The evening times., 1898-12-16
MARKED INCREASE In
OUR EXPORTS TO CUBA
Effect of Returning Peace Be.
gins to Show.
REOPENING OF OUR PORTS
October Figures of the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics.
4 Great Demand for Cotton Cloths,
Agricultural Implements.


to show the effect of returning peace and
the reopening of our ports to commerce
The October figures of the Treasury De-
partment Bureau of Statistics show
marked increase in the exports of the
United States to Cuba in nearly all aru-
cles comparing October, 1898, with Octo-
Der, 1897 When IL is remembered that
only small proportion of the island and
OF its ports were open to our commerce III
October 1898, and that all Of the island
and its ports We're open To our commerce
in 1897, the gain shown in these figures is
the more remarka bIe. In October, 1898,
only the port of Santiago and two COM
paratively unimportant ports in that i'm
mediate vicinity were open TO our COM
merce; yet the exports from the United
States to that small section of Cuba in
that month were considerably greater than
To all of Cuba in the corresponding month
of last year. When il is further remem-
bered that purchases of goods for the use
of the Spanish army in Cuba were being
freely made from the United States in
October of last year and none in October
OF the present year. the increase becomes
Aiat Afiiil III p'''iih- upon lh'
question Of prospective increase in sales
TO that island when its ports are opened
and normal conditions resumed.
Eighteen OF the twenty-four great
classes of articles exported show an in
crease in October, 1898, over October,
! 1891, in the exports to Cuba. The six
| classes which show d decrease are corn.
provisions, coal, furniture, naval stores
! and cigars. and the reduction in the e
! classes is doubtless due to the demand in
| 1885, for supplies for the Spanish army
/ and its officers. while in 1898 that demand
was not made upon American producers
al least So while the total of our ex-
ports to Cuba in October, 1898 does not
show a large percentage Of gain over
: October, 1897, the fact is accounted FIR
/ by the withdrawal of the demand +
those great staples which We're required
! by the Spanish troops a year ago, but
! are not purchased from us for those pur-
! poses now: while the supplies wh;ca the
! United States is now sending its own
! army in the island are not shown in our
/ statements of exports. In all the other
! items of exports there is a marked in
! crease, despite the fact that but a very
/ small proportion OF the island is yet open
| 10 our trade.
Among the more important of the items
| which show an increase in October eX-
| ports 10 Cuba in 1895 over those of Oc-
| tober, 1897, are cotton cloths, which in
| creased from SO. i6S yards I'm October, 1897,
| to 1854 in October, 1S9S; wheat, which
| Increased from % 40S bushels in October,
| 1891 TO %, 20S in October, 1898: refined min
eral OIL which increased from 4,65i to
| 1859 gallons; crude mineral oil, of which
I there were no expectations in October
1885,. shows in October, 1898. an export uf
232. $50 gallons; lumber, of which the Oc-
tober 1887 exports We're S2S. 4S9 amounts
i'm October 1898. TO So, $50: ag-icult aral
implements increase from s2lI to SI,47S;
fruits from s6462 to s1.6I9: builders hard
ware from 1851 10 Sl9,3s1.
The articles wh.ch show a falling OF
are, as above indicated. corn. provisions,
coal, naval stores cnrnitaro and cigars.
Coal fell from 2S,501 to 22S17 tons; pro-
visions from S262 f65 to $l5l ;.ia; cigars
1895; furniture. from 1901 to s., S99: while
corn fell from s5.40s bushels in october.
1885, to 6,3l4 in October, 1898
The above figures will be understood not
to include the articles sent to Cuba for
the Use of the United StateS army Gov
ernment supplies not bens included in
the official statements of exports
The following table shows the exports
of leading articles to Cuba in October
1885, compared with October 1897 1t
! should be remembered in considering il
that but three ports, and those exclusive
ly in the eastern end of the island are
yet open to our commerce though it is
expected that all of the ports will be
| open in January.