The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-11
OF so PEI GENT.
EXPORTS FROM PORTO RICO TO
THIS COUNTRY ARE GROWING.
$2,322,124 i'm Nuy and June, Against
SI,46I, 09S Same Period of 1890
-Armor Plate Bids.
snecial 70 the IndIanapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON Aug 10.-Commerce be-
tween the United States and Porto Rico
during the two months i'm which the new
tariff act has been in operation shows an
enormous increase over that of the CORE
spending two months of the preceding year.
This is the more observable because of the
assertion which has been frequently made
during the past few months that the is
land is practically impoverished since the
storm of last August. Notwithstanding
the conditions due TO the storm both as to
material for expectation and facilities for
purchase, the exports to the United States
in May and June, 1900, were 80 per cent. In
excess of those of the corresponding months
of 1899, and the IMPORTS from the United
States were more than double those of the
same months in 1889. In May and June, 1893,
the imports into the United States from
Porto Rico, as shown by the reports of the
Treasury Bureau of Statistics, were 81, 461,-
99S, and in May and June, 1900, they were
8 $50, IA. In May and June, 1893, the ex-
ports to Porto Rico from the United States
were S666,9S and in May and June 1900,
they were $l,5S7. AIS. Thus the imports into
the United States from Porto Rico show IN
May and June, 1900, an increase of 90 per
cent. over those of the same months of
1889. both of which occurred prior TO the
storm of that year. and the exports from
the United States to Porto Rico show an
increase of 40 per cent. over the CORE
spending months of 1898. si.r
xxx
Admiral Dewey said to-day, speaking of a
published story of an interview with him in
relation to Philippine and Chinese affairs:
MY attention has been drawn to the ar
ticle as published. j made use of no words
saying or intimating that whatever show
of resistance to our authority there is at
the present time in the Philippines will be
kept up until after our election in Novem-
Der; the instruction Is kept alive by the
leaders, who hold out TO the soldiers the
hope of Bryan's election Neither did L
of war exists between this country and
China. These statements attributed to me
are absolutely incorrect"
XXX
j. III. Wright was to-day appointed post
master at Nome, Alaska.
An Italian. who gave his name as Prof.
Figuccia, of Felucca, Italy, caused some
excitement at the White House, to-day, by
exhibiting a brass projectile which he
wished to present to the President. He
came during the forenoon, accompanied by
a negro, who bore a large satchel. When
stopped at the front door by Usher Mitch
ell. he presented a slip of paper bearing
this inscription: Prof. Figuccia presents
this projectile TO the President of the
United States" He took out of the satchel
a very heavy projectile and a long wire and
explained that the pushing of the wire
through a hole which had been bored in
the end of the projectile's nose would cause
a big explosion. The visitor could speak no
English and made known his mission by
signs. After some questioning. it was con-
cluded the Italian was an inventor seeking
official recognition of his device and he
was directed to the Italian embassy. Later
the secret service was notified.
At the opening of bids to-day at the Navy
Department for armor plate the Bethle-
hem and Carnegie companies submitted
identical bids. each for about is, 200 tons of
the $1,000 tons advertised for, at $500 for the
thick armor and $i11.20 for the thin. The
only other bid was from the Midvale Steel
Company, which proposed to furnish the
whole amount of armor, without charging
royalties. on a sliding scale of s4Ss UP. This
company is unwilling TO contract for less
than 1000 tons.
The rates of delivery named by the sew
eral bidders would make the Midvale Com
pany eight years in furnishing the armor
for which they bid and the other two COM
panies five years each. AS the ships are
under contract to be finished in three years
and the government is under obligations
to furnish the armor to the builders as they
need IL. this delay in armor deliveries prob
ably would give rise to numerous claims
for overtime on the part Of the shipbuild-
erS. The law under which these bids were
called for was passed at the last session
of the Congress after a bitter and memoir
able struggle over the whole question of
armor plate. No action will be taken upon
to-day's bids until the return of Secretary
accept them or erect a government armor
| plant.