Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-20
Imports From Hongkong.


United States military departments. the in
sular government or that of it's subordinate
branches.
Imports From Hongkong.
In addition to this unmeasured benefit
to the United States trade 1t is but fair to
state that this country is. deprived of the
proper credit for its imports into the
| islands by reason of shipments passing
| through Hongkong and eventually reported
| as originating at that point. Although this
applies to European countries as well to
some extent, 1t has been found that only
an exceedingly small portion of their eX-
port credit is affected, for the reason that
| nearly all their shipments come direct via
Singapore, and the transshipments at that
port and at Hongkong and Saigon are
rarely attended to by the Issue of new
shipping documents under which the port
of transshipment can be taken as the port
of origin.
AS to the Philippine export trade with
the United States in which this country
has trebled its figures during the last two
years, the results represent more nearly the
proper credit, but there are numerous in
stances of direct shipments of hemp in
large quantities, intended for the United
States, to Europe and Hongkong under
documents in which these countries are
given as the ports of final destination, as
will appear from the fact that approximate
ly seven and half million dollars worth
of hemp was exported from the Philippines
while during a similar period the importa-
lions of this fiber into the United States
coming from the latter country amounted
to nearly four and a quarter millions.
During the fiscal year 1902 there was I'M
ported merchandise, exclusive of gold and
silver, to the value of So, 141.S42 showing
an increase of nearly $2o00OO0 over the
same period of 1901, and exceeding all
previous figures for any single year in the
history of the archipelago.
The total importations received from date
of American occupation to and including
June 80 1902, amounted to S95, 133, 6aA On
which the total duty Appropriated over
so. j00,0 600. based on complete yearly
periods covered by the last three iiseal
years it would appear that an average en-
nual import trade of more than S2i 100000
has been maintained, the United States
sending merchandise to the amount of
81, 035. 243 in 1902 as against $3.50 $50 in
1901 and 81 657, 701 in 1900, or an Increase
for the past year over 1900 of 143 per cent.
Before American Occupation.
1t is extremely difficult, If not impossible,
to obtain authentic statistics relating to
the trade prior to our occupation, but t
may be of interest TO compare the average
just mentioned with the estimated value Of
imports of years Immediately preceding
that time. According to figures taken from
Bulletin No. IA, United States Department
of Agriculture, section of foreign markets,
the British consul at Manila has collected
data in which the approximate value OF
imports into the Philippines for 1895 is stat
ed as 81 ,915 Goo, for 1896 at 50, 90, 800 and
for 1897 at 50. 10000; of these amounts an
average annual value of $125,432 is credited
al coming from this country.
The same authority publishes figures fix
ing the average annual value of total i'm
ports during the period 1SS0-1S94 at S1T,0 g.
OLA, which is probably a fair normal aver
age during the years in. which the archi-
pelago was open to the commerce of he
a n1 r.
ing this period is credited to Spain and the
United Kingdom, which countries practical
ly controlled the Philippine import market.
The annual export trade from the United
States to the Islands during these years,
presumably taken from records at the GUS
toms houses of this country, Appropriated
$3.50, 600 a very insignificant part of the
totals reported as coming from all coun-
tries.
The relative standing during the last fis-
cal year shows a gain of more than mill
lion dollars for this country in round num-
bers, being second in rank with over $1,000
600, a rating of IL per cent, exceeded by the
United Kingdom with IL per cent: the
Spanish trade having fallen off to such an
extent that it's present ratio equals but
per cent. AS compared with her trade for
the previous year the United Kingdom lost
practically one-fifth in the value of goods
sold the figures for cotton goods alone,
which is the principal class of Importation
into the islands, showing a loss of a million
and half.
Exports From Philippines.
The average annual value of Philippine
export trade from 1SS0-1S94, inclusive, is
given as S20, 526 961, though the records dis
close but little information by countries re-
lating to these years.
The United Kingdom appears to have
been the principal destination during the
five-year period from 1S92-1S96, inclusive,
with an average annual value of $S,S44. 026:
the United States ranking second with &c.
O53 232. For the same number of years i'm
mediately preceding this period an average
of about IS, $4,000 was received by this
country annually, while the United King
dom trade appears to have been second IN
Importance, falling a little short of this
figure.
The export figures of the archipelago in
the fiscal year 1902 were larger, with but
two exceptions, 1870 and 1889 than in any
wear of it's history. The last fiscal year
shows an increase over 1901, 81, 92I ,613
worth of merchandise being exported, OF
which the United Kingdom and United
States received nearly $1,000 900 in prac-
tically equal proportions; however, the re-
expectation of hemp to this country for the
past year coming from the United Kingdom
places the United States far in advance as
the leading market for Philippine products
at the present time.
From date of American occupation to and
including June 80, 1902, this trade amounted
To $40 oeO COZ duty collected to nearly three