The times., 1899-10-30

The War Department has made public
the first statement which has been issued
showing the value of the imports into
Hayana Cuba, for January and February,
1899, the first two months of American
occupation, by articles imported and coun-
try from which shipped. The total amount
of gold coin imported was $LS43, 7O2, of
which more than fve-sixths Or 81, $50, 602,
came from the United States. Spain sup
piled the entire quantity of silver coin
imported, it being only 1920. OF merchan-
disc free of duty entering that port the
principal items were; Agricultural imple-
ments. $17,197, the greater part Of which
were shipped from the United States;
mineral waters, $6441; quinine, $7,560;
fax. hemp, etc. SS,6OS; and other articles
from the United States, So 068; from other
countries, s.. .604. Total free of duty, in
Guiding coin, 81, $685. 311.
The Importation of merchandise subject
to duty shows that there were 42,20I head
Of cattle. valued at St,02I, ,231, entering
Havana, of which the United States fur
nished fourth the remainder coming
from Central and South American coun-
tries, whose animals were acclimated. The
horses, mules, hogs, sheep and fowls i'm
ported came largely from the ports on our
Gulf Coast, the total number reaching a
value of $50. 776.
The extent to which former shipping
regulations had embarrassed American eX-
porters is shown in the entries of such
items as corn and coTnmeal from England
oats, and even wheat flour from Spain.
These shipments, however, were very small
and evidently of no commercial import
ance For the two months the imports
from the United States amounted to: Corn,
S74 020, and wheat -four 1929 456,
OF drugs and chemicals valued at $143, ,908
the amount furnished by Spain was valued
at s62 262, and that by the United States
at S53,914 Nine-tenths Of the imports Of
the S55,3 ,382 worth of coffee came from this
country, while the $151, ,255 worth of cot
ton manufactures was divided nearly
equally between England and the United
States as were also fibers and manufac-
lures Of same, including bags for sugar.
While the United States furnished iron
and steel bars, etc, to the value of 500,
606 out Of a total of S25. .S99 in other lines
1t was not so well represented. For in
stance, Spain shipped into Havana $685.
74S worth of shoes, while our manufactur-
ers shipped only S4S, 341 worth. The trade
in wines and cOrdials still existing during
January and February between Spain and
Havana was at the rate OF some two mil
lions annually.
The importation Of provisions was very
large, showing the extent to which the
home food supplies had been, cut off by the
period of recommendation. The bulk nat
urally came from the United States, es-
pecially of meats and vegetables. while
England furnished rice to the value Of more
than a quarter Of a million dollars
To recapitulate the total imported into
Havana during January and February, in
Guiding coin, was valued at S7,279, ,224, of
which there was shipped from the United
States coin and merchandise valued at
s4.174,667; Spain only furnished total of
$1,29S, 635; the United Kingdom followed
with $685. Mexico with 1851 ,015;
France, s339 105. The remainder came
from Colombia, Venezuela. Germany, Hol-
land Belgium, Honduras, Guatemala, San
to Domingo, and Austria in the order
named
One of the very noticeable features OF
the detailed table Of imports is the marked
difference in volume between the imports
Of the necessaTies of life, which were rela-
lively large and the small imports OF ma
chinery, furniture of all kinds. and the
material for domestic or public improve
ments This showing for the first two
months under American occupation was
to have been expected fer the reason that
while the people were compelled to send
abroad for food. they were then in no con-
dition. irrespective of the change of flags,
to enter upon an era of Improvements un-
til they could first begin work upon plan
tations and farms with the double purpose
Of securing their own future food supplies
and the means with which to buy machin-
cry and materials for other improvements