Evening journal., 1898-07-25
MONDAY. JULY 25. 1885.
OUR PoRTO RGCAN TRADE.

The secretary OF agriculture has Just
issued a bulletin which treats OF the
trade between the United States and
Porto Rico. 1t is all the pgore valua-
Bile because special efforts were made
to secure reliable and complete data,
the administration having avowed its
intention OF permanently retaining the
island.
The official returns show our COM
mercial transactions with Porto Rico
during the fiscal year 1897, just closed,
amounted in value to 81 ,169 ,912, the least
since the civil war, except in 1895
when It fell to s3,34O,O56. The highest
mark was in 1872, when imports and
exports had a combined currency value
OF $13,S7O,927. Subsequently the trade
declined rapidly, and in less than a de-
cade 1t had fallen off over one-half.
The average annual trade fell from
s6,O17,7S5 for 1882 to $4,S56,S17 in
1S93-97.
The reciprocity treaty in force in the
three iescal years, 1924 consider
ably augmented the trade. the average
annually in that period being s6,159,-
794, against S5,S67 GOA for the three
preceding years, and SO 1863, ,572 in three
years following. While our imports
from Porto Rico=S-Eyeased very little
during that treaty period there was
an important gain in volume OF our ex-
ports to the island. The shrinkage in
our trade with Porto Rico is traceable
mainly to the falling off in our i'm
ports from the island. The value OF
the merchandise we now send to Porto
Rico closely approaches the value OF
the goods we receive In return. For
merly our imports were largely in ex-
cess OF our exports.
While the annual value OF the latter
has remained practically stationary
that OF imports has been gradually de-
clining, until in the last few years the
average yearly excess Of the latter over
the former was only sS94561, against
an excess Of $S,7S4 ,6O7 in 1872 In 1895,
for the first time in the history Of the
trade, our shipments there exceeded
importations, the balance being 1927
O72. Agricultural products form the
most important part OF this commerce,
keing over so per cent. in value OF
merchandise imported and exported.
Our imports are almost entirely agrl-
cultural. Non-agricultural commodi-
ties form less than 40 per cent, OF our
exports there Sugar is the most I'M
portant of the imports, comprising
nearly IS per cent Of all imports, and
combined with molassee would form
over 50 per cent. Fruits, nuts and
spices are other important GeTicul.
tural imports
The average annual imports Of cof
fee for the last FIVE years was 164 &c!
pounds, worth $S2.671. This item hai
declined almost two-thirds in the las
decade.
The leading non-agricultural import
from there are perfumery and COS
metics, chemicals, drugs and dyes, ant
manufactured wood and salt. Bread
stuffs and meat products in value form
nearly 95 per cent. OF our agricul
tural exports to Porto Rico. Whea
-four, the lading export, reached
value Of $50, ,S19 between 1S9S-97. Dur
ing the last five years the average an
nual value OF the meat exports, re
turned at $662, $50, was slightly large
than that OF exported breadstuffs, tn
latter declining and the former IN
creasing during the last decade.
Wood and its manufactures an
manufactures Of iron and steel const
tute over half of the non-agriculturi
exports to Porto Rico, mineral oil an
coal also being important items.