The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-21
PHILIPPINES.
Their Possibilities as an Outlet
For Our Surplus.
Should Afford a Market For
Cotton Goods
OF MANY MILLIONS.
Americas Present Commercial
FoOthold
On the Islands, Superior to Any
Nation.

Washington, Feb. 21.-While the war
which we waged against Spain last
summer was upon the broad ground of
humanity, the American people at this
time, finding Porto Rico and the Phil
ippine islands in the hands Of this ma
ton, are justified in considering the
relations of those islands to the COM
merce of the world. The United States
is an exporting nation, and there is
nothing we need so much as more and
larger markets for our products of all
kinds. In order to meet the demand for
Information relative to the commerce
of the Philippines, the department of
agriculture will soon issue bulletin on
the trade of these newer possessions.
Mr.. Frank H. Hitchcock, who prepared
this document, has made the most
painstaking researches of official docu-
ments of all countries which relate to
the commerce of this group of islands,
and the results are embodied in the
forthcoming bulletin
1t appears that the value of the ex-
ports from the Philippines has been
gradually decreasing for many years,
but this condition is due to reduced
prices rather than to reduced quality.
In 1897 the total value of the imports
of the island is given as being about
SO, 000, 900 in gold, while the exports we're
about $21, 900, 600, but it is believed that
these estimates are too low. In 1898, So
per cent of the trade was divided among
the United Kingdom, China Qncluding
States. The United Kingdoms share,
amounting to $14 ,207, $780, was 1882 per
cent of the total; China's, 1856; SPANS,
1S45, and that of the United States,
1888, amounting to nearly 81 ZOO, 900. 1t
will no doubt be a surprise to most
people to learn that we already have so
much of a foothold there and another
surprise is that SPANS trade is so
small, being only about 100000 more
than ours. The imports of the United
States in 1893 amounted to 1885, zoo, and
amounted to 81, 994, S97. The total inn
ports from all countries for the same
year amounted to SIS, S90,502, and the
exports to SO, 1S3, 223.
The Philippine imports consist chiefly
of manufactured articles, and of these
cotton goods is the most important item.
In 1894 the imports of cotton goods
amounted to $5,S77, 1873, and the imports
were about the same for the previous
year. This is trade which can surely
be greatly increased, and one which
ought to become of material benefit to
the cotton raiserS and cotton manufac-
turers of this country. The interest
which the agriculturists of this country
have in the islands may be based upon
the following tabular statement OF the
agricultural imports from all countries
for the year 1894.
Wines, 1855,
Wheat flour, $467, 1874.
Canned goods, sausages, etc, 1888, 1853.
Distilled spirituous liquors, $167,S72.
Pork, bacon and lard, $127,9 1865.
Vegetables, $119. 290.
Fruits, $40, 40.
Butter and cheese, $43, 1888.
1t is a note of interest that, next to
cotton manufactures, kerosene oil is the
principal item of import, the amount
for 1894 being sos, AS. This came from
the United States chiefly. The imports
cover almost all items common to COM
merce.
The exports of the Philippines consist
very largely of agricultural products.
Manila hemp and sugar, the leading
staples of the islands, are the principal
factors in the trade, their combined
value amounting to more than rs per
cent of the total export valuation. After
these the most important export articles
are copra, leaf tobacco and cigars and
| cigarettes. In 1894, these five items
comprised fully 95 per cent of the value
of the export trade. Coffee is usually
a. leading article of export, but of recent
years the ravages of an insect has
greatly damaged the coffee trees. the
value of the Manila hemp exported in
| 1891 was $7,243,S42, sugar $5,476,617,
cigars and cigarettes 1878, 253. leaf to-
bacco $702, 922 and coffee $177, $50. Some
of the other items exported are rice,
| ylang-ylang "a volatile perfume oil dis
titled from the flowers of a tree, Canaan
ga odorata), cocOanut oil, candle-nut OIL
stuff, buffalo hides, cordage, aloe fiber
copal, mother-of-pearl, etc. Among
| these are some articles not obtainable
| from any other country. 1t Is estimated
| that the total value Of the exports of
| these articles for 1897 was $2O,97s,S9
In 1898 the United Kingdom pur-
chased hemp from the Philippines
amounting in value to $3,750,065, while
we purchased hemp to the amount of
81, 553, 143 We took sugar to the
amount of $431, 1897, leaf tobacco $9S, and
| cigars and cigarettes $2,211.
Spain exported to the Philippines dur
| ing the year 1895 agricultural products
amounting to $790,261, and non-agricul-
| turaI products amounting to $6,611172.
| OF the latter $3,474842 was for cotton
| fabrics. All this trade should now be
| reserved to the United States. We
| should no longer be content with our
exports as they stood in 1897. So far the
| United Kingdom and Spain have prac-
| tically held a monopoly in the Philip
pine trade Nothing is needed there
| that our own country can not furnish.