The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-02

The Division Of InsuIar Affairs Of the
War Department has PREPARED for publj-
cation the following statement concerning
the commerce CT the Philippine Islam Is
fer the fiscal year ended June 30. 1880. IS
compared with the trade of the islands
under Spanish administration:
Even with the extremely unsettled con
ditions prevailing IN the Philippines. an
analysis of the trade statistics shows that
the import trade for the fiscal year ended
June 80 1900. was the largest of any year
since 1880.
The total value of merchandise. sold
and silver imported into the Philippines
during the year amounted TO $2&. e3e 81,
OF an average of 81 9l5. 500 per month.
The average annual imports into the Phil
ippines from 1880 10 1894. the last year
for which official statistics are available
amounted to $I7039,9ff showing an IN
crease in favor Of the fiscal year o. 1900
as compared with the annual average
given above. of $6.G00.543. or 50 per sent.
This showing is still more remarkable
when compared with the estimated I'M
pcrts for 1885. 1895. ard 1897.
According TO in estimate based vPon
data collated by the British Consul at
Manila. the approximate value o. imports
into the Philippines for 1895 is stated at
S79I50 600. for 1886 at 81. 2g2. 500 and for
1897 at s., l2O coo. The statistics OF trade
for the first eight months Of 1888 cannot
be given
The Custom House a Manila WIS opened
for business by the American military au-
thOrities on August %. 1898 and was the
only port open 10 trade prior 10 January
l. 1888. 4 comparison Of the imports for
the frst four months Of American military
occupation. amounting ~ y2iE- TO $, Isl
SAG with the corresponding four months
of 1899 with three ports open and imports
amounting in value to ST,s62.4S3. shows an
increase IN favor Of 1888 = s., 50T-Sl+ or
= Il per cent
The average annual imports from the
United States for the five Yeas 1SST-ISsl
amounted in value 10 $3.50. 66z. and for the
five years 1292-1S96 to $1352 2S while for
the fiscal year ended June 90. 1860. the val
ue OF imports direct from the United States
aHounJed 70 81 .656.462. an average Of $l3S--
C-9 Per month and an increase Of llZ5 per
cent over the annual average Of lS92-lSs6-
From China ana Hong Kong
The Jota! imports from China and Hong
kong for the fiscal year amounted 10 So
g-0 81. about 50 per cent o. nearly SIS
eog. 600 o: this amount having been import
ed from Hongkoug. It IS unques ,EonabIy
the case. as regards the statistics u IN
ports into the Islands from Ire United
States that they DO not include . cGlsid-
cradle amount Of merchandise tna- IS i'm
ported indirectly. This IS notably true
Of some OF The principal COmmO5-iez I'M
ported from the United States. and par
ticuiaTly so IN the case Of wheat flour
Large quantities Of these articles that are
recorded as imports from H9ugkong are
undoubtedly re-eNporJed from that port TO
the Islands. The amount Of merchandise
that : imported thus is much larger than
the direct shipments stated in the off,
ciaI returns.
This statement IS sustained by the fol
lowing extract from letter received from
the Collector OF Customs Al Manila, dated
March 6. 1900
The fiour imported into the Philippine
Islands comes chiefly from the United
States. though Australia and Japan fur
nish a considerable quantity. During 1893
there was received from the United
States direct. 1920 barrels; from the
United States via HolgkOng. % .322 bar
rels. total 65.522; valued at $316 81 From
Australia 5G1 barrels, valued At s.. 81, and
from Japan Sg4 barrels. valued al 81 go
This embraces all Of ire flour imported in
70 the Philippine Islands through com
mercial channels. during the year 1885
All Of the -four referred 20 in monthly re
ports, as coming from Hongkong. as .
matter OF fact cones from the United
States, kat Is ingoiced from Hongkopg. as
1t is sold by jobbers there 10 Philippine
dealers During the month of January.
laco. there was received from the United
States direct 80 barrels and from the
United States via HongkoEg 1870 bar
rels.
Canned meats for the month of Janua-
r. 1900. we're received as follows From
HoagEong. $500 pounds; from England
u Dos pounds, from the United States 6i-
rect, 10000 pounds. from Spain 5.lG8
pounds; from Germany, 4270 pounds.
From the best Information al hand 10000
pounds Of canned meats from Horgk6ng
came originally from the United States.
placing the United States at the head OF
the list with &C 900 pounds
From the foregoing statement il wifi be
seen that the value Of direct IMPORTS
from the United States for the fiscal yezr
amounted TO g .G56 469 and that the ind
rect imports OF flour during the calendar
year amounted TO 1913 1@5. These dgIres
do not include the values Of mineral oils.
meat products, cotton manufactures. and
many OtAeF commodities that are import
Cd rom the United States Indirectly. ncr
do they include any goods imported by
the COmmissaTy or the Quartermaster Tor
the Use Of the army.
Table OF Percentages.
The following percentages Of Increase or
decrease in The value of imports into The
Philippines iron. the countries a4med
during the fiscal year ended June 90. 1900
as compared with the annual agera g
value Of imports for the years Isa2-lsg5
are shown by the reports.
United States-ArnuaI average 1892
1886. Sl5J.Z2S; fiscal year 1900 81 655 f5s-
amount Of increase. 8, 81, 241. or li--5 FER
cent
United Kingdom -AunuaI average. Sd
105. S7S5 fiscal year 1890. $$941 .422, in
crease, SS35,446. OF = Der cent
Germany-AuuI.al average s5zSi-I- ifs