The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-03-20
TROPICAL Imports.

Tropical products are becoming each
vaar a more important factor in the
irnportations of the United States, and
reached in 1904 the highest total IN the
record of our foreign commerce. A
statement Just prepared by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, through
its Bureau of Statistics shows that the
total vaIue of tropical products brought
into the United States during the calen-
dar year 1904, including the receipts
from Hawaii and Porto Rico, aggregat-
ed 465 million dollars. exceeding by
70 million dollars the highest record of
any preceding year.
The growth In tropical importations
has been very rapid. far exceeding
that shown by the general importa-
tions. In 1870 the total imports of tro-
pical and sub-tropicaI products amount
ed to 14o millions of dollars; in 1880,
242 millions; in 1890, 29s millions; in
1900, 335 millions, and in 1904, 400 mil
lions. Meantime the general imports
into the country increased at much
slower rate. being in 1870, 461 millions
of dollars; in 1880. 6s7 millions; in 1890,
s2s millions; in 1900, s2s millions. and
In 1904. 1,O36 millions, exclusive of 80
million dollars worth of products ship
ped from Hawaii and Porto Rico. In
1870 tropical products formed 80 per
cent of the total imports of the United
States; in 1904, they formed 43 per cent.
Thus it Will be seen that the general
imports of the United States have in
creased during the last quarter century
by 575 million dollars, or lbs per cent,
while the imports OF tropical products
have increased during the same time
by 325 millions, or 232 per cent. In
other words, of the total increase of
575 millions In the general imports of
the United States since 1870. near two
thirds should be credited to importa-
lions OF tropical products.
Even these figures do not show the
real increase, because of the great re-
duction in prices of many of the artl-
cles forming this huge total. The value
of the sugar of tropical production
brought into the country in the past
wear for instance. was ia million dol
lars. as against 20 million dollars in
1870; but the number of pounds brought
in from the Tropics last year was more
than four times as much as in 1870.
The total number of pounds of tropical
sugar brought into the country last
year was nearly billions, including
that from Hawaii and Porto Rico,
while the number of pounds imported
from the Tropics in 1870 was less than
a billion and a quarter.
The value of the coffee brought in
last year was IS million dollars, as
against "A millions in 1870, yet the
quantity last year was LII million
pounds, as against 235 million pounds
In 1870
The average cost per pound of the
sugar brought into the country in 1870
was about cents. while the average
cost last year, including that brought
from Hawaii and Porto Rico, was about
2 1-2 cents per pound. In India rubber,
however. conditions are reversed, the
average cost per pound OF the 10 million
pounds brought in in 1870 being about
So cents per pound, while that of the
81 million pounds brought in last year
was over 20 cents per pound.
The per capita consumption of tropi-
cal products by the people of the United
States has also increased since 1870,
having been in that year but 1888,
while in 1904 it was $3.50 and this, too,
despite the great fall in prices mean
time, as above noted. Based upon the
high prices prevailing in 1870, the i'm
portations of tropical products last year
would represent a total valuation of
nearly or quite one billion dollars.
The tropical islands of the United
States contributed nearly 80 million
dollars worth of the 465 million dollars
value of tropical products brought into
the country last year. over % million
dollars of this was from Hawaii, near
ly 13 million dollars worth from Porto
Rico. and more than 10 million dollars
worth from the Philippines. In 1895
they contributed 19 million dollars
worth to the tropical requirements of
the country.