The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-06
rH1LIrrINE FoRErey COMMERCE.
imports and Exports In 1904. the Last Yea,
for which There Are OfHcinl Records.

-
Imports md Exports In 1904, tho Last Yea,
for which There Arc onicinl Records,
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-Mr. Frank II. Hitch.
cock. chief Of the section OF foreign marko,,
In the Agricultural Department. has comni.s
official statistics OF the foreign commerce =,
the Philippine Islands. He saws that in 1874
the latest year for which the official custor,
returns appear to have been issued. thu i.'
ports brought into the Philippines were Wi.
ued at 2S.55S,552 pesos, or Sl4.250,7lI and
the exports sent to foreign markets n, 10
14O.9S4 pesos. or S10.541 $40, making a to,,,
trade worth $50. 792,55o. These figures =.
unusually small, however. as will no seen ~
comparing the official values reported for M,
ceding years. The average annual value Of I'm.
enjoyed during the fifteen ve,r.
1SS0-1So4 reached as high as S3T,j6G,Oo5 IN.
imports averaging ST. ,03o,044 and the eynor,.
S~20.520,9Gl. Many fluctuations occurred do.
ing these years. but taking the period AZ,
whole there was a noticeable decline in a..
total value OF the trade. This fact ia cIe,ri.
shown by contrasting the average veorl.
values for the three quinQuennial periods 1885,
1884. 1SS5-1SS9. and 1880 1894. The ANNA,
average for the first OF these periods amounted
to S4O.338,509 that for the second to S3e 80.
430. and that for the last to only S~35.57sas7
The latest year for which there are official
statistics available showing the distribution n
the Philippine among the various
foreign countries Is 1SA3. During that year
according to the official returns, nearly 81 nor
cent. OF the entire import and export trade OF
the islands was divided among four countries
the United Kingdom, China Including Hong
Kong. Spain. and the United States. Ths
United Kingdoms share was by far the largest.
amounting to $14. POI. 1872. or 1920 per cant
OF the total. Hong Kong and the Chinese ports
were credited with 1855 per cent, the value
being S7.1O4. III. OF this trade Hong Kong
probably enjoyed the chief part. The mmercs
with Spain was valued at S7.O24.12 y. or 1s.45
per cent?, and that with the United States at
S3,NJl ,6O3. or 1923 per cent.
In 1893, the latest year for which s~tatlstics
are B available howln the miner Of tho
thregeTonsihs oS of P t2e tra 9sn aaari s55'G Sn hv fG Ky
iIis bort w was S~i4,scS 81 tee a imJP93FEt ,t c rs 4. 10
Of $2s,744.4 76. or 1880 per cent. OF the v ain.
ton placed upon the entire Philippine com
port OF Iloilo amounted to S7.244,i500. or 1919
per &c sent Mo Of OK the total, and that through Cebu
Sam6oo onsiaO the OF Only YOU Other Per bort fe on ent rSr fSsa,
were no exports in 1893. but imports were re-"
corded e, the value Of $3.50,
brought into the Philippines consist chiefly OF
manufactured articles. Cotton goods are hy
latest year for which we have official statistics
the imported cotton manufactures, measured
In value. formed more than 90 per cent. of the
various agricultural products imported dur
lag th ni t year o' nmToH rhs n to less / IS, than r per
Imports are wines. rice. wheat flour and
largely of agricultural products. Manila
hemp and sugar. the leading staples Of the
islands. are the PRINCIPAL factors in the trade.
than 40 per cent. Of the total export valuation.
After hemp and sugar. the most important ar
and cigars and cigarettes. According TO tho
official returns for 1894. these five item com
prised In value fully 90 per cent, of the entire
export trade. Coffee is also one OF the lead
ing exports, although the shipments have been
much smaller in recent years than formerly.
ravaGes OF an insect that has done great dam
age to the coffee groves. Among the other
quite extensively should be mentioned sapan.
wood indigo. hides and hide cuttings. cocoa
nut Gil. ylanG1ylang, oil; cnndlenut oil. rice.
tarron. copal. mother-of- pearl and gold.
In 1884; the latest year for which We have
amounted to 3+.914 tons. valued at S7.243,S42
pounds. with a value of S~5,4766l7. q cigars
15.474.486 pounds, worth $702.o22. The ex,
ports, Of copra or cocoanut kernels amounted
to 1,143'l4 pounds. valued at 81 172la
NeTe ehpOTIeu.
After the products Just mentioned the most
valuable export recorded for 1894 was 122.726
tons Of coal. worth 81 n. $50. 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.
TIE hides exPorted from the Islands are said
falo. The shipments In 1894 we're recorded
at BELLY pounds. with q value Of S14.554,
Hide cuttings were exported to the amount OF
533.474 pounds. the value being S14.23a.
Cordage is one. OF the few manufactured ar
ticles exported from the Philippines. The
quantity shipped in 8 was 1907. 500 pounds.
and the value S21.467. Another manufac-
1Gred be asti 81 TIN faa M is exported pt T II so Tsods5 fs
1914 was p.O95. valued at Sl4.095.
or gold. including gold Jewelry. exports