Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-20
RACE FOR PHILIPPINE TRADE
Thrilling Story of American Occupation Of
the Manila Custom House.
LIKENED TO A RUSH OF LAND BOOMERS
what IL Cost s~pnniards to Catch on TO
Uncle Sans ways of Doing
Business-Fierce Rivalry
for the Trade.

house covering the period from August ~
the date OF the American occupation OF the
custom house, to December 81, 1898, tell
O story of an importation race almost as
exciting in the telling as a rush for claims
on a newly opened reservation.
The total revenue. in excess OF expenses
and refunds, amounted to $1,SS6, 55S.76.
These figures are OF Mexican currency or OF
pesos instead of dollars, and can SO be con-
sidered throughout the report. The duties
collected on imports were $l,553,413.O4, and
on exports $685., 374.20. or these amounts
$685. 80 were collected in fines. In other
words 1t cost the bewildered Spaniard that
amount to catch the drift Of Uncle Sans
way OF doing business. The Spaniards con-
sidered our methods frightfully complicated
at the start, but they now admit them
simple, once one gets accustomed to them.
Four hundred and fourteen dollars and fifty
five cents were collected as translation fees.
1t costs the unlucky skipper who has so
far neglected his education as to slight the
learning Of English 10 cents a line for trans
Eating every document that comes to the
custom house yelled in the mysteries Of
Castelano. Thus will the language OF the
conquerors prevail in time.
There were seventy-seven foreign and 260
coast vessels entered Manila during this
period. Eighty foreign and Psi coast vessels
cleared for ports various in and beyond the
Philippines. These figures represent a total
tonnage of 8 ,O47.63 entered and 1882. 81
tons cleared. England heads the list Of
foreign traders with 81, 1907. SO tons registered,
and Norway second with ships registering
q total of 10, 1881 2 tons. American ships
come next, followed by Spain, Germany,
France, Italy and Denmark in their order.
In the coasting trade the American flag
floats proudly above old Spain itself, which
Is a very good example OF the fckleness of
SPANS sons in thus taking up so quickly
with the new love. May 1t be said, however,
of a few Spanish captains, and with the
'honor OF Spain" staring us in the face, that
they preferred to sell or leave their ships
for others to command, rather than face the
odium OF Old Glory at the masthead. The
tonnage of vessels in coast trade flying the
American flag was "a, 032.91 while that of
poor, but once proud Spain, summed up at
a paltry 1,192.1 10 tons, hardly the size of a
Gloucester fisherman. So
We'll sail the seas with our added tons,
With a knife in our teeth for the Moros we
(stiii more of the white Mans Bur-
den.'O
Now let us take a look at the Importation
fgures. They rise and fall like a barom-
eter and one can find no better method for
Judging of the enterprise OF the different
countries Of the world than to look at the
importation barometer at Manila for the
first few months after her occupation by
Americans. All my figures are for the period
from August % to December 81, 1898.
Scooped on Cigarette Paper.
In a country that probably smokes as
many cigarettes as a good part of the rest
of the world put together, cigarette paper
is an item of importance as well as OF i'm
port. There are no paper mills in the Phil
ippines. They have depended upon Spain
almost exclusively for their cigarette and
print paper. Wrapping paper is evidently
too expensive. for it is very seldom used.
In august there were 1855 Kilograms Ca
kilogram, or kilo, is equal to 2.2046 pounds)
arrived from Spain. China was quick to
foresee a paper famine and landed / 1896 kilos
On this month. but its owner evidently did
not meet with the success hoped for. as
China does not again add fuel for the
flames until December, when she brought in
1852 kilos, probably for Chinese consumption
only. In September II seemed as II the
world had seen a fortune In cigarette paper,
for England Jumped in with 1878 kilos,
Germany with 1852 kilos, France with 10, G06
kilos and Austria with s,432 kilos. Where
huo ShllC Sam GA AiiS AAaS 'NAA 80 'hNS
case at least he was 'scooped." for he did
not offer to Manila a particle of cigarette
paper during the year 1898, and thus missed
the greatest opportunity OF his life in not
sending his cigarette fends on a chase to
his new possessions for the necessary plating
for the odorful coffin nail" Spain, how
ever, was not out of 1t for good. In Novem-
Der she dropped in with 6, i15 kilos and fol-
lowed It up with 24,762 kilos in December.
She may make a few more spurts for favor
IN the paper market, but it is safe to say
that Uncle Sam will likely look into this
question himself a bit in future.
The trade in Fireworks always has and
more than likely always will be held by
China and Japan. 1t might, however, be in
teresting to note that the importation OF
fireworks amounts to quite n bit In the
course OF a year, in which time there are no
less than 1876 holidays on which the minia-
ture rattle of musketry is let loose by our
newly acquired Young America. The total
importation of this article of commerce for
the period mentioned was 1852 kilos, or some
what over six tons. Notwithstanding the fact
that great effort was made by the American
authorities to suppress this species OF ex-
uberance in view OF the strained conditions
OF nerves and affairs.
Would you believe 1t that Manila, the
uOilic vi "A iihhbps iohl"ub ''N'Ni 'Nh'Nh
orange, banana, mountain apple, water
melon, pineapple and dozens Of other fruits
was importing fresh fruits? Well. she is,
and during the time for which / am quoting
figures she imported no less than l4l ,927
kilos from the United States alone. Here
rs one branch OF trade wherein Uncle Sam
was not entirely 'scooped." though he was
beaten out by China, which shipped all the
rest OF the fruit received. amounting to
269, 1854 kilos.
Flour to the extent Of 2,S19. 4S9 kilos was
shipped from the United States, Its only
competitors being China and Japan, who
shipped but PAS and PIG kilos respectively,
1t will be but a short time before the Fill
pinos will discover the higher value OF our
-four as a food supply over and above that
now attached to the crudely manufactured
rice product now in use.
OF the 1855 1898 kiloS raw hemp exported
from Manila but 42.621 kilos came back In
manufactured articles. principally from Spain
and China. This trade will undoubtedly be
controlled by the United States in future.
Not for any commercial value as to trade
possibilities, but simply to show their rela-
tiVa pona,mution I want 10 tho, y oOg