Evening star., 1901-07-22
TRADE WlTHOUR NEIGHBORS
EXPORTS TO THE COUNTRIES sOUTH
OF U.s.
Increased Shipments 10 Mexico and
the West Indies During the
Past Decade.

Exports from the United States 10 all
American countries and islands south OF
her boundaries show a marked increase N
the fiscal year just ended and exceed those
of any other year in the history of our
commerce. This statement. just aunounc-
ed by the treasury bureau OF statistics ~
especially interesting. in view OF the vari-
efforts being made for closer business.
commercial and transportation relations
between the United States and her neigh
bors at the south. New lines Of steamers
have recently been put on between the Pa
cific coast of the United States ana the
western coast OF Mexico. Central and
South America: recently published state
ment indicates that the great financial in
terests OF the United States have obi aimed
control Of the nearly completed transcon-
tinental line connecting Argentina with
Chile, the establishment of additional di-
rect steamship lines between the eastern
coast Of the United States and South
American ports is under discussion. ana
the opening of an isthmian canal would
give a straight line OF water Communica-
tion from the eastern coast of the Irited
States to the western coast of South Amer
lea. All of these movements In the direc-
tion of closer relations between the Tinted
States and her neighbors at the south add
interest to the announcement that our cN-
ports 10 those countries in l!sll are larger
than those Of any preceding year. as indi-
bureau of statistics showing the imports of
each of the South American countries at
the latest date and the exports from the
United States TO each of those countiies In
1.N1.
Exports to the south.
The growth OF exports from the United
States to Central and South America has
not kept pace in the past with the growth
in other directions The total exports to
South America I'm 1900. for instance. were
no more than those of 1s.O. being in each
of those years, in round numbers, 3s""0.-
600, while the same statement holds good
with reference to Central America. the to-
tai exports from the United States to the
Central American states being in 1880 and
1900 in each case in round numbers So
100000.
1t is to Mexico and the West Indies that
our exports in the decade ls.n-l!no show
the greatest increase. being: To the West
Indies, in 1880 SS3,otaooo and in 1900. S41,-
ooo,ooo; and to Mexico in 1880, sl5ouo.Opo.
and in 1900. SII.Vn.oO. The fiscal years
1900 and 1901 show a much greater in
crease in our sales TO our neighburs at the
south than in any preceding years. The
total exports to Mexico, Central and South
America and the West Indies In 1889 Were
SlH.Hr,om; in 1900, Sl21,nN.Nn, and in
1901, S13S.00.@n in round numbers. Thus
the figures of 1901 are SO Ooa.So greater
than those OF 1S.g. while the 1899 figures
are only $l,ooo,oeo greater than those OF
1sg3
The Importance OF satisfactory transpor-
tation facilities is illustrated by a
study of the growth of our ex-
port trade with the countries at the
south. Prior to the construction of rail-
way lines connecting Mexico with the
nlted States our exports to Mexico sell
dom reached S1o.0;0.uo0: by 1893 they were
S23.on.o0; by 1899. S25.e9.Sb in 1890.
SS4.o~.Wu. and in 1901. S37 .Oeo 600 in round
numbers To the West Indies the trans
portation system is much more satisfac-
tory than to the South American countries.
and to those Islands exports have
grown from S34 ,oooo'U I'm 1891 to $40 OO0. eco
I'm 1901 To Central and South America
with which steamship communication has
not been satisfactory, the growth mas been
less. the figures. already indicated be
ing in 1900 practically the same as in 1890
while the figures for 1900 and 1901 show I'm
each case a considerable increase. This in
crease is especially notable in the exports
to the countries on the western coast of
South America reached by the recently es-
tablshed lines connecting the western coast
OF the Inited States with that of South
ana Central America and which were nut
into operation about the beginning of the
present calendar year. The figures of our
exports to South America show an Increase
OF nearly 100 per cent to Peru I'm eleven
months ending with May. 1901, as COM
pared with the same period of the fiscal
year l!u, and nearly 100 per cent to Chile
in the same time. OF the increase of So
"H.W1 In exports to South America I'm 1901
as compared with 1900 more than two
thirds Is to the countries on the western
coast.
The following table shows the imports of
the south American countries at the lat
est date obtainable lin most cases lS,nt
ana the exports from the United States 20
each OF those countries in 1889 and 1901: