New-York tribune., 1906-04-23
TRADE WITH PANAMA.
Commercial Relations With Baby
Republic Increase 100 Per Cent.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. 7

TFrom The Tribune Bureau1
Washington, April 22-People who are disposed
to speak slightngly of the Republic Of Panama
a mere ''two-spot" among the nations will
doubtless be surprised to learn that the trade of
the United States with this little country amounted
in the last fiscal year to upward OF Sl2.0O0OOO,
than double the trade in the previous year
While twelve million dollars forms small percent
age of the total commerce Of the United States the
details OF this trade with the youngest and smallest
Of the American republics are interesting at this
time, when discussions Of the trade Of the United
States with the various American countries one by
one being presented by the Department of
Commerce and Labor through its Bureau OF Sta
tistics.
Exports form, naturally. the larger proportion of
our trade with Panama, which amounts to
more than s10Oo,o0o month and likely to
aggregate about N2.0000Oo for the present fiscal
year. In the eight months ending with February,
the latest figures which have reached the Bureau
Of Statistics. the total exports amount to Sss3 0s
against 2,57S1s5 IN the corresponding months of
1866 The experts to the area now known as
Panama were included in the statement of exports
TO Colombia prior to January l, 1904 so that il is
practicable TO compare the eight months ended with
February 1906. with only the eight months ended
with February. 1895
The imports from Panama are much smaller than
the exports 10 that country. since its producing
area IS small, while its consuming power is pro-
portionately large by reason Of the presence Of
large numbers Of people engaged upon the canal
Panama is a6OO square miles. about equal 10
that of South Carolina and the population numbers
probably half million, including the recent addi-
tons, the estimated population when Panama es-
tabAshed itself as a republic having been about
$4,000 With this small area and the attention of
its comparatively small population turned almost
exclusively 10 the great public work under con-
struction, the quantity of material produced for
expectation is naturally small AS a result. very
large proportion of the trade between the United
and Do
chandise TO that country while the movements of
merchandise from Panama to the United States
small For the eight months ended with February
1906 the exports to Panama were $6,S43,08 and the
Imports from Panama s62709O. less than one
tenth as much as the exports. The details OF I'M
ports from Panama for the eight months covered
by the latest statistical statements are not yet
available so far relates to the articles forming
the total. but figures for the last fiscal year show
that bananas formed about one-haf and india
rubber about one-hfth of the value OF merchandise
imported. Imports from Panama consist chiefly
OF bananas, india rubber coffee and other articles
The export figures naturally the chief feature
OF interest, since the exports form than nine
tenths of the total trade and growing much
more rapidly than the imports In the eight months
Panama were nearly three times as much as in the
Corresponding months Of lsS While II is not prac-
the period IN which the most rapid growth has oc-
for the sea 70 ydf @ an THIS anngsS agas 81
SHOWS tnat the exports are widely distributed
that articles especially required for use in the work
upon the canal did not. TO June go 1905, form
large percentage Of the total The Total exports
from the United States TO Panama IN the year end
ed June 3d. 1875, amounted to &.7455e2. OF which
the largest single item -four. S252 6l2. Cotton
cloth, coored. amounted s2C5. .2sS and uncoored
cotton cloth sSS.2i2: other goods amounted
10 sl4ss67. making total for all cotton goods
| siderably in excess OF the figures for -four Iron
| and steel manufactures. as a whole showed an
even larger total. steel rails alone amounting to
sLee5z4; locks, hinges and other builders hardware,
~ go; str9etural iron and steel 1896 sewing ma
chlnes' Sl3!Ss; typeWrters. 81 7o2: machinery and
otner miscellaneous CLASSES separately specified.
| Sszo,i5- Logs. lumber and manufacturers Of wood
are also an important item logs IN the last fiscal
year amounti-g 10 sl6S7sS; rds y98 375; furni-
ture, s94Z4I; sash doors and blinds a65S and other
manufactures Of wood. S25,067.
| The above figures of exports TO Panama include
| no sh pTnents made by the government in its own
vessels, but do include any shipments by the gov
eminent sent as freight in the vessels engaged in
! general transportation between the United States
! and Panama. of the four and three-quarter mill
lon dollars worth OF merchandise exported 10 Pan
anna in the last fiscal year about three millions
| went from New York three-quarters Of a million
| from New Orleans One-third million from
| Mobile and onequarter OF million from San Fran
| cisco, while of the imports frCm Psnama which
| amounted last year Ssl3l54. a little more than
one-half was brought in through the port OF Mobile
and nearly ail ot Tie remainder through the port