The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-15
INCREASED ISLAND TRADE.
COMMERCE FOR LAST DECEMBER
SHOWS GREAT GAIN.
Exports to Cuba, Puerto Ricos Hn-
wall, Samoa and the PHILIPPINES
100 Per Cent. Larger Than In
1s9s-Class of Goods Demanded.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON. Feb. A-Commerce OF
the United States with Cuba, Puerto Rico.
and the Hawaiian. Philippine and Samoan
islands continues to show a rapid gain. Tne
December figures Of the treasury bureau OF
statistics show for the single month of De-
cember exports OF considerably more than
100000 to Cuba and imports valued at
81 ,355, 900 from Cuba: to Puerto Rico. ex-
ports valued at s312.ooo against sls3.ooo in
December, 1898; to the Hawaiian islands.
exports exceeding 81 900. 900 in value. against
1926 600 In December. 1898. and to the Phil
ippine islands, 1919 600, against $4,000 in
December. 1898. Taking the entire year AID
the five islands or groups Of islands. Cuba,
Puerto Rico and the Hawaiian. Philippine
and Samoan Islands. the total for 1899 shows
an increase OF more than 100 per cent. in
exports to those islands over the year 1885,
while the imports from them show an IN
isss e' :" 'e ~
Naturally the commerce Of Cuba would
show very material gains compared with
that OF sS9s or 1897 when war prevailed in
that island. but an examination of the ear
Her figures Of our commerce with that ls-
ed States to 1t ip 1899 were larger than
those Of any earlier calendar year and very
much greater than those OF any save the
reciprocity years 1892 and 1893. The same
is true of Puerto Rico. while the exports
from the United States to the Hawaiian
islands are more than twice as great as in
any year prior to 1895, and the imports
from them 30 per cent. In excess OF those
Of any preceding year In the case Of the
Philippines. the increase Is much larger SO
far as relates to exports which reached in
1899 81 $50 900 as against an annual average
Of about 900 during the preceding de-
cade.
Glass Of Goods sent.
A pretty clear idea of the class Of mer-
chandise being sent to the islands in lues-
ton is given by a detailed table printed by
the treasury bureau of statistics showing
the exports by principal articles to eachrof
the islands during the month OF December.
or the 100000 worth OF goods sent to
Cuba In December. s122,3 72 was wood and
manufactures thereof, chiefly lumber and
furniture; $4,000 was provisions. chiefly
lard. bacon. hams, fresh beef. and con-
densed milk: $4,000 was manufactures Of
locomotive engines. pipes and fittings for
steam works, electrical machinery. build
ers' hardware. and wtrr-f fencing; S253. 1877
breadstuffs chiefly corn and oats and
$1S900 live animals. including cattle. mules.
hogs and horses in the order named. To
the Philippines, the most important items
of exports In December were chemicals,
$l3.5ss, coal. s12.0fs: electrical machinery,
$s4 .90s; boilers for steam engines. SO GO:
III. and wood and manufactures thereof
$16.766 of which S12S34 was lumber
The following tables show the total value
of the exports to and imports from Cuba,
Puerto Rico. and the Hawaiian Philippine,
and Samoan islands, in their commerce
with the United States during the calendar
years 1897. 1898 and 1899.