The Washington times., 1904-06-05
PHILIPPINES BUY
RICE IN QUANTITY
Heavy Import Caused by
Bad Farming Conditions.
ISLAND TRADE Is GROWING
An Increase Of IS Per Cent Is Re-
corded in the Past
Decade

The statement Of Philippine commerce
for the calendar year 1905 appearing in
3 the December bulletin just made pub
lie through the Bureau of Insuiar Affairs
of the War Department, gives complete
statistics for the past five years in
graphic and tabular form according to
the leading articles of commerce, to-
gethnr with a brief review of the trade
and reference to recent measures that
may have a bearing on the future indus
trial development of the islands. BY
comparison the general result indicates
a steady advance in the volume Of bust
ness transacted.
In 1902 the foreign commerce of the
archipelago amounted TO S62.O14.O70 as
compared with sec. 2O3. 100 in 1903. i'm
ports aggregated $S3 342. l66 and S3S. S11, 1854.
respectively, and exports SIS, 81, 9O4 as
against 1928 745 in 1903, which figures
are exclusive of gold and silver and
government supplies. Ten years ago.
1888 the total value of imports and ex-
ports was but S3s,O73.725. the Increase in
the decade being 70 per cent.
Food Import Large.
The effect Of adverse agricultural con-
ditions IS shown from the fact that the
item Of food supplies during the past
year has been considerably larger than
manufactured articles, in the distribu-
ton by classes being valued at ST., 200. 600.
or more than one-half of the total i'm
ports. a material increase over 1902
when the proportion Appropriated two
hfths.
With the exception Of those producing
rice all the principal countries. United
Germany show a falling off In imports.
the rice purchases from Asiatic terri
tory more than making up the loss in
States.
Under exports the figures on bemn
ana copra, products that are in great
cemand and require but little atten-
ton in cultivation. show a continu-
ance of the Improvement characters
tic OF this branch Of the islands COM
Tuerce- Hemp shipments reached S22-
100000, or two-thirds of the outward
trade IN 1903. an Increase of So. 600 600
over 1902 returns, considerably more
than one-half being destined for mar
Eets OF the United States.
Increase in Copra Trade.
An increase OF more than million
dollars is noticed in the copra trade.
1909 shipments aggregating 50, 10000 in
value, nearly all Of which went to
France. Sugar to the amount Of So
100000. and tobacco. 81 900. COO, fell slight
~ below the exports during 1902. In
tho early months Of 1903 several fair
sized sugar cargoes left Philippine ports
for the United States. but the returns
subsequent to June indicate a complete
cessation Of trade. doubtless in the
hope that favorable action would be
taken on the effort for tariff reduction.
The trade between the United States
and the Philippines, incoming and out
going. for 1903 was S16.908.526, or about
% per cent Of the latter's total trade.
Imports from the United States for
the past year were S3.S3L,1O0. against
S4.153174 in 1902 a slight falling off in
value. The exports to the United States
for 1903 were S13071. 426. against 81, 49,
94S for 1902 an increase Of S1.595 478.
The balance in favor Of the islands in
1900 was 50 pa. 326.
Shipping Vessels.
Including gold and silver to the
amount OF 3. 454. 2O5. the total import
trade Of the islands aggregated S35 265.-
$50 In 1903. OF which 81. sos. 42S was deliv-
cred in American vessels; in British YES
sells Sl4.s5S. 254; German. 1882. 37s: Span
ish. 1851. 079; Norwegian. s.. 019. 400 and
all other Ss.37s.sS9. Of the $50 s54. e33 ex-
ports taken from the islands Qncluding
1857. $50 gold and silver. S1.9s0.0S6 left
under the American flag: British vessels
Spanish. S2.157.464; Norwegian, s754, 6l3.
and all other. S3,542,113.
Notwithstanding a net loss over 1902
in the value OF shipments from this
country the amount Of merchandise re-
ceived at Philippine ports in American
bottoms doubled in value. Philippine
products exported 10 the United StStcs
show even greater improvement in tn
carrying trade. but while the Increase
is noticeable IN each case II will be OBJ
served that IS per cent of the cargoes
either way is still confined 10 foreign
bottoms. OF the SAILS. $50 worth of i'm
ports (coin shipments included) coming
from the United States last year 60 per
cent was brought in British vessels. 81 -
O00oO0 less in value than was shown in
1902 when all but one-fifth Of our ship
ments entered the islands under that
Tag Nearly three-fourths OF the s13
States ports through the same channel