The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-22
TRADE OF PHILIPPINES
SHOWS GOOD INCREASE
Heavy Imports of Rice Prevent a
Favorable Trade Balance, but
Outlook Is Good.
AMERICAN SHIPS SCARCE
Special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-In the bulletin
of the Bureau of Insular Affairs of the
War Department, statistics of Philippine
commerce for nine months OF the calendar
year 1903 show an increased value in the
import and export trade OF the islands as
compared with the same period of 1902.
The heavy expectation in hemp and copra
is the prominent feature of the archipela-
COS trade and were it not for the fact
that greatly increased purchases of rice
have been necessary during the past year,
these products alone would furnish the
basis for a balance approximating $2,5OOO0O
in favor Of me islands 1t is hoped that
the amount of rice imported next year will
be considerably lessened in view of the eff
forts being made by the Philippine Com
mission to provide a food supply from ma
tive production as large as was obtained
before the shortage in crops due to destruc-
ton by locusts and the disastrous loss of
farm cattle which were almost destroyed
by rinderpest However, should it be found
that the profit in hemp copra, tobacco and
sugar culture is sufficient in amount to en-
able the inhabitants to purchase rice to
better advantage as compared with the
cost of its home production, the future i'm
portations OF the latter may not neces-
sar.iy indicate lack of prosperity in the
archipelago.
Supplies for the government and gold and
silver being excluded, the total value of
merchandise imported during nine months
ended Sept. 30 1903 was SIG. 1O3. Col, as against
s24,SSs322 for the same period of 1902. while
the exports amount to $23, ,12S, an in
crease Of near $4,5O0000 over 1902 when the
value aggregated $40, 239,01S. These figures
represent an increase of about per cent
IN imports and y per cent. in exports
Gold and silver during 1903 were imported to
the amount OF $1,OOl6l9, against $324365l
in nine months OF the previous year. the
withdrawal of Mexican silver from the
archipelago, showing value i'm 1903 Of
500; 6S5; as against 81 i5o. 351 year ago.
according TO the origin of imports during
1903, with the exception of certain rice
producing countries. general falling off Is
show; the United States trade dropped from
S,l6S,4O 10 2,Sl3,4l2 a decrease OF 10 per
cent: United Kingdom from 81 295 945 to So
606236. or about 16 per cent decrease; Ger
many from Sl.I55,2l6 to 81, 402. sol; France
SHOWS a gain or 10 per cent, increasing from
ss72.12 to .679; Spain has but two-thirtls
OF the amount of her trade in 1902 when 81 :
lS6Gl was received from that source as
compared with sl.5O2, 677 in 1903. The net loss
IN value shown by these figures was
more than balanced by the gain i'm i'm
portations from Asiatic countries China.
with trade of S.67S 545 in 1902, sent a
slightly increased amount or S3912lSi i'm
nine months of 1g03;: Japan $500 S4i and s573 :
80 British East Indies, 81. 152 ASP and 81 $50
yVz; Siam S03,S9 and $74S. 735 and French
$50. 139 IN 1903 w
Exports to the leading countries show
tnat the United States during nine months
OF 1902 increased its purchases over the nre-
vious years record from 81 232 al to so sSs-
go, United Kingdom from s.. 395 $50 to SIS 6s3 :
300. France I.252.2Ol increased to 80 3S6 O4o
the trade of Spain was practically the Same
amount as in 1902. the figures showing SIo7 :
100 and 500 10 in 1903; shipments To China
s2.e55Os9 to 1851 SIS. British Faet InSias
SI3,6S to s49i,ll9, while Japan made de-
eided increase in 1903. receiving 81. 25e. e34
worth or exports as against SAL, 626 in 1902
or the merchandise imported during the
three-quarters period of 1903. 1896 el9 or
more than half OF the total consisted of
1000 ana animals; SlO.3OS POI, or 80 per cent
was manufactured goods; 81. 5O2 4OS. or 6 per
cent. included articles of voluntary use
ana Injuries; SSi2.625, or per cent. ma
terial In crude condition or partly manu-
under miscellaneous.
The exports were principally products of
agriculture, se per cent. or so. 645 40 being
made up. in round numbers of benp S15 :
100000. copra 100000. sugar $500 006 and
tobacco Sl,GOOO0. including cigars.
that but small part of the United states
business is in vessels flying the America n
Is; ana all but per cent of the general
toms. For the nine months ended Sept 20
1903. including gold and silver the value ~
imported merchandise carried in America n
vessels was S1179.962, British Sli. i22 s9a Ger.
man $500 2l. Spanish $4327244 Norwegiar
N.S26.l&, and other flags s.. O9S 536 In ex-
ports American vessels carried 81 O0q tx
BRITISH szl'Sbl,bs2 (ohe-third of this amount
being shipments destined for fbe ffnitaI
States), German S2.21S99f. Spanish 81. COS col
Norwegian S6lS,S42. and all other dagS
s2.6gl 400. During the period named < fs:
sailing vessels. OF a total net TONNAGE -,
zV9,5Sy tons, and 1858 steam vessels with :
net tonnage Of l.747.437 tons. entered a,
ports In the islands. and 5.I46 sailing YES.
sells, or HSSlz net tons. and steam vessels
70 the number OF 1873 with a tonnage ot
l1S3,S12 net tons, cleared for foreign ports