The times., 1898-07-25
CUBA AND PORTO RICO.
Statement of the Imports and Ex-
ports of the Islands.

ports of the Islands,
The markets (which are likely to be
opened in Cuba and Porto Rico to Ameri-
can producers and manufacturers are the
subject of much attention and inquiry
just now. Large numbers of letters reach
the Treasury Department and Bureau of
Statistics asking for information regard
ing the classes of articles imported into
those islands and the countries which
have been supplying them
This information will be given in elab-
crate form in the next monthly publica-
tion Of the Bureau of Statistics, the
Summary of Finance and Commerce.
and will show that Cuba has been under
normal conditions buying annually about
twenty-five million dollars worth of
goods from Spain, about four million dol
lars worth from Great Britain. less than
a million dollars worth from France and
less than a million dollars worth from
Germany. while from the United States
her purchases have ranged from eight TO
twenty-four million dollars in value. The
imports of Cuba, of course. have been
light during the past year or more and
fair estimate of her purchases can only
be obtained by examination of the figures
of the year 1896 or earlier years.
The imports of Cuba and Porto Rico
from Germany in 1892 amounted TO 6,020-
900 marks, the value of a mark being %
$40 cents; in 1893 ii dropped 10 500. 90
marks, in 1894 to 3,S19 GO. in 1895 10 3330 =
900 marks, and in 1896 4.503, 900 marks. The
largest item in these imports from Ger
many was iron and manufactures of iron,
which in 1896 formed nearly one-third of
n. aT
ba and Porto Rico.
From France the importations OF Gu
ba and Porto Rico amounted TO 5,277, $50
francs in 1893, the franc being valued at
l9 $40 cents; 3,747.69 in 1884, 9 799 S32 in
1895 and ma, $50 in 1896 The largest item
among these imports from France was
jewelry and fancy articles. which formed
nearly one-third OF the total, the next
| largest being textiles OF wool. 133, 753
francs, and prepared medicine, III. .23i
| francs.
The imports OF these Islands from the
| United Kingdom were valued al I.47S-
| III pounds sterling in 1892 / 81 g25 in 1893.
l,l2l .o96 in 1894. 943 1913 in 1895. and 722 $40
| in 1895. The largest OF these imports
| In 1896 were cotton goods 233673 pounds
] sterling; linens. l37,63i iron. wrought and
unwrought, B66S; machinery. 43. pa: hard
ware, cutlery. etc, 2, 9S5; coal and other
| fuel, 35 i29.
! From Spain the imports INTO Cuba OF
| the year 1896 were 1S4. 451 SO peselas. the
| value of the Deseta being, according To
/ the Mint Bureau, 19 $40 cents. The i'm
| ports from Spain in the year 1896 were
/ larger than those in any preceding year
1 in the decade. The largest item of the
| 1886 imports Of Cuba from Spain was
| Hour, 20 S25, $50 pesetas in value. Next
came shoes. lT.2i9. i60 pesetas; sandals
/ S4SS.5lO pesetas; firearms, 1851, POO; wine
/ I,3i7.0i5 preserved food. 4.742. .3s1; oil. g.
| Sl6,2ls; manufactures of fax and hemp
! 3.iO0,0eI; soap. 3.1T6,S45: wax and stearine
| z,OSo,b22; manufactures of wood, 2 257, SO
smoking paper, !. Ss5, ,231; beans, 1,STS. .019
| rice. 1.isi.Si9; corn. 1.4S2, SIS; onions ant
potatoes, l.205. lis; pressed meats, 1,5S1,
| SO: soap pastes /, 49,. .999; saffron, III
260; packing paper. /. .420. 235: wooden blan
/ kets. 10SS. $50; no other article passing tn,
! one million pesetas line.
The exports from Spain to Porto Ricc
I amounted in 1895 to 81. .e09 pesetas il
value. larger sum than any other pre-
ceding year in the decade. The larges
item was cotton manufactures. Il. ass, rs
pesetas: shoes. 8, $50 740: sandals. se0I. $50
rice. 2.s526ll: soap. L2S5. .S14; oil, 12O2.O Il
other item reaching one million pesetas il
value
The imports OF the United States int,
Cuba in 1897 were, according TO the officia
reports. $S25s. .77s; in 1896. 81. $50 $50 in 1896
s12.S0T, ,6s1; in 1891. $40 125. .321. and in 1888
when they reached the maximum, s24 157.
SOS. having been in 1892, 81, ,953, so, and il
1891, So, ,224 $50
The reciprocity treaty with Spain, mad
under the tariff act of 1890. went into ef
feet September l. 1891. and continued il
force until August q. 1891. so that tn
business of the fiscal years 1892. 1898 an,
1894 was transacted under that treat,
with the exception of July and Angus
Of the fiscal year 1892.
The exports from the United States t
Porto Rico in 1897 were 81. .9S6. $50: in IS9
they were 81. 102 Gs4; in 1892. s.. SD. 0O3 The.
were of about the same character as tn
exports to Cuba, wheat flour being tn
largest item, s51s.1SS. in 1897: lard. SOS.
051; bacon and hams. sl12.6O2; pickle,
pork. s152. All; beans and peas. $3.50: ma
chinery. S59. 402. no other articles of ex
port in 1897 reaching as much as 5000 il
value during the year