New-York tribune., 1906-12-31
PANAMA A PURCHASER.
Trade uith the Nerc Republic
Rapidly Grouing.
trron Tse Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Dec. 50.-Comme-ce between tho
youngest AID the Oldest republics in the West
ern Hemisphere. although rather presided yet
IS slready beginning to have substantial volume
and particularly the exports from the United
States 70 Panama irrespective OF oceanic canal
supplies. are increasing with great rapidity.
With unprecedented prosperity and growing
ability 60 buy. due to the impetus given by the
presence OF 25.0O0 canal operatives earning good
wages. Panama has bought in the year jl;st
ending exports from the United States which
will aggregate little more than S14GOOOOO
against not quite SsOO0OoO in 1905 and about
s2.5oo.o00 two years ago. The figures for the
fun year have not Yet reached the Bureau Of
Statistics Of the Department OF Commerce and
lie bor: but those for the eleven months ending
with November were S12.956,S71. and. a. the
- 213.5oI It is apparent that the total for the
fuii calendar year will almost double that Of
the year before.
These figures cover only the exports to Pan
ana sent in merchant vessels and do not In
ciuoe that sent by government transports or
naval vessels. What proportion Of this total OF
over sl3.o0o.o0o worth OF merchandise sent by
nerchent vessels to Panama lie sent for the
government or by fits representatives cannot be
oNtermmed at present, since the shipments Of
tnls character when sent by vessels engaged in
"-a'ec IN the same manner merchandise sent
ny individual exporters or firms While a con-
SIDERABLE part Of the merchandise exported TO
Fanama Is doubtless for the use Of the govern
heht' or al least for use in the work upon the
cahai or the Panama Railroad examination
Of the list Of articles forming this total tndi-
Gates that a large part consists of articles of
food and clothing other merchandise intended
TOT individual use rather than for the canal
works
Nor can 1t be determined Just what proportion
Of this total goes for use of citizens of Panama
located outside of the canal zone since mer-
chahdise intended for citizens of Panama may
pass through the ports located within the canal
zone and thence into the hands OF the merchants
OF the state outside the canal zone The fact
that the value OF the native products from
Panama the United States aggrega tes
$4,000 annually, and that the purchasing
power Of the people adjacent to tine canal zone
is doubtless greatly augmented by their trade re-
lations with those employed upon the works of
the canal suggests that perhaps S2,0O0.0O0
worth may be destined for importers and deal
ers located outside the canal zone but within
the Republic Of Panama
These figures, IT should be added. do not In
clude the value of merchandise sent from one
coast of the United States to the other by way
of Panama since the bureau of statistics main
talns a separate statement for merchandise OF
this class. showing between 81 100000 and So
from San Francisco to New York by way of
the isthmus from between $5.O0OOOO and S6.-
U1poo worth passing from New York San
Francisco by way OF tire isthmus.
This movement OF merchandise from the
United States TO Panama exclusive of that sent
IN government ships, has been continuous. sell
dom falling below 81 100000 a month and in
one or two cases exceeding Sl,500O00 month.
In the single month OF January the total was
81 1o59.514; in February. short month. S979.-
692; in March, S16s971S; in April, 81, ,334. .a14
ia MAJ. 81 1,29I114; in June 81 .296 455: in July,
SOB 3-39!: in August. S1.116 102: in September,
sS'l 30; in October. Sl,069.S2S. and in No
venber. S1.213 501.
About two-thirds Of this total of exports TO
Panama goes from the port OF New York. In
the fiscal year 1906. the latest date for which
statements of shipments to countries by ports
are available the amount shipped from New
York Ss.395.679: from New Orleans. ST.
665.269; from Baltimore. S624.64S; from Pearl
River. Miss, S32S. 191; from Norfolk and Ports
mouth. Va. S321,317; from Mobile. Ala. s321.
oS2: from San Francisco S251,701; from Bruins
wick, Ga. s236.315. and from Philadelphia.
,30.513.
The following table shows the value OF I'm
ports Of merchandise into the United States
from Panama during the fiscal year 1906: