Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-04-18

those countries snow ABOUT lnt Salhu
actual increase as those from the Unit
ed Kingdom. which is much more fa-
vorably located at present than are tho
producing Centers of the United States,
and that in percentages the gain is;
United Kingdom, 80 per cent; United
States. over 1000 per cent.
Large Tropical Imports.
Commercial rela lions between the
United States and the Orient should, in
Mr.. Austin's opinion, he especially
close. because of the fact that each sec
ton produces articles which the other
section requires. Tropical and sub
tropical products have become a very
large proportion of the imports of the
United States, and are constantly in
crcasing both in quantity and value
and in the percentage which they form
of the total imports. In the year 1901
the importation of tropical and sub
tropical products amounted to nearly
$500, 000, 900. or almost Onehalf of the
total imports of the United States. This
class includes such articles as raw
silk, fbers, india rubber. cabinet and
dye woods. for use in manufacturing:
and tea, coffee. cocoa, sugar, tropical
fruits, etc, for foodstuffs. All Of these
are not only produced in the Orient
but in some cases at least, are the chief
products of the countries lying on the
opposite side of the Pacific. On the
other hand. those countries are con-
stantly importing the class OF articles
which the United States produces and
for which our producers desire to find
market abroad. Thus the commerce
of the United States and the countries
of the Orient may be considered COM
Elemental, and for this reason a rapid
and permanent growth in exchange OF
| these mutually necessary commodities
may be expected when direct water
! communication Is established between
| the producing and consuming Centers
/ of the United States and thCl of the
Asiatic countries and islands in ques-
ton.
Large Pacific Frontage.
In addition to this mutual reliance
upon each other of the countries in
! question, there are other natural con-
ditiOns which seem to favor commerce
/ between the two sections when the Pa
ClfiC is opened to direct transporta-
ton between the producing and con-
Stunning Centers of the two great seC-
lions. Among these causes are: a.
the fact that the United States has
| larger frontage on the Pacific than any
other nation; ~ that il has more and
better harbors; go that II controls
practically all the great way stations
or mid-OCean islands. and especially
those having valuable harbors and
necessary as landing points for cables;
| ca that it has at Manila a point Of
| special Importance and commercially
strategic value for the concentration
and distribution of commerce; and 60
| that in the great currents of air and
water traversing the Pacific the con-
/ ditions are especially favorable to the
| United States. The fact that a great
current of water and air flows west
wardly across the Pacific from about
the mouth of the proposed Isthmian
canal by way of the Hawaiian Islands
to the Philippines, thence turning
northward past the great commercial
centcrs Of Asia-Shanghai and Yoko-
hama-swinglng across the Pacific iu
the vicinity Of the great circle" the
shortest route across that ocean,
thence down the western coast of tho
United States and past our chief Pa.
citlc coast cities, to the very point Of
beginning, seem to give special adj
vantagcs to the commerce between the
two sections. The distance from Britu
at the western end of the proposed Mic.
aragua canal to Manila. following the
equatorial currents Of air and water,
Via the Sandwich Islands, Is in round
numbers 10000 miles; and from Ma
Mia back to BrtO via Shanghai, Yoke.
hama and San Francisco 10000 miles.
thus giving to the vessels engaged in
that commerce the advantages of favor.
able air and water currents during tho
entire voyage, and practically at all
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