERE is NOT MUCH CHANCE
FOR AMERICAN COMMERCE.
DisappOintments Met by Those Who
Have Already Tried Their For-
tunes-Pertinent Statistics.
san Juan Letter in New York Posi-


beli@ in the correctness of the opinions
given in previous letters that the island
as yet offers little or no ENCOURAGEMENT
for any commercial exploitation, and that
its industrial possibilities are limited for
any persons without ample capital l am
also. well assured that the Industrial pos
sibilities are confined, with a few minor
exceptions, to agricultural and genealogical
lines.
The prominence given to the island by
the events of recent months has led many
of our people to think it of vastly greater
Importance, commercially, than it really is
Consul Hanna who is back in his old
quarters in San Juan, has small wheel
barrow load of letters from all parts of the
United States, asking detailed information
upon all conceivable lines of trade manu-
facture and profession. To answer them
according TO the terms of their requests
would be the work of short lifetime
But they indicate the widespread interest
of American business men in Porto Rican
mercantile affairs. Every steamer arriving
here brings it's group of American pas
sengers. Some visitors who make
the trip only through curiosity The ma
jority come with an idea of some form of
business, either in the shape of specula-
tive flyer, permanent investment or a COM,
mercia or industrial establishment.
large percentage of those who come
are young men, who have just about enough
money to get them here, TO keep them here
for g week or two. and then get them home
again. These come in the hope of finding
immediate employment, of catching on to
something which will maintain them. They
invariably go home again. The island is
no place for such None but the capitalist,
the investor or the business rnan with
money for his business, should come 70
Porto Rico with anything more in view than
an outing or vacation. AS things are
at present, there is little enough to interest
the capitalist or the investor. The man
who is looking for job should look for 1t
at home; his chances there are Infinitely
better than they are here. There is absO-
lutely nothing for the position hunter, for
there may be something but 1t will be. at
the least many months before such oppor-
tunities are open, and even then they will
be few. Until then the case is hopeless,
and those who come will but do as their
predecessors have done-go home again,
poorer and wiser men. If a young man
can afford to spend a couple of hundred dol
lars in the purchase of that particular form
Of wisdom: the opportunity Is open to- TO him n
he will do better not to risk it.
TARIFF IN THE WAY.
Merchants will find nothing to do here.
except to CLEAN a certain amount of infor-
nation of rather doubtful accuracy, until
the question of tariff rates shall have been
definitely settled. There is now nothing on
which to base any plans or calculations for
business operations. The native merchants
are complaining seriously. They are wait
ing to place orders for hundreds of thou
sands of dollars worth of goods to replenish
stocks which have been depleted through
many months of uncertain trade conditions.
and are losing business which they have
been led to expect would be open to them
almost immedia tely after the American oc-
cupation of the different cities in which they
American to obtain any definite information
or accurate details regarding any particular
line of business and its possibilities. Local
commercial methods are not reduced ITO the
system which prevails among American
business men. The Porto Rican merchant
of that close study of business and business
methods by which the American merchant
increases his trade and his profits
The entire trade OF the island is of no very
great magnitude. The local trade in local
products is chiefly confined TO the morning
ali the cities and larger towns ls The eei total
imports and exports hardly reach a gross
amount of $SO9o0OO0 year, and the
of millions. | have been unable to find
any statistics WHICH ! was willing to
accept as wholly reliable. So far as | can
learn. no complete report has been submit
ted by the United States consul. and there
are discrepancies which cannot reconcile
in the published reports of the English con-
sui and those of the Dutch consul. / can,
therefore, only give figures which are ap-
proximate. though they are sufficiently close
Cotton goods appear to be the largest item
among the imports, and they represent a
trade of two or three millions of dollars,
varying from year to year, according to the
prices and the success or failure of the crop
products of the island. Rice is imported to
the value of one and half lor two millions
Of dollars. Flour chiefly from the United
States approximates three-quarters of a
million dollars. Dried. salt and picked fish,
IN oh tot fIa<11 s(x.'G
share of the trade. represents a million to
a million and quarter. The United States
has the major portion of trade in pork
and pork products which about equals the
fish business. Wooden goods are naturally
of but limited consumption in so warm a
climate. and the trade is probably less than
$4,000 in amount. Agricultural implements
represent a business of three to four hun
dred thousand dollars. Boots and shoes, al
most exclusively from Spain represent
some five or six hundred thousand China
ware, glassware, lumber, coal, soap, furni-
ture and other articles of general use and
consumption represent amounts varying
from one to three or four hundred thousand
dollars.
IMPORTED VEGETABLES.
The most astonishing thing in the whole
list of importatons is the item of vegetable
and garden products. These are imported
into this country, which is in itself hut q
natural garden in which can and shonld no
raised every form of vegetable necessary ar
desirable for consumption, and the annual
value of the imports approximates $400.ooo
and the weight 1000 tons. The island uses.
$l5OOOO worth of imported candles and s5o
OOO worth of imported butter yearly II uses
Two 10 three hundred thousand dollars,
worth or cheese, of which the Netherlands
nave. Tor the last few years furnished
much the greater part. Uruguay and tho
argentine supply it with one to three thou,
sano TONS or Jerked beef annually Wines
peers and liquors take something more than
d nan million year out of the country
!, among Forto Rlcan exports coffee is the
heaviest item. This reaches an average
valuation of some $1OOOOOOO a year. sugar
ranks nd next and approximates So 200. 600 or
%4'OJV,UV Tobacco goes to the extent IF
some MALI million, and molasses touches
ABOUT the same figure Hides cattle tim
per ana Irult are represented in the list hut
lnelr Value Is comparatively inconsiderahle
Guano TO the extent of half a million .
year appears in the reports for some wears
out l am unable to account for either the
article or the amount Some corn has heen
sent 10 CUBA, some native rum to SDain
United States O
It will thus be seen that as yet the island
oHerS but comparatively limited amount
OF business either in buying or selling. I'm
DER wise laws and a just and equitable sys-
tenn OF taxation, with suitable railway svs-
tenn ana improved highways, and with fhe
ports or the United States and of the islands
open TO the exchange of commodities free
OF duty very material increase of the
business of the island will Inevitably fol-
within the next ten or fifteen years There
Will be some wildcat speculation, some un-
wise investment and some loss to investors
Inc Scnemer and the promoter will find