New-York tribune., 1900-01-08
HEMP AWAITING SHIPMENT
VAST QUANTITIES STORED IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND NEEDED HERE.
MANUFACTURERS OF BINDING TwINE AND sIMI-
LAR GOODS ANXIoUsLY LOOKING FOR THE
OPENING OF THE PoRTs-DELAY
MAY INJURE WHEAT
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuNE.l


Washington. Jan Tone phase of the Philippine
situation which is exciting the keenest solicitude
among representatives of the manufacturers of
cordage. binding twine and similar goods composed
Of hemp sisal grass. etc, we'll as persons en-
gagged in building and sailing ships and other YES
sells of every description is the delay in opening
the Philippine ports in which large quantities Of
hemp. amounting. st is estimated, TO 1900 tons or
more. are stored and awaiting shipment. Later on
the wheat growers of the United States will suffer
unless the present situation is speedily relieved
for they annually consume immense quantities Of
binding twine composed of the hbres above men
toned. 1t is estimated that the consumption of
binding twine by the farmers OF the United states
emounss in a fairly good year 10 not less than
2oo0oo,0OO pounds single county in Kansas took
more than thirty in 1897 Even small rise
in the cost OF this commodity would therefore add
10 the Burdens American agriculture, and II
there should be any considerable advance in the
cost the effects would be far reaching and felt
only by the farmers but by the party in power.
Representative McCleary, of Minnesota. is author
1ty Ter tie statement that the advance OF the
price OF binding twine 1898 the preceding
year tthe State owning and operating plant for
It's MANUFACTURER largely If not mainly
sponsible for the reverse sustained by the Mime
sofa Republicans in that year. Kansas has recent
~ established a plant a of S150.000 to
facture binding twine. 1t has only small quantity
of the material on hand. Hemp. which is the
best and most desirable material, it is virtually
impossible at present 10 obtain, the stocks in this
country having been wholly exhausted held at
an e1travagant figure.
LOW STOCKS IN THIS COUNTRY.
The stocks Of all the manufacturers low
exhausted and. according to statement made
day by Chief Clerk Parker of the Office Of the
Assistant Secretary of War, the manufacturers
have petitioned for the early opening the ports
IN order 10 relieve the situation He added that
the records of the insuar division of the War De-
pariment showed that not single argument or
protest against such action had been filed by any
importer manufacturer of hemp. Mr.. Parker
also ventured the opinion that the hemp ports
would be opened very soon" If this should be
done, even ordered. the manufacturers unani-
lnously agree that both Manila hemp and Mexican
efsaI and other fbres would rapidly decline from
the exorbtant prices now demanded to more rea-
sonable figures, so great would be the moral effect
OF the action. In order to show the enormous ad-
vance in the importers prices of both hemp and
sisaI from which cordage, binding twine, yarns
etc, are made, these figures given: In 1855
Manila hemp ruled at cents a pound for five
months. did not rise above cents in any month,
and December stood at AS cents pound, the
average for the year being IA cents. On January
the price Of Mexican sisal 2as cents, the price
on December / cents, and the average for
the year was less than cents a pound. On jan
uary J. 1897 Manila hemp was quoted at AS cents
and on December l at 1916 cents a pound. Sisal
was quoted at 37s cents January and S5 cents
3 pound December L On January l, 1888. Ma
Mia hemp quoted at 1916 cents pound; on
the first of August, September and October. at
May, June and July, and at cents pound on
December l. Mexican ssal quoted at 31s
cents on January !, at 51k cents on May /, at S14
cents June l, at cents July l. at cents on
August and at cents on December l. On jan
uary J 1893, Manila hemp quoted at 6B cents
e pound from which II gradually to 111s cents
on October i and 145 cents December 30 Sisal
was quoted at cents January 1, at Sl4 cents on
October l and at 91z cents pound on December 30
II win be observed that the prices of sisal have
fisen in a fair proportion to the advance in the
prices Of Manila hemp the former from 41s cents
g pound On January l. 1897. 20 14h cents pound
On December 30 1888 an increase of about go per
cent, and the latter from 3ss cents pound on
January /, 1897 to eh cents December 80, ls99
sn increase Of more than 1s0 per cent, the differ
ence being accounted for by the fact that the
former a better fibre and required for a greater
variety OF than the latter.
ENORMOUS INCREASE OF PRICES
The stubborn fact remains however that both
cost more than three and one-half times much
on December !. 1899. they did January l, 1885,
while there has been a steady increase of produc-
ton OF both hbres. This be shown by the
official Of expectation of both hbres since
January ], 1856. The total exports of Manila hemp
from the Philippines in the year ended June 80,
1885, amounted to 81 56e tons, and IN the ended
June 80, 1897 to 1o5.12s tens OF these totals the
direct exports to the United States amounted to
562 1896 and 21s4 IN 1897. The follow
ing table shows the amount OF hemp imported into
the United States from the Philippine Islands and
from all other countries (rnainly the United King
DOM IN the first eleven months OF the calendar
years specified:
To+aI