The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-25
COMMERCE OF The PACIFIC.

graphic Society at the Columbia thea
ter In Washington, Wednesday after
noon. April 2. 1t is only in recen
years. Mr.. Austin said. that the people
| Of the United States have turned theil
attention seriously to the consideration
of foreign commerce. The development
OF our own country through the con
struction of railways and the opening
of the interior which followed has oc-
cupied the attention OF the capitalists
and those engaged in commerce and
production, but now, with the great
/ development which has followed and
the power of producing in excess of the
demands OF our own population, there
is u general desire TO find new markets
| abroad for the products of the field
the forest, the mine, and the workshop.
Such markets have already been found
in European countries, which are east
w accessible and which are the nat
uraI market for our surplus foodstuffs
and materials for use in manufactur-
ing; but the fact that there exists on
the other side OF the Pacific market
now consuming a hundred million dol
lars worth of products per month. o.
one billion two hundred millions every
year. and chiefly OF the kind OF goods
which the United States produces and
desires to sell, makes the question Of
the commerce of the Pacific an espe-
ciaily interesting one at this time.
Up to this time the United States has
been at decided disadvantage in the
attempt TO invade the markets OF the
Orient, because the, great commercial
nations of Europe lie so much nearer
TO that market and are provided with
direct means of water communica-
ton The fact that the great produc-
ing .centers OF the United States still
lie in the eastern section OF the country
and that their products must either
cross the United States by rail. or trav-
el an enormous distance by water. in
passing from the eastern coast to the
markets Of Asia and the Orient has
rendered that market a difficult one
for American exporters.
The all-water routes from New York
to the Orient are from 1000 to 5000 miles
longer than those from London to the
Asia, being about 1880 miles against
a little over 10000 miles from London;
while the route from New York to the
Orient around South America and
across the Pacific is 10000 miles long,
the shortest route being half way
round the earth at it's greatest dia-
meter and that by way of South Amer
lea and the Pacific two-thirds of the
distance around the world. In spite.
which the United States Iabors. as COM
pared with other countries, it has made
more rapid gains in the commerce with
the Orient than any other nation. our
exports to the Orient having grown
from 40 million dollars in 1891 to rs |
millions in 1901, an increase of $50 per
cent; while the total exports We're in
,reasing but 80 per cent. Our imports |
from the Oriental countries increased |
during the same time from los millions |
10 I62 millions, an increase of over 90 |
per cent, while the tOtarimports of the |
,ountry were increasing but 10 per
,ent. An examination OF the commerce |
# other nations with the Orient shows
hat that of the United States has
crown with much greater rapidity
han the other countries competing for
hat commerce. Taking the commerce
II the Orient at decennial periods be-
inning with 1868. the year prior to the
pening OF the Suez canal. Mr.. Austin
nds that the imports of those coun-
ries show about the same actual in
rease as those from the United King
ON. which is much more favorably
)cated at present than are the produce
lg centers of the United States. and
nat I'm percentages the gain is: Unit
1 Kingdom, so per cent; United
tates. over 1000 per cent
Commercial relations between the !
nited States and the Orient should. I
Mr.. Austin's opinion, be especially !
ose. because OF the fact that each sec
pm produces articles which the other r
ction requires. Tropical and sub
optical products have become a very
rye proportion of the imports of the I
nited States. and are constantly in
easing both in quantity and value
"a in the percentage which they form
the total imports. In the year 1901
2 Importation of tropical and sub
Dpical products amounted to nearly
%. 100000. or almost one-half OF the
tai imports OF the United States. This
lss includes such articles as raw silk,
ers. india rubber. cabinet and dye
'ods. for use in manufacturing: and
4. coffee. cocoa, sugar. tropical fruits. lie
:. for foOdstuffs. All OF these are >,
{ only produced in the Orient. but in n
me cases at least. are the chief prod "
Is OF the countries lying on the op-
site side OF the Pacific. on the other p
nd. those countries are constantly vi
porting the class OF articles which
United States produces and for -
itch our producers desire TO find "a y
,rket abroad. Thus the commerce Of
E United States and the countries OF
2 Orient may be considered compile