The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-26

IMPORTANT 2EDuU4S Prom RBCI-
PnOCITY TnEAT1Es.
t1en - 6yo0oy go. anA - Annual
Commerce - el8Ooooyooes 81
wAaeA We sAsulA Get the Dulk.

SPECIAL Dispatch 20 the Post-Inseligencer.
WARRINGTON. June S-The fact that
reciprocity treaty intended TO bring
portion o. the Brit!sh West Indies into clos
er commercial relations with the United
States has Just been signed. and tina; 9TH
ers Of that group OF Islands are suggesting
similar arrangements lends interest to
series Of tables which the treasury bureau
OF statistics will present in the forthcom-
Ing number Of the Summary Of Commerce
and Finance. These show that the great
semi-ctrcle Of islands which stretch from
the southern coas; OF Florida to the east
ern coast OF venesuela. numbering hun
creds. having an area Of nearly 10000
square miles and Q population Of $1,000
have an annual commerce OF $i50. 0O0 Co
While the events OF the past year have
brought the mcss important OF these, Cuba
and Porto Rico. into closer relations with
the United States. these events were
quickly followed BY suggestions for closer
relation on the part OF others OF the group.
which naturally look to the United States
az the nearest market In which to dispose
q their products. and from which to obtain
In this great chain OF Islands. connecting
continent with continent. Great Britain
Isrels by far the largest number. The
Florida almost to Porto Rico, with twenty
ands. have been under British control
osy war nG Ct e e sa sse d manly
families Of English loyalis,s from the
south Of the United states: The Virgin
srSsse Jus, east ss e rorO Rico partly
line OF islands stretching southwardly from
Porto Rico to the northeast coast Of South
America. touching British Guiana on the
the United Kingdom. while Jamaica and
the Cayman Islands, lying southwest OF
Cuba. and British Honduras, on the ada
49, TIL
likewise part OF Greater Britain" Thus
the large proportion Of the semi-circie OF
islands swinging from the coast OF Cen.
Florida. to the notheas,ern point Of South
America. emitting Cuba and Porto Rico.
are under British control
The British colonies thus lying CONNER
ctaiiy adjacent to the United States at the
South. including those upon the mainland
Of Central and South America. have an
area Of ever lzs ,0o0 square miles. popula-
from abroad amount annually 10 nearly
about q like sum. Their productions are
and dbers. Of which the United States il a
large importer. willis their purchases are
chiefly bfeadetuffs. clothing. manufactured
srticlss. Of Which We are large exporters.
At present our sales to them amount 70
about $4,000 900 per annum. or about 30 per
cent OF the, their . total purchases. while %. our
om.oO annually. or nearly % per cent. OF
While the abolition Of slavery in the
West Indies in 1875. Porto Rico in 1s7s and
Cuba In 1886. followed by the development
in Europe OF beet sugar production and
sugar growing ia the West indies. it in
creased at the same time the variety
OF the tropical products which they have
and %heS Sey
zone.
The chief purchases Of the people Of the
fish. flour. meats, rice. lumber, hardware
and furniture and other manufactures. In
1897 Jamaica imported cotton goods worth
rice. Siss. 49, Trinidad imported flour,
$eie, 500: textiles. 81 So ~: rec. $:to3.
Bahamas. cottons. SIsl ,sls: -four. Sl3s.6el
tons. sii3.42s: -four. Sss ics ST. Vincent.
i ncar e.. sol cox Le .ss islands eot.ons.
imported from Great Britain IN 1881 mer-
handise valued at =. $50, 7s6. Of which $2.>
LET GO. consisted sic ed Of so,.ons sss Of .p
S,l OF iron. S2s3.77S sf manufactures, and
S2si. AZ OF machinery. :.
The exports from the British West IN
cocoa. spiees. pitch and other bituminous
products. Trinidad exported In 1881 sugar
valued at $3.50. 81: cocoa. t2.s47 $50. mo
!asses. $S2.6ss Jamaica exported sugar,
ssSs SAT: rum. SAT SIS: coffee se1S3.S. Bar.
bsdos, sugar. s2i77.&ls: molasses, $4is,s7s
ST. Vincent sugar. Sis4 543; arrowroot,
SS5.9i2. st. Lucia. sugar. $3.50 $50: cocoa.
3,4se. Leeward islands. sugar, Sfi495il
The total exports from the British Yves,
Indies 70 Great Britain In 1897 were E.on.-
s. o3st44 cocoa and $,Hs a0l dye woods
The total imports and exports of the
British West Indies in 1897 were as fol-
lows.