Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
:. PANAMA TRADE.
Yearly Total Likely to Ag-
gfegais 100000.
The Monthly Exports Average
Over 100000.
Figures Show a Marked Increase
Above 1906 Business.

! from the United States to Panama
now average more than $1,000,000 q
| month, and our total trade with tina,
republic seems likely TO aggregate $751;
100000 in the fiscal year which ends
with the month of June Bananas
india rubber, hides and skins, vege-
table ivory, and mahogany are the
principal articles imported from
will aggregate about S2,000,000 Meats
lard, flour, bread and biscuit, fish,
butter, cheese cotton cloths and cloth
ing, vegetable AMI mineral oils
tobacco, wines, spirits, liquors, timber
lumber and manufacturers of iron
and steel of various sorts are
the principal articles exported to
Panama, and the exports to
that republic now constantly exceed
s1,000,000 per month, and in the full
year will probably exceed $4,000, 000
Both the imports from Panama and
the exports to that republic show a
marked increase in 1907 compared with
1906. The figures of the Bureau of
merce and Labor, just compiled, show
the details of our trade with Panama
during the seven months ending with
January, 1907, this seven month period
being that part of the fiscal year end
ing with June, 1907, for which figures
are now available. These figures,
which will hereafter be published in
detail in the Monthly Summary of
Commerce and Finance, show the
movements of hundreds OF articles
from the United States to Panama for
the latest available month, and COM
pare the figures of that month with the
corresponding month of the preceding
year; also for the accumulated months
of the year, compared with cores
pondinS months of the Immediately
preceding year.
These figures OF the trade with
Panama in the month of January, 1907,
and the seven months ending with
January, 1907, Indicate a rapid growth
IN both our imports from Panama and
~ our experts to that country.
Bananas are the largest single item of
the practically S1,000,0O0 worth of
merchandise imported therefrom in
the seven months ending with January,
1907. the value of bananas alone being
S411.S!O, against $S3S.217 in the cor
responding months of the preceding
year India rubber. of which the
United States is steadily increasing
her importations and consumption.
amounted to S91,I20. against S55,O2S in
the corresponding months of the pre-
ceding year. OF vegetable ivory the
imports from Panama were nearly q
in,
against a little over 100000 pounds in
the same months of last year. OF
hides the figures We're nearly 100000
pounds. against less than 100000
pounds in the corresponding months of
the preceding year. and of coffee 49,
goo pounds. against but $4,000 pounds
IN the same months of last year.
The articles forming the more than
sl,o0o,O00 worth of merchandise ex-
ported to Panama each month are not.
as might be supposed, exclusively or in
large proportion for direct use in
canal construction, as is evidenced by
the fact that cotton cloth, flour, bread
ana biscuit. eggs, fish, fruits, furniture,
manufactures of india rubber. boots
ana SHOES; canned, sailed and fresh
ceef; bacon. hams. pork and lard:
oieomargarinc, butter cheese and milk:
cottonsccd oil, mineral oil for light
ing; Wines distilled spirits and malt
liquors; refined sugar. vegetables, soap
md tobacco are included in the state
hleht OF articles exported to Panama
and show a marked increase in 1907
over 1906 Manufactures of iron and
steel are, however, a considerable item
nrf- To IDn0
sumably large part of those are for
use in canal work. For the seven
months ending with January, 1907, iron
and steel manufactures sent to
Panama aggregated a little over So
100000. against a little less than So
0O0,G00 in the same months of the pre-
cedinS year.
The fact, however, that meat and
DAIRY products aggregated s750,OOO,
boots and shoes, nearly 100000, lard.
over s250,0O0. and breadstuffs, over
$25O,OOO, shows that the exports to
Panama are not by any means ex-
ciuSively for the canal or for the use
pf the Government in building it, but
that large proportion is for indivi-
dual and personal consumption by per-
1919 i'oidiHS III dIldiild. How muCn
of this large purchase Of products of
the United States is made by or for
that element of the population en-
gagged in canal construction or canal
work of any kind cannot, of course be
accurately estimated, but at least the
figures of the Bureau of Statistics
show clearly that only a comparatively
small proportion OF the merchandise
now being sent to Panama is for direct
use in canal construction.
The growth of our trade with
Panama is shown by the fact that the
imports from that republic in the
calendar year 1904, the first year OF it's
existence, We're sS12,947: in 1905, sS79.-
145, and in 1906, s1,44s,6S6; and the
exports to Panama We're in 1904, So
6S3.s01; in 1905, s7,S31,564. and in
1906, $14,239.471