Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-30
PORTO RICAN FACTS.
Authoritative Figures About the Near
est Dependency of U. S.

Washington, May 29-The numerous
inquiries for infoI nation regarding
Porto Rico received by the Department
Of Commerce and Labor, through its
Bureau Of Statistics, have led that de-
partment to prepare the followir &
statement regarding the area, pOpula-
uon, resources and commerce of the is
land:
The beginning of the present month
marked the completion of the fifth year
of civil government i'm Porto Rico,
which dates from May l, 1900. While
the Governor and tie Executive Coun.
ell. consisting of six heads of depart
ments and five natives, are appointed
by the President of the United States,
the House of Delegates. consisting of
thjrty-fve members, are elected by the
people, the Council and the House of
Delegates together comprising the
Legislative assembly.
Porto Rico has an area of 3.606
square miles. or about half the size of
New Jersey. Its population in 1899
was 952243, or about the same as that
of West Virginia.
Coffee is the staple product of the ia
land. the product in 1903 being 3345O.-
600 pounds from a cultivated area of
10000 acres. About $1,000 acres are
devoted to sugar. from which 234O00.-
900 pounds We're produced in the year
named. Under tobacco there were
$4,000 acres, Welding 100000 pounds
Experiments in the cultivation of cot
ton are under way. UP to this time
the mineral resources of the island
have not been exploited. although goln
silver iron, copper, bismuth, tin, mer-
curry. nickel and platinum are found in
the island. The annual production of
salt averages about 10000, 900 pounds
The commerce of Porto Rico in the
calendar year 1904 amounted to SCI
$50 900, of which $685., 333 represented
trade with foreign countries and s24.-
100000 trade with the United States.
Imports into Porto Rico amounted to
$14,135.061. of which the value OF
$2.20O.0S3 was from foreign countries
and S11.9349IS from the United States.
The exports from Porto Rico aggre-
gated $17.043932 il. value, of which
s4,0S0.449 went t" foreign countries and
S12.963.4S3 to the United States.
Porto Rico purchases her imported
Spain. Canada. France, the United
Kingdom. Venezuela. Uruguay and
Germany. The principal gains in i'm
ports shown by the various countries
in the rec ord of the last two years are
us follows: United States. from So
SS9.274 in 1901 to $11.934,9S7 in 1904;
Canada. from s3f9.554 in 1901 to SEA-
40 in 1904; Venezuela, from S3.455 In
1901 to $1S292S in 1904; France, from
STELLA in 1901 20 s23O.304 i'm 1904, and
Uruguay, from s2,0S3 in 1901 to s154,-
944 i'm 1904. The principal countries
showing losses in their importations
into Porto Rico during the last year
are Spain. from 1904, 462 i'm 1901 to
S53G.474 in 1904: United Kingdom. fro,1
S35S.G17 in 1901 to 1896, 1O9 IN 1904, and
Germany. from s151,114 in 1901 to &c.,
713 in 1904.
Porto Rico finds her best markets in
the United States. Cuba. France. Spain,
Austria Hungary, Canada, Germany and
Italy, their relative Importance being in
the order named. Her exports to the
United States increased from S7.O1S. 697 in
1901 to SO. eC3, iS3 in 1904; those to Cuba,
from 3.729 in 1901 to $1.3l6,9O0 in 1904;
those to Canada. from 1909 6s2 in 1901 to
s329 % in 1904 and those to Italy, from
'l55, 1862 in 1901 to sl6s.33O in 1904 Del bases
occurred in Porto Rico exports to
France. 1851, 1913 being the total in 1901 and
E9is.94 in 1901; Germany, $244. 1868 in 1901 and
Ell 1862 in 1904 and Spain. S12S.22i in 1902
and sGlS,215 in 1904. Total imports into
Porto Rico in 1904 were valued ut $14.l35,-
MI. as against S.939. 41S in 1903 and $40, 955-
sl3 in 1901; and exports from Porto Rico
n 1874 aggregated sl7,oi39s2. as compared
with $5 $40, 765 in 1903 and So 472 20 In 1901
The advantages accruing to Porto Rico
following its establishment as a customs
district of the United States on June %,
800. and the free admission of it's pro-
iucts into our markets following the en-
actment and putting into operation of a |
'ystem of local taxation to meet the nee |
.ssities OF the government of Porto Rico. |
July p. 1901. will be seen from the follow |
ng table. which shows the value of the |
merchandise shipped from Porto Rico to |
he United States compared with the |
'alue OF merchandise shipped from the |
United States to Porto Rico in each cal |
ndar year from 1895 to 1904: