The Washington times., 1902-09-08
Bureau of lnsular Affairs
Gives Out Glowing
Report.
HEALTHY INCREASE SHOWN
Manila Certain to Secure Much of Hong
kong's Trade When Harbor Improve
ments Are Made-Construction of
Railroads Quite Important.


American occupancy, according to ar
elaborate statement authorized by the
Bureau of Insular Affairs of the Wal
Department. and this despite the fac,
that an insurrection has been in prog
ress during the greater portion of the
time
In making UP the comparative state
ment of the trade during the years 1899
1900. and 1901, the bureau has not in
cluded in the commerce of the islands
TIE enormous amounts of supplies for
the army, navy, and other branches OF
the Government which have been shipped
to the archipelago.
The statement, in part, says:
In comparing the imports and ex-
ports for the years named it will be no
ticed there ha, been marked increase
in volume. The imports of 1901 exceed
ed those of 1899 by s11.0oO,ooo, and the
exports had increased more than 50. $780,
600 in the same time. Trade in the ISL
ands has received an impetus since theii
transfer to the United States. The only
visible factors which will in any way
check or impede an immediate greater
development are lack of means of trans
portation and Of proper agricultural ma
chinery and methods. The construction
of railroads and highways and the inn
provement Of harbors will necessarily
be gradual, but the introduction of prop
er farming machinery and implements
should be immediate.
Up-to-Date Farm Appliances.
Natives are not expected to take the
initiative in these matters, but they will
adopt improved methods which are
brought to their immediate notice; for
instance, were number of intelligent
farmers. using up-to-date appliances,
distributed among the different prov
inces the trade in all that goes to prop.
erly equip farm or plantation would
soon reach great proportions.
''One OF the alleged mistakes of the
Spanish government during its owner
ship of the archipelago was the discour.
agement of real estate tenure on the
part Of the inhabitants, the latter on
this account being reduced to a condi-
ton of peonage. or at the best, living
as squatters upon crown lands and SUBJ
ject to eviction without notice
by reference to figures it will be
shown that the imports into the islands
rose from a little more than $19 ,000, 900
in 1899 TO nearly $25. .000, 900 in 1900, and
TO more than 100000 900 in 1901, the
increase for 1901 being 81 per cent over
1899 and more than q per cent over
1900: exports having risen in the same
period from nearly x15,00o,0 600 in 1899
to about SIS. .000. 900 in 1900, and approx
imately S24,500.000 in 1901. Customs
duties on merchandise rose from 81, ALL
$50 in 1899 to $7,70o.679 in 1900 and to
IS, 164 ,466 in 1901. During the latter
years of Spanish ownership the revenue
from this source averaged between three
and three and a half million dollars
annually.
Quite large portion of the Philip
pine trade is via Hongkong, and from
reports, especially of experts, it would
appear that Hongkong furnishes the
archipelago a considerable part of it's
imports and absorbs a large percentage
OF its exports. This. however. is not
the case, as Hongkong is simply dis
tribution point, bearing relation to
the Philippine products similar to that
of Chicago to the grain crops of Illi-
nois and contiguous States.
With the completion of the harbor
improvements at Manila, which are now
we'll under way, and with the honest and
equitable port charges which are now in
vogue, Manila is destined to seizure from
Hongkong great part of the tAade noH
controlled by the latter. Manila is by
nature located for the distribution of
imports and exports of eastern Asia and
Oceania. While the United States is
yet behind certain other countries in
the Philippine trade, there has been a
great increase in its exports to the ISL
ands, which during the last years of
Spanish control amounted to an annual
average of barely per cent OF the
total as compared with 12 per cent in
1901. The twelve principal articles. in
the order of their Importance. exported
from the United States during the year
1901 were malt liquors. wheat -four, iron
and STEEL and their finished forms. pa
per in its different forms, distilled
spirits. glassware, cars, carriages, and
BICYCLES, oils, cotton goods, wooL and |
its manufactures, leather and its manu- |
factures, and watches and locks.
Cotton Trade Healthy.
Cotton goods constitute the most i'm |
portsnt importa Of the Philippines. as-
rregating more than 8.8G8 In 1881. s
which was nearly one-fourth of the total |
amount of merchandise imported during |
that year. These goods were furnished |
oy many countries, the United Kingdom |
leading with As per cent. Spain follow
ng with IL per cent, British Indies with |
10 per cent. and Germany per cent. |
rhe United States furnished but per
.ent. The quality CT the goods is a
natter of first Importance in this trade,
rs the people of the Philippine Islands
are like those of other tropical countries
IN preferring the cheapest material OBJ
ainable, provided ii lie in flashy colors.
4 may become possible later on to in
luce the people to choose better grade
II these goods. but 1t will require con-
,fderable time. and in the interim it Il
viii be necessary to cater TO the pecu 4
lar tastes of the natives in order 20 /
ecure their patronage.
Experiments in growing cotton from
eed procured In the United States have
,een made in the province of Dayao in
.findanao with such success that the
ulture of cotton will be tested fully,
nd II the results prove as successful as
he persons interested in the trial be-
ieye, the consequences will be far
eaching in their effect upon the future
otton trade of the Orient.
.sThe fucreaRp in imnOrf asionS Of