New-York tribune., 1901-07-28
HEAVY PORTO RIC4N SHIPMENT.
THE MARACAIBOs CARGO SHOWS THE
EFFECT OF THE FREE TRADE
PROCLAMATION

The Red d steamship Maracaibo which sailed
for San JUAN Porto Rico, and Venezuela yesterday.
carried part Of goods valued $4,000, which
have been bought by Porto Rican dealers in the
last month. and have been stored awaiting the
declaration of free trade between the island and
the United States. 1t especially in drygoods
and hardware that the cargo of the Maracaibo
heavy, and it is these lines especially according TO
the traders. that feel the effects of removal Of
the customs duties.
The Maracaibo carried heavy cargo every cubic
foot of her hold being filled and all the deck space
tnat could be gwen over to freight taken up
The company was forced to refuse much freight
as il accepted. Yesterday the Porto Rican freight
80 per in excess of the usual cargo for
that island. The Maracaibo will be the second yes
sci to land San Juan since the abrogation of
the duties. the San Juan. of the New-York and
Porto Rico Steamship Company making that port
Friday morning. just : the Presidents procla-
nation took effect. The California. OF the same
line. will leave for Porto Rico on Monday, carry
ing heavy cargo. and, although this is the duh
season in the island. business usually being a
standstill from July 25 to September %, which is
known in the island as the hurricane season, it is
expected that heavy shipments will continue
throughout this season. as the local dealers have
been allowing their stocks to down in antici-
patton Of the abrogaton Of the duties.
The Maracaibo carried, besides drygoods and
hardware, -four rice. salt fish. salt pork, lard.
butter, potatoes and vegetables.
Robert Stewart, who has just returned from San
Juan, where he represents Dooley, Smith & Co.,
was seen yesterday. He said that few days ago
estimates had been made which showed that
American goods worth about $4,000 ready for
shipment Porto Rico when President Mckinley
issued the proclamation. Their shipment de-
pendent on the abrogaton of the duties
In anticipation OF this. said Mr.. Stewart. the
Porto Rican dealers had been exhausting their old
stocks, mostly English goods and now re-
plenshing their stores with American goods. The
trade in -four and other foodstufs had increased
under the Foraker law, which admitted those prod
ucts free, and now the merchants of Porto Rico
turning to this country for their drygoods and
hardware
Mr.. Stewart said that he looked not only to the
removal OF the duties to increase the trade with the
now have free market here for her sugar. tobacco
and fruit.
The commercial agencies Mr. Stewart said, had
not yet been able to rate Porto Rican merchants,
but they were able to pay their bills, and though
the island had In three years gone through war.
currency there had been only three failures on the
island in the three years. The merchants. he said
with three exceptions, were Spaniards Porto
Ricans
One difficulty. he said, in establishing American
trade on the island was that manufacturers here
could not give the six months time TO which mer-
chants there had been accustomed.
AL the office OF Flint, Eddy & Co. and the Amerl-
can Trading Company attention was called to the
fact that trade with Porto Rico is the same
domestic trade and not foreign. and this will result
in the quoting Of different prices TO Porto Rican
or the export dscount"-an allowance made TO
offset the duty-but now they will have to pay the
domestic prices. Otherwise goods could be bought
mere and shipped TO Porto Rico and sent back and
sold under the manufacturers prices by taking ad-
vantage Of the export discount" This may make
some confusion at first. and may appear to Porto
that they will soon become accustomed to being
dealt with as domestic customers