Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10

From statement that has been prcpar-
ed in the department Of commerce, It APP
pears that Cuba has benefited more
that the United States from the reciprocity
treaty between the two countries which
went into effect in December. 1908. As u
result of that agreement tho Cubans last
year made a great gain In the total
value of their annual sales to the United
states. considerably greater. in fact. than
the gain in the value of American pro-
ducts shipped into the island.
a comparison of the figures of imports
into Cuba by countries for the past two
years shows that while the total imports
increased from $63, AGA, $50 in 1908 to ST.
100 In 190t or 2l.5 per cent, the snare
OF the United States in these imports in
creased from, $25. 708,i 100 to 400. or 27l
per cent lille the imports from other
nations show uniform increases. their
relative shares in supplying the Cuban
markets are, in most cases, less for the
year 1904 thar. for the preceding year.
owing to the substantial gain made by
the United States imports during the per
iod in question.
The United states furnished 42.o per
cent. of the total merchandise imports
during tho calendar year 1894, as against
4o.5 per cent. during the previous year
The United Kingdom, our most serious
competitor furnished 1874 per cent, as
against IL per cent. in 1908. Spain $
share has fallen from IA per cent. to 10 i
per cent, while Gerrnany's and Frances
relatives shares have risen inconsidcr-
ably though the absolute figures of i'm
ports from all these countries show sub
~
calendar year.
Tho Importance of the United states as
the pt,ncipa. outlet for Cuban staples is
even more pronounced that its leading
position in the Cuban import market.
Moreover. the large gains. beth relative
and absolute. made by Cuban exports to
tho United States during the last year.
have reduced the shares in the export
trade taken by tho leading European
countries. Thus. while the exports to
the United States grew from Sp.1W.00o III
| 1903 to $74 500 60 in 1904. or from ~ per
| cent. to S37 per cent of the total Cuban
exports. the share Of exports destined
! t. the United Kingdo M has fallen FROM
| SO go. 600 or Sc per cent. of the total ex-
ports in 1o1'. to s,,?oo016. or 67 per cent
of tho total exports in 1904: that Germany
has fallen from s5.40o,o~ to 100000, or
from 50 per cent. to ~ per INT. of the
total exports: that of Spain from 81
80. COZ to 1871 go or from IL per cent. to
9 per cent. and that of France from
IT, rcr cent. to IL per cent
If the growth of imports into Cuba
from the United States during the last
year he compared with the growth of
Cuban exports to the United States dur
ing the same period. it is seen that TIN"
imports increased over q per cent, Will"
the exports increased about II per cent.
An analysis of the Cuban import figures
by articles discloses tho fact that tho
gain i'm cuban imports from this country
| has been distributed in a fairly equahle
| manner. henctiting thus large number
| OF American export interests represent
| Cd in the Cuban market. Thus. the i'm
| ports Of cotton goods show II gain over
81 per ccnt.-frori s453.1o0 in 1903 To ISIS
| 100 in 1on4-although it should b" SAID
| that even after such an increase the re-
| lative share Of tho United States in the
total foreign supply of cottons docs not
| exceed l0.4 per cent. as against ~ per
| cent supplied by the United Kingdom
| ana 1871 per cent by Spain. Almost one
| half Ct the manufactures RI iron and
steel NS1 per cent. in 1904. as against
ABB per cent in 1909. is now Icing furn-
| shed by the United states. the gain in
| 1904 of about half IA million dollars be-
| ing far in excess Of gains made by other
countries during the same period of time.
In boots and shoes the share Of til.
| United states in the total imports has
| risen from 81 per cent. in 1908 to 'G.3 per
cent in 1904. tho value Of American shoes
imported in 1904 being 81 e)2,af, as against
| 1854 3n in 1W.. Spanish boots and sh )"s,
whieh as late as 400 supplied almost SO
per cent Of the total demand for the
| foreign article constituted 81? Tor cent.
| of the total shoe imports in 1903 and $50
per cent in l9oi The change Of tastes
| and habits illustrated by these figures is
| after all the product of slow growth and
no sudden changes in the imrcrt figures
| could I've expected
| The total impor: figures Of ,narhinere.
| exclusive OF machinery for sugar mills
| and distilleries, show larger relative
| growth than those credited 10 the United
States, Notwithstanding the % per cent.
| dirercntial In favor Of the Anne rican
| article. The progress made by American
| machinery for use in sugar mills and
| ;istlleries is more satisfactory. the i'm
port figures for the year 1901 showing
substantial gains over those fer 1853 and
| the relative share in tho total imports
for the year 19oi being 13.2 per cent. as
against $751; per cent during the preced-
| ing year.
| Considerable gains are shown in the inn
ports of paper and paper manufactures,
out of sl.3"i,20O worth of these articles
imported ir 1903. the share supplied by
| the United stat ,e was $3ia 900. while in
| ltoi the imports from all countries
/ amounted to sl,3i1 600, of which the Unit
ed States supplied A2S 200. or ala per
cent The imports Of manufactures of
wrol and textile fbrrs from this coun-
try are still inconsdcrahle. Cuba draw
ing upon Europe for these articles, Ths
| imports of manufactured linen iutc and
other fihers have fallen off considerably
III, n nSf va u, Ia t1r H~ty