Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-24
PHILIPPINE COMMERCE.
A Steady Increase in the Last Calendar
Year.

Washington, June 23.-Figures about
to be published by the Insular Bureau
of the War Department show that in
the twelve months ended December,
1902, great commercial gains were
made in the Philippines, compared
with the previous year of American oc-
cupation.
In the comparisons the general result
indicates a steady increase in the vol
ume of trade, imports in 1902 being
greater than ever before, the value of
purchases amounting to $33, 342, 166, as
against $50, All in 1901. These fig
ures are exclusive of gold and silver
and large quantities of material
bought in this country and passed
through the Philippine custom houses
free of duty for use as government
supplies, both military and civil.
Under the adverse conditions which
have prevailed in the archipelago, this
increase in imports would appear graft
flying at first glance, but an examina-
ton of their character shows that the
item of food supplies in the last year
has ranked close to that of manufac-
tured articles in the distribution. by
classes, being valued at nearly $4,000
900, or two-fifths of the total imports,
a material increase over 1901, when the
proportion Appropriated one-fourth of
the incoming trade. Nearly 10 per
cent. of the foodstuffs purchased in 1902
were admitted free of duty, under the
Philippine tariff notifications in effect
during the year, while the general re-
duction in duties stimulated the i'm
portation of a number of products,
such as wheat, -four canned fruits,
canned meats, etc, in all of which the
market for American goods has been
enlarged accordingly, and exclusive of
rice, the trade of the United States
clearly outclasses that of any other
country in furnishing to these islands
their necessary foreign supply of food
products.
While the total imports in the last
year show a gain of about 10 per cent,
as compared with the previous year,
the duty collected amounted to $7,679,-
S22, as against $7,343,743 in 1901, or an
increase Of less than per cent, al
though 1t is thought that the lower
price of imported commodities. as a re-
suit of the change in the tariff, will
eventually increase the amount Of i'm
portations, making the revenue greater
than under the former tariff.
The heavy receipts of rice, compris-
ing more than one-fourth the total i'm
ports, made necessary by the scarcity
of foods throughout the islands, has re-
suited in increasing the trade percent
ages of certain Asiatic countries. The
United States, which does not export
rice to the islands, supplied IL per cent.
| OF the total in 1901 and 13 per cent. IN
1907. OF the aggregate the United
Kingdom furnished nearly one-fifth in
1901 and one one-sixth in 1902; this
trade falling off slightly; Germany
gaining in value about as much as the
United Kingdom lost, while France
shows a decrease in most lines. Ex-
elusive of rice imports, Spain is the
| only country showing substantial gain.
increasing its share Of the trade from
8 per cent. in 1901 to per cent. in 1902
The outgoing trade of the archipelago
for the last years shows an increase in
round numbers of 100000 over 1901,
expectations amounting to nearly $29.
ooV,oOo In l9O2, the largest since Ameri-
can control, and, with the single excep-
tion of the year 1,S9. surpasses any
previous record, according to the best
available returns.
OF the leading articles exported
hemp. sugar, tobacco and copra, the
nrst mentioned, comprising 81 per cent.
OF the total exports, shows the most
noticeable gain in value, there being
an increase Of more than $4,000, 900 in
the shipment of this product. There
mas been marked Improvement in trade
with the United States, the figures
showing ar. increase from $4.546 292 IN
1901 to 81 .475,94O in 1902, more than hair
Of the hemp output in the latter vear
coming 70 this country as against 81
per cent. Tor the United Kingdom, the
next ieagest buyer, a radical change,