The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-08
WONDERFUL GROWTH
OF PORTO RICO'S TRADE
Imports From the Island Increased
Is Per Cent and Exports 800
Per Cent Since the War.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL,

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington. July THE prompt action
OF the Porto Rican Legislature in notifying
the President that the tariff revenue be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States is
no longer required to meet the expenses
Of tho island and requesting that all tariff
between the island and the United States
be Immediately abolished. in accordance
with the provisions Of the Porto Rican
act, lends special interest to some figures
just prepared by the Treasury Bureau of
statistics regarding the commerce between
Porto Rico and the United States since the
Porto Rican act went into effect
The Porto Rican act which. it will be re-
membered. went into effect May 1, 1900, pro-
Vided that the United States tariff should
apply in Porto Rico as against all countries
except the United States. and that the tar
III rates between the United States and
Porto Rico should be is per cent Of the reg
ular tariff rates for term of two years.
unless the Porto Rican Legislature should
sooner than that time notify the President
mat 1t had made provision for local taxa
ton TO meet the necessities Of the Govern
ment OF Porto Rico. whereupon all tariff
between the island and the United States
should be abolished.
This notification, according to the press
dispatches from Porto Rico, has been duly
made by the Legislature. the act signed BY
e Governor Allen and :, the President re-
goods passing from the United States into
Porto Rico, or from Porto Rico into the
United States on July %. 1901, as author.
lZed by the act above referred to.
Increase in Commerce.
The increase in commerce between Porto
Rico and the United States, which has fol-
lowed the Porto Rican act. by which S. per
cent Of the tariff between that island and
me United States was removed. has been
very great. especially in exports from the
United States to Porto Rico.
.. me act went into effect May !, 1900 and
me figures for the month Of April, 1901,
therefore conclude the first year of com.
merce between the island and the United
states under this act In that year the i'm
p1 tas. from J. Porto Rico into .he United
corresponding twelve months of ls99-190O: and
s.:l5l. 10 In the corresponding twelve month
OF Sy1-9s-an incrase of over IS per cent
as ans sn3Mpare &c with tho twelve months ending
april 80. 1888. when the island was under
Spanish control.
In exports from the United States to Forto
kico the increase is still more strongly
marked. the expectation during the first
iss.6ol. against $s19.240 in the correspondence
= tw Sse 1 months ending with April. 1900 and
N.s56, 6H In the corresponding twelve months
ending with April, 1sss-an increase OF near
~ 800 per cent.
IT, To sum up. the Developments of trade be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States
since the Porto Rican act abolishing IS per
cent Of the tariff rates between the island
and the United States went into effect. as
compared with conditions before the begin
ming of the war with Spain. 1t may be said
that imports from Porto Rico have In
creased 70 per cent and exports to that
island have increased nearly 800 per cent.
How far the abolition OF the remaining
% per cent of the DinRley tariff rates and
the establishment of absolute free trade
between Porto Rico and the United States
will further stimulate the commerce be-
United States can only be determined by
future Developments.
The latest figures Of the Bureau OF Statls-
ports OF Porto Rico are now from the
United States and about IS per cent OF the
exports from that island are to the United
States.