Arizona republican., 1906-08-20
COMMERCIAL
 PORTO RICO
A British Summary of h.
 Sular Trade
A Flattering Increase of Last Years Business Over That of 1904.

Washington, Aug. 19.-Conditions of trade and industry in Porto Rico dur ing the past year are shown bv a re- port on that subject to the British for eisn office by British Consul Church ward. located at san Juan. a copy of which has just been received at the bureau of statistics of the department of commerce and labor. MT. Church. ward directs special attention to the growth both in imports and exports and the increasing share of the for mer taken from the United States. The following is a condensation of the principal facts discussed in the re- port:
 The favorable prognosticatious of the report for 1904 have been fully justified by the returns for 1905. which show little or no falling off in any iHFortaht respect. but large increases both in imports and exports.
 'The imports of 1905 have an in creased value of $5,53O. 900 over those of the previous year, which is account ed for by the larger supplies of bread stuffs, provisions, railway rolling stock, cement, chemicals. cottons. fish. glassware, etc, but principally of iron. steel. and machinery for the new sugar centrals now in course of construction or for the re-equipment of the old ones. amounting in valaue to S1,SO5,O 900 in excess of last years supplies in the same direction.
 Exports continue to improve and show an advance of $4,224. 900. caused principally by the increased sugar and tobacco production.
 Trade with the United Kingdom and dependencies increased both in i'm ports and exports to the value of $199.- GOO and S57.OOO. respectively.
 The most notable fact of the year is the great advance made in the sugar industry, which. thanks to the free market of the United States. is at tracting capital. The moderate boom of last year is being rapidly improved upon and undoubtedly will continue until every acre fit for cane cuItiva- ton is so occupied. Two new centraIs came into work during the year: five more will be ready for the next crop, while various bona fide projects are in hand for other factories
 'The average sugar production of the island is about two tons to the acre, which yield is capable of much improvement through the use of fer tilizer and practice of modern methods of cultivation and extraction. The crop of the year exported, including molasses, was valued at S13 433 0OO an advance on last year of S3.617.0OO.
 Up to date at least 1000 acres are under systematic citrus cultivation more or less advanced toward the re- munerative stage About 70 per cent of this acreage is planted in oranges of many varieties, 25 per cent in grape fruit. and the remaining , per cent in lemons. None of the growers have yet arrived at a proper test age. but sun dry shipments of oranges have already been made from them. and prices ob- tained in New York in competition with Floridan and Californian fruit that promise we'll for the future. Tn addition to climatic advantages with out drawback, marketing conditions would appear to single out Porto Rico as an ideal orange growing spot, for it is calculated that box of oranges can be freighted from the island to New York for about 2S cents, whereas the same consignment from Florida costs 72 cents, and from California 9S cents while for the same service Cuba has to pay 56 cents per box duty, in addition to B cents for freight.
 Tobacco during the year consider ably improved it's position among the most valuabale staples of export in the