The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-30

| 1890 the imports from these islands aggre-
| gated over SS0,0O0, eco and reached $780,
| 0oO, eco under the increase which followed
| the reciprocity treaty with Spain, falling
to less than $40. 000 coo In 1897 and 1898,
| and again reaching over $50 GOO 900 in 1900,
| while a return to the conditions OF pro-
| ducticn and commerce which existed in
! Cuba and Porto Rico in 1892 and 1888
| would probably again bring the total i'm
| ports into the United States from the four
| groups of islands to above S100, 900, 000 with
a prospect of further growth, as their pro-
| ducing capacity Is developed by the con-
J struction of roads. railways, etc, and the
I introduction Of new capital.
I'm 1900 the imports into the United
| States from the islands in question were:
! From Cuba, SCI, 81, 704; from Porto Rice,
| SS0Ts. AIS; from Hawaii $50. 707, 90S and
| from the Philippines, S5,971 20S. The fact
! that the most rapid growth in our imports
| is in the class of articles produced in these
| islands-sugar, ibres, coffee, tropical
| fruits, tobacco, etc, and for which their
| producing capacity may b rapidly and
greatly increased, suggests that a much
| larger share Of our tropical imports may
| be supplied from this source IN the near
| future.
| Exports to the Islands.
"Our exports to Cuba have grown from
$3.50 $50 in 1886, to ss.259,776 in 1897; 49,
5s1,s56 in 1898; s1S.s19.a77 in 1899, and
| s26,512, 61S in 1900.
TRADE with Porto Rico has been as fol-
lows: Two million one hundred and two
thousand and ninety-four dollars in
1896; $685., SsS in 1897; 81, SOS. GAG in 1898;
s.. 6S5, S4s in 1899 and S4.64O, 431 in 1900.
Hawaii has consumed our products as
| follows: Three million nine hundred and
| eighty-fiye thousand seven hundred and
seven dollars in 1886; 81 .690,075 in 1897;
| s., Sol, 1856 in 1898; S9.S05.i50 in 1899. and
! $13. 500, 14S in 1900.
THE exports to the Philippines have
| been: One hundred and sixty-two thou
sand four hundred and sixty-six dollars in
| 1896; $94, 597 in, 1897; $127.804 in 1898;
S404 1913 in 1899, and s., ,449 in 1900.
An Expanding Market.
1.-The fact that the expectations OF 1900
exceeded by s31f.749.250 those OF any pre-
ceding year, and that this increase while
apparent in every class is especially mark
ed in manufactures alone, where the in
crease amounts to $g2 SOS, sos over 1899,
suggests that new markets are being found
| for American products. A detailed study
of our export trade for 1900 shows that this
| growth is found in every part of the world,
and especially in those countries to which
all the great manufacturing and produc-
ing nations are now looking for an increas-
ed market
while Europe is naturally our. largest
market for breadstuffs. the percentage Of
growth in our sales to other parts Of the
world is much more rapid. To Europe our
exports for the year 1890 crossed for the
first time the billion dollar line. yet our
exports to that continent show an increase
Of but 10 per cent in 1850 over 1899. and
but so per cent over 1870; while to North
America. our exports in 1900 show an in
crease of IS per cent over 1899 and 80 per
cent over 1890: to South America, the in
crease is very slight owing, In part al
least, to the lack of direct steamship COM
munication for our EXPORT trade; to
Oceania, the increase in 1900 over 1899 is
4s per cent. and over 1890 is ~ 7er cent;
to Asia, the increase in 1900 over 1899 is
40 per cent, and over the year 1890 is 237
per cent; to Africa. the increase in 1900
over 1889 is comparatively small, owing to
the interruption of commerce with that
continent by the existing war, but COM
pared with 1890 the increase is 1924 per
cent To Europe and british North
America. our exports in 1900 show an in
cr1zse OF 10 IL per cent over 1899 and 81
per cent over 1890. while to all other parts
o. the world our exports in 1900 show an
increase of 81 per cent over 1899 and
91.7 per cent over 1890
Great Gold Protection.
"The phenomenal commercial record OF
the year has been accompanied by an
equally striking record with reference 10
gold production. The gold mined in the
United States during the year ending De-
cember 81, 1899. exceeds that of any year
in our history, and for the first time sur
passes the record established in 1858. when
the mines OF California made their highest
record OF $65. COO, 600. The gold production
OF the United States was, in 1899. according
TO the estimate of the Director of the Mint,
$72. sec, eco, while no prior year had shown
so high a total as that Of 1858, $G5, 0G0 coo,
though the total for 1898 was S64, AS, coo.
The annual average gold product of the
United States is now double that of de-
cade earlier, though in this particular the
growth has been 10 more rapid than that
of other parts of the world the worlds
total product in 1899 having been, accord
ing to the best estimates, $3l5,00O,e eco,
against 1923. goo 600 decade earlier.
The very rapid increase in gold produc-
ton both in the United States and else
where during the past few years brings The
total GOLD product OF the half century now
ending to the enormous figure Of $685.
631 000, or more than twice as much as dur
ing the entire $50 years preceding the half
century now closing. The gold p:oduc ion
OF the world from 1892 to 1850 amounted to
but 81, 129. 720, GOO. while that of the period
1S51-1s99 was s6,f65, 631,0GO.
The following figures. compiled from the
estimates of DR.. Adolph Soetbeer and the
Director of the United States Mint, show
the gold production Of the world by half
century periods from the year 1900 down
to the present time: In 1501-15J0 it was
S225 $50 GOO: in 1551-1600, S245, $50. GOO; in
16G1-1650. S2S1. $40, GOO; in 1651-17OO. 1924
40 goo; in 1761-1750. s5s7, $50 600; in 1751-
1860 s677 240, eco; in 1Sd1-1s50, S7S7, 460, coo;
in 1s51-1S99, s6,665, 631, coo.
The additions to the worlds supply OF
gold during the past four years have been
as follows: Gold production in United
States in 1896, $53 GSS. 600; in 1897 s57 363,-
eco, in 1885, S6i, 1853 900; in 1889. s72. 500, COO
Total spa. 414,OO0
Total gold production In the world-in
1896 $202. 251, 600; in 1897. S23S Sl2 .000 in
1898, S2S7. 42S.OC0; in 1899, 1915 GOO, GOO;
total, s1.043, 491 COO
The rapid increase in gold production
and the large excess OF exports over i'm
ports, already alluded to, have been accom-
panied by a marked increase In the mt ney
In circulation in the United States, which
stood on July OF each year as follows:
Gold and gold certifcatGs-in 1896, $685.,
449 .242; in 1897, 1856, 432, 59I; in 1898, $685.,
$50 519; in 1899, 1884, 716, 72S; in 1870, $751;
474 400.
Total money OF all kinds in circulation
in 1896, $l5O9. 725. 200; in 1897. 81, G46, 12S,
246; in 1898, 81 ,S43 435, 749; in 1899, 81 49,
1874 22g; In 1860 50 062 425 1876.