Evening star., 1901-08-24
PURCHASES ABROAD
Brazil Stands First in Selling Us Ag-
ricultural Products.
CUBA is FOURTH ON THE LIST
Steady Increase in the Imports
From Japan and Hawaii.
IN TIE r Els TING STATIST TICS

Mr.. Frank II. Hitchcock, chief of the
section of foreign markets of the Agricul-
tural Department has prepared bulletin
for the purpose of bringing down to date
the statistics published two years ago in a
similar report covering the fiye-year period
1S9l-1S9S.
Mr.. Hitchcock says, in part: Among the
countries from which the United States
purchased agricultural products during 1900
Brazil the leading source of our coffee sup
ply. stood foremost. Our agricultural i'm
ports from Brazil, amounting in value to
S39, 9,2s1, COO were considerably smaller, how
ever, than previous years. In 1896. five
years ago. importations to the value of
500, 6Gs 600 were received from that coun-
try, but since then each annual record has
shown a decreasing trade, the figures just
quoted for 1900 being the lowest of the past
decade.
Cuba stood fourth as a contributor to our
agricultural import trade In 1900, the pro-
duce received from that island amounting
in value to S27,226,O0O During the past
five years, as was natural under the pre-
vailing conditions, our Cuban imports suf-
fered marked fluctuations. the value drop
ping from S36,3S6 600 in 1896 to S13, 15S, 900
in 1898, and then partly recovering, as in
dicated by the figures for 1900.
Germany was the fifth country In i'm
portance, supplying agricultural imports
that had value of 26.04J, 900. These fig
ures were the largest Of the past five years,
excepting the record for 1891, which
with the figures for 1885, recorded at S22,-
o25'ooo. they show considerable increase.
High Record for Japan.
Our agricultural imports from Japan in
creased quite noticeably during the last
few years, advancing from SIS, ,3S2, 600 in
1886 to S24, 767, 900 in 1900. The value for
the latter year was the highest ever re-
corded, and made that country sixth in
rank among the sources Of our agricultural
import trade.
The Chinese empire stood seventh in this
regard. Our agricultural imports from
CHINA almost kept pace with those from
Japan. the value returned for 1900 being
S4.131, 900. as compared with only $1S,649,-
600 for 1896
From France we purchased farm pro-
duce worth s21 ,O52 900 in 1900 that country
ranking eighth In Importance. The figures
Tor 1900 We're the largest of the period un-
der consideration. although nearly equaled
In 1897. Compared with the record for
1856. which amounted to SIT 75S, coo, they
exhibit a noticeable gain.
Increase From Hawaii.
Unusually large shipments of agricultural
produce We're received from Hawaii during
1890, the value amounting to $50 63S, 900,
which was decidedly in excess of any pre-
vious record. Our agricultural imports
from the islands during 1896 were valued
at only 81, 1,I1o0o0. In 1900 Hawaii stood
ninth among the sources of supply
Italy furnished agricultural produce to
the value of S20.529 600 in 1900 ranking
tenth in Importance. There was q consid-
cradle gain also in the imports from this
country. the value for 1896 amounting to
only s15,95S 900. The imports from Italy
those
in excess of any previously reported.
Another country from which the United
States received agricultural imports worth
over s21.09o001 in 1900 was Mexico, which
furnished US with farm produce to the
value of $50 "02 zoe. The importations from
Mexico increased rapidly during the five
years. the record for 1896 being only s12-
751 900.
From British Indies.
After the eleven sources just enumerated
the largest import records of 1909 were made
In our trade with she British East Indies
and the British West Indies The past five
years have witnessed considerable growth
In the amount of agricultural produce re-
ceived from each of these sources, the i'm
portations from the British East Indies in
creas!ng in value from S9,O29, 900 in 1896
to Sl9.oS1 900 in 1900. and those from the
British West Indies showing an advance
during the same period from SIS, S91, 900 to
Other sources from which we received
agricultural imports exceeding S.. 100000 in
value during 1900 were Canada, Egypt the
Netherlands. Argentine. the Philippine
Islands and Venezuela.
Where We Get Sugar.
The Dutch East Indies Hawaii, Cuba end
Germany We're the sources from which the
United States procured most of the sugar
imported during 1900. Our purchases from
the Dutch West Indies were exceptionally
large, amounting to S2417OOOO Hawaii
furnished S20.392 600 worth Cuba s1s24-
600 worth, and Germany S12, ,347 900 worth
After these four leading sources cur
largest importations came from the Brit
ish West Indies, British Guiana Santo Do
mingo and Porto Rico The consignments
received from the British West Indies
were valued at S4.603. 600 and those from
British Guiana at S3.778.00O. Santo Do
mingo supplied S3.36o,000 worth, and Porto
Rico S2.iIoGoo worth. Austria Hungary,
Egypt. Brazil and Peru We're the only other
countries contributing imports valued above
Sl.oo0,o00
Our largest imports of hides and skins