New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-24
WEST INDIES AS A MARKET.
INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A VOLUME
OF CONSULAR REPORTS.
THE UNITED STATES SHARE OF TRADE WI"
cuRA AND PORTO RIco-DEsIRE FOR Rec
rpRoe1rY IN OTHER ISLANDS


Washington. Aug. u.-Advance sheets OF . pa.
-, az nrs, volnms Of the forthcoming report ON
..commercal Relations OF the United states or
given 10 the press. These shee's oo,np''s
The annual reports Of consular ofncers Oh INC
Gtates in the West Indies. several OF WIN" -
tain Information Of considerable present '''e
ana inheritance Among these Is the report -
Consul Hall at San Juan. Porto hico' "hi0n' a.,
,hou~h ~ was prepared more than year ago 10
,he latest official statement from an A'ne'i'"
source giving a general view OF the CONNER -
that island The trade statistics given are ~. '''
calendar year 1895 and the figures are '"s'o
fore of comparatively small value except as 'hey
.a,s.,o ,hs re,at,ve share OF the United States In
the imports OF the island when II was 0p''''
colony. x-,..
In comparison with other countries the United
etates ranked first in the imports OF COAL haVai
stores petroleum and its products. me grass anu
bricks and fifth sixth I'm worked stone common
class norcalain and eartnenware. with Germany
ond Spain in the lead. With the exception OF
wire and tinware. the United States was far De-
hind England and Germany in the class OF He'a's'
For example the imports OF galvanized-iroh rooi
ing were large and OF this England iurhisneu
SIP 900 worth and the United States only sl2 %
worth Similar dsproportions existed as 10 TOOLS
and hardware generally. In oils. chemicals anu
drugs the United States led every country except
Spain. OF cotton manufactures the Cnlted STATES
furnished only $1,000 worth in 1898. whicn was
insignificant as compared with Ike importetions
from, Spain OF the total importstions OF manu-
>ao,ures ~ fay hemp and ju.e from the United
States x1s9o no less than si6.4oo consisted OF
cordage in which alone die this country make
a respectable showing. England and Spain having
virtual monopoly OF the trade In fabri's
or wooen goods and yarns the importatons
from the United States Isl 20o) were "as nothing
comnared with those from England and Spain.
France and Spain had monopoly IN the import
trade in silk and silk goods. After spain lhe
United States made respectable showing WIN
other nations in the schedule OF imports OF paper
books. etc. having furnished s2oioo worth IN ioao'
In imports Of wood and wood manufactures the
limited States with total OF s25s 600 In 1885, was
nrsr Canada stood second. OF machinery, car
riages. carts ETC. the United States furnished
300 worth. in two items, scales and boilers
this country stood first. while In all other Items
Il was second 70 Great Britain and Germany. or
provisions including meat and meat products,
breadstufs dairy products etc. the United states
furnished 81 331, 800 worth. and. OF course stood
nrst British India furnished largo quantity
of rice.
PORTO RICAN EXPORTS.
Tho total exports to the United States from.
Porto Rico during the calendar year 1895 amounted
TO 81. 567 575. the principal Items being: sugar
muscovado. 1891. Ieo; sugar. centrifugal sS'273o;
moiasses s2s6.OO0. The total imports from the
United States the same year amounted to sl87oooo'
AS compared with 1894 the total imports de-
creased 100000 and the total exports Increased
1857 900. The foregoing figures all indicate United
States gold currency values. In view OF recent
events the following paragraph from Consul Hairs
report possesses historical as well as economic In
fercst:
occupied by the United States in reference to the
volume Of trade with this island. In comparison
frst with the United States second, and this post!
ton has been the prevailing one for some years.
lion OF the trade Of the island toward the United
States. with more liberal tariff POLICY and less
trade could be largely augmented and would be-
come equal or superior to the volume OF business
with Spain although only in existence for short
s the 9f na
what can be aceompsnec IN this diseson me
tnbnopolize nearly the whole Of 1t. 74'
Owing to the generalization caused by the in
surrection and tho 'indsposition" OF the Spanish
custom house officials TO furnish statistics OF i'm
ports. the reports OF the United States consuls IN
Cuba are exceedingly meagre. incomplete and un-
satisfactory. In an undated report. which was
received at the Department OF State August %.
1897 Consul Hyatt OF Santiago de Cuba, writes:
This consular district which includes the ports
Of Santiago de Cuba. Guantanamo. Manzanilo and
constantly decreasing trade. both in the matter
Of Imports and exports ] have not encouraged
TO push for new trade IN Cuba; but have advised
to po hold their ola trade With s;s ns S
PEELED 10 close their doors II forced to liquidation.
an ssppsG y ssss s
have Of awnd sa TO the a nsd s
herewith incIose list Of the same .''''|N '
The merchants IT'S who expect to pay conne 'he
outside Of edibles are compelled TO select from old
stock. Should this Island ever return to condi-
ton Of prosperity commerce will find here empty
shelves and drawers waiting for new stocks: and
regret that owing TO indispostion on the part
q the spstom-house officials in distric, to fur
nish list Of imports for the last year. the same
Is omitted from this report
FIGURES FROM CUBA
Tho statistics appended TO Consul Hyatts report
show that the total value OF exports during the
year ended June 80. 1897. from Santiago de Cuba
10 the United States amounted to ss57967. Of which
si7.u7 represented iron ore 1852 os1 leaf tobacco
md $50 sugar. From Manzanillo the exports
mounted 10 s&is OF which &7cs represented
sugar and $50. cedar wood From Guantanamo
md Santa Cruz the total exports amounted 10
Ssooo. OF whicA s5s.occ represented sugar. B4s7
,edar wood and 1000 old machinery
Under date Of September "a 1897. Consul Brice OF |
Iatanzas reported: Owing 10 the destructive war |
n Cuba and amos. complete paralysis OF business |
interests. IL is simply impossible TO mako an IN |
eligible report Of present conditions. No statls-
les are ob,ainable from Spanish customs officials
'ery little merchandise has been imported directly
o this port for the last two years. Merchants |
ere obtain their goods aud provisions through |
iavana importers. Sugar, the principal export |
oes to the United States No sugar was produced |
lst year, except plantations strongly guarded |
y Spanish troops"
Appended 10 Consul Briefs report is a statement
howing that tho total value OF the exports from
.atanzas to the United States during the year
nded June 50. 1857. amounted s. los Oo2 practi-
ally all OF which was represented by sugar
general table is appended showing the declared
alue of exports from the several consular dis
ricts in Cuba 10 the United States during the
ear ended June 80. 1891 several Of which as IN |
he cases of Havana and Cardenas. are incom- |
iete. Cienfuegos reported a total Of A654oO0 Of
'hich AlS.Go was represented by sugar Sss5. 900
y tobacco and 5000 by hides Sagua Ia Grande
eported total Of $40. Of which s7ssno WAS |