New-York tribune., 1901-08-31
WESTLNDLAN TRADE CONTROL
RAPIDLY BEING ACQUIRED BY THE
UNITED STATES

Washington Aug so (SpeciaD.-The rapidty with
which the United States is acquiring complete con-
troll of West Indian trade is being constantly
shown in official documents. The latest Illustration
of this growing disposition OF the adjacent coun-
tries and islands and especially those TO the south
to throw all their business both buying and seIhhs
into American channels Is given in some statistlcs
relating TO the commerce of Jamaica just received
at the Treasury Department. These are contained
a British colonial report that island covering
the years 1898 and 1900. They show that or the ex
ports OF Jamaica 81 per cent were sent 10 the
United States In 1896 while in 1900 the share sent
to the United States 636 per cent To the
United Kingdom the share in 1896 was 27.6 per
cent and in 1900 1872 per cent The report says;
The value of the exports from Jamaica which go
to the United States continues to increase IN toat
the trade The exports 10 the United hlnSoom
the development of the fruit trade which has
hitherto been almost exclusively with the United
States.
The Increase in exports to the United States has
been accompanied by an increase in the percentage
of Jamaican imports which from the United
States In 1896 the percentage Of Jamaican imports
taken from the United States was as and in 1900
43; while the proportion from the United Kingdom.
which in 1886 4s1 per cent, in 1860 Az per
cent In neither imports nor exports does the
trade with Canada show any increase. OF the eX-
ports l6 per cent went 10 Canada in 1896 and the
same proportion in 1850. while OF the imports 20
per cent taken from Canada In 1886. and IL
per in 1900.
The following statement from the report shows
the movements in the more important articles OF
imports and exports. and especially the share OF
that trade with the United States:
The products named were shipped: Sugar. almost
entirely to the United States and to tho United
Kingdom, in the proportion OF 5 to J. Fruit almost o.!
exclusively to the United states ana rum 10 te
the United States, Germany and the United KING
fries hearty tGo-thrds going TO the tinted States
and Russia. the United Kingdom taking hith
MIA Inn eel
States and United Kingdom. IN the order named;
the remainder principally 10 France and Germany.
increased more in proportion than any or the main
cocoa nine-tenths is shipped to France tho Uaited
Kingdom and the United States Coc9anuts,
almost exclusively TO the United States Most of
the ginger the United Kingdom and United
Taking each OF the -four classes which i'm
ports are now arranged, live animals food. drink
to note in Connection With beekeeping rising in1
dustry which the Jamaica Agricultural Society has
taken great pains 10 foster, that bees TO the value
OF s26s4 were Imported as against slOS2 in the
previous year while there importatiors in
1855 The placing Of bees the free list two years
1mportations OF stock. especially OF sheep. have
decreased considerably. owing, probably. 10 the
Farinaceous foods. especially wheat and other
ment over last year. while less salt nsh and more
salt beef and pork were imported: also a smaller
quantity of alcoholic liquors Importatlons OF man
ufactured tobacco fell Off from l& 429 pounds TO
While those Of tea slightly increased There was.
on the whole. dlminution in the importations OF
luxures and increase in those OF necessaries
not locally produced else not in sufficient guam
tity.
Raw materials imported valued at G75.s44.
against R63.286 increase OF e12.6JS over
10000 OF this is due the Increased importa tons
Of coal. which made up f60,369 out OF the total OF
s75,s44. Coal for the last two years has been i'm
ported in greater quantity from the United states
than from the United Kingdom. owing to the ad-
yantages both in cost and freight offered by the
former market The quantity bought from the
United States was 1880 tons. in 199l9Oo against
"a, 400 tons from the mother country.
or the manufactured articles textiles i'm
ported to the value of G4l7454 as against f40.675
IN 1ss8-Ss The influx OF cotton goods from the
United States brought to notice by the Collector
General "A characteristic OF the previous year
increased in 1S99-l9OO. Thus cottons from the
States including hosiery. valued at G40.S2 in
99, and fiS .S79 in lS99-i900
Metals imported were valued f153.l25, against
e230056 in 1S9s'9g the large decrease being CHIEFLY
due TO the completion and equipment of the electric
system at Kingston.
a. Lumber imports diminished greatly, both in qual-
uy and value. pitch pine and white pine being
valued together a34. .Sf7 as against .206 in
169Sss. indicating restricted building operations,
Oils, OF which kerosene is the chief, increased in
imported value from e27 961 to e35 $50.