The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-07
PHILIPPINE COMMERCE.

Washington Feb. 5.-Mr. Frank H.
Hitchcock, chief of the section of for
eign markets in the agricultural de-
partment at Washington, has COM
piled official statistics Of the foreign
commerce of the Philippine islands He
says that in 1894, the latest year for
which the official customs returns ap-
pear to have been issued, the imports
brought into the Philippines We're wall
ued at 2s,55S,552 pesos. or $l4.25O, III. and
the exports sent to foreign markets at
S3,149,9S4 pesos, or SIG, SAL, S42, making a
total trade worth $50, 49,, $50. These fig
ures are unusually small however, as
will be seen by comparing the official
values reported for preceding years.
The average annual value of the com
merce enjoyed during the fifteen years
1sS0-1Ss4 reached as high as $3T, $50 COS,
the imports averaging $17,O39,O44 and
the exports $2O.526961. Many tiuctua-
lions occurred during these years, but
taking the period as a whole there was
a noticeable decline in the total value
of the trade. This fact is clearly shown
by contrasting the average yearly val
ues for the three quinquennial periods
1SS0-lSS4. 1SS5-lSS9, and 1S90-1S94. The
annual average for the first of these
periods amounted to $40, 1888, 500, that for
the second to $50, IS0. 430 and that for
the last to only s35, 57S 9S7
The latest year for which there are
Official statistics available showing the
distribution of the Philippine COM
merce among the various foreign coun-
tries is 1899 During that year, ac-
cording to the official returns, nearly
50 per cent of the entire import and eX-
port trade of the islands was divided
among four countries-the United
Kingdom, China (including Hong
Kong. Spain and the United States
The United Kingdoms share was by
far the largest, amounting TO $14, 207,s32
or Sfa2 ner cent OF the total. Hong
Kong and the Chinese ports were cred
lied with S.66 per cent. the value be-
ing S7,104,111. OF this trade Hong
Kong probably enjoyed the chief part
The commerce with Spain was valued
at sf024,12S, or 1916 per cent and that
With the United States at 1881, 603 or
1855 per cent.
In 1899, the latest year for which
statistics are available showing the
commerce Of the Philippines by ports,
Manila enjoyed fully three-fourths of
the trade carried on by the islands
The value of the imports credited to
this port was $14, 366,640, and that of the
exports $14 ,377. 1876, making a total trade
value of $2S, IA 476, or 1850 per cent of
the valuation placed upon the entire
Philippine commerce. The .rade con-
Quoted through the port of Iloilo
amounted to $7244.150, or 1903 per cent
of the total, and that through Cebu to
$2.0T9.S00. or 5.4G per cent. Through
Zamboangar the only other port of en-
try, there were no exports in 1893, but
imports were recorded to -he value of
$5299.
AS would naturally be expected, the
imports brought into the Philippines
consist chiefly of manufactured arti-
cles. Cotton goods IRE by far the most
important item. In 1891, the latest year
for which we have official statistics the
imported cotton manufactures, meas
ured in value, formed more than 40 per
cent of the entire import trade. The
combined value of the various agricul-
tural products imported during that
year aHSounted to less than % per cent
of the total The principal agricultur-
al imports are Wines, lice, wheat -four
and canned goods.
The exports of the Philippines con-
Sist very largely of agricultural prod
ucts. 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 val
uation. After hemp ana sugar, the most
important articles of expectation are
copra, leaf tobacco and cigars and Gig
arets. According to the official re-
turns for 1894 these five items COM
prised in value fully 95 per cent of the
entire export trade Coffee is also one
of the leading exports. although the
shipments have been much smaller in
recent years than formerly, owing to
q decline in production caused by the
ravages of an insect that has done
great damage to the coffee groves
Among the other products Of the is
lands that are exported quite extens-
lively should be mentioned saps nwood
indigo hides and hide cuttings. cocoa
nut oil, ylang-ylang oil. candlenut oil
rice. aloe fibre, cordage, Manila hats,
trepang, tintarron, copal, mother-of-
pearl and gold.
In 1894. the latest year for which we
have official returns. the exports Of
Manila hemp amounted to 94974 tons
valued at s7,249S42. while the exports
of sugar were Asa, 1896. 236 pounds, with
value of $5,476617 OF cigars and
cigarets there We're exported 1892, 800
pounds. worth sS73259, and of leaf to-
bacco 15,4744S6 pounds, worth SOP. 1922.
The exports of copra Of cocoaput kerr
neis amounted TO 76.743, 14 pounds val
ued at $1.172191. of coffee ,329 $50
pounds, worth s177 $50, We're exported.
After the products just mentioned
the most valuable export recorded for
1919 was lZZ.fZb tons or coal, worth S17I,-
500. As there are no other records of
coal being exported from the islands,
IT is probable that these figures refer
to coal purchased by steamships taking
fuel at Philippine ports.
The hides exported from the islands
are said to be derived chiefly from the
Philippine buffalo. The shipments in
1894 were recorded at BELLY pounds
with value Of St4,554. Hide cuttings
We're exported to the amount of 533 Ala
pounds, the value being s14,239
Cordage is one of he few msnufac-
tured articles exported from the Phil
ippines. The quantity shipped in
1894 was 397.50S pounds. and the value
s2l 467. Anothor manufactured article
that Is expo rd In considerable num-
bers is the Manila hat. The record for
1894 was 9095. valued al S14095
or gold. including gold jewelrv ex-
ports amounting in value to S29, 231
were recorded.