Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-16
Our Trade Has Amounted
to About$66,ooo,ooo.
Imports From There Were
About 100000.
4 Large Part Of Our Exports Was
For Canal Building.

cd to about $66, 100000. OF this total
Sc, 0o0 900, speaking in round terms.
represented the value of the imports
from Panama, and $6o,000,000 still
speaking in round terms, was the value
of merchandise exported to Panama.
The imports from Panama in 1904 and
1905, the earliest dates for which the
Bureau of Statistics Of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor presents fig
ures. amounted to a little over three
fourths of a million dollars in each Of
the years mentioned; in 1906 they
amounted to nearly $1,500,000 in 1867 a
little over 100000 and for the year 1908
to probably little less than $1.50l,0O0,
though the precise total cannot yet be
stated, because of the fact that the
fOreigh-t trade statements covering the
month of December, 1908, have not yet
reached the Bureau of Statistics in
such complete form as to make possible
an exact statement of the total trade
of the calendar year 1908 with any
country. The exports to Panama
amounted, in 1904, to a little over 81
500. 900: in 1905 to s7,7500o0; in 1906 to
S14. $50 900; in 1907, to SIS, 100000, and III
| 1908, to about S16,250,6 600. estimating the
| December figures, which, as above sta
| ted, are not yet available. This makes
| the grand total of exports from the
| United States to Panama during the
| five years in question practically $780,
0G1,000 in value and the imports there
from about se,000,C00 in value.
| While Il considerable part of this
500 900, 900 worth of merchandise sent to
Panama in the past five years has been
for use in the construction of the canal
a larger part than would perhaps be
supposed has been for other purposes,
especially fCodstuffs and clothing.
Doubtless a large proportion of this
was for the use of persons employed
upon the canal or work pertaining
thereto, though portion was for the
residents of Panama aside from those
engaged exclusively in the canal work.
| Cotton manufacturers for example,
amounted in volue to about 100000 in
| the exports to Panama during the five
years in question-1904 to 1908; meat
and dairy products to nearly $1,000, 900.
| flour to about 81 COO in value, boots
and shoes to about 100000, and vege-
tables over $1,000000. Iron and steel
manufactures amounted to nearly $751;
100000, though presumably large pro-
| portion Of this was for canal conStruc-
ton; cars amounted to $500, 600; chem
icas nearly $1.00O,0O0, and explosives
Incarly $1,000, 900.
The above figures relate to the COM
rlerce Of the United States with Pan
ANA during the five years ending with
1905. For the single year 1908 the de-
tails of eleven months only are at pres
ent available. They show $4,000, 0OG
worth of iron and steel manufactures
sent to Panama from the United States
in the first eleven months of 1908, of
which $4,000 was iron plates, $1,000
steel rails, $151 900 builders hardw are
S123,0G1 steam engines other than loco
motives, and $42S.000 pipes and fittings
Passenger cars amounted to $1,0iS, 000
cotton cloths to $237,0 other cotton
manufactures $591 900. coal $500, 900
explosives $264,000, Instruments and ap-
pa.ratus for scientific purposes S22o,G0O
fresh beef SAIL 900, lard S135,O0n. butter
$4,000, and ham $4,000 In value. The
value of boots and shoes sent to Pans-
nia from the United States in the eIev-
Ell months ending with November. 1905
amounted to $i16.000, against S4S2,O00 ir
for the same months of 1906; Of meat
products $1,39f.712. against S1,52I 1854 in
the eleven months of 1907 and 500, 46t
in the corresponding months Of 1906; OF
Illuminating oil S12y,53S, against s125,-
$40 in the eleven months of the proceed
ing year; of malt liquors $3.50, S79
against S20o342 in the same months OF
the preceding year; of distilled spirit:
s43.S99 and wines $11.574, in value.
The articles imported into the United
States from Panama amounted in eIev-
en- months ending with November, 1903
TO $l,293,S02 in value, of which S751 $50
was bananas, and the remainder hides
india rubber, vegetable ivory. cabinet
woods. coffee and miscellaneous articles
Just what proportion Of this $4,000
O0n worth Of merchandise sent to Pan
ANA within the past five years was fol
use in the canal construction or enter
ed the Canal Zone for local consunap.
ton other than for the purposes of the
Canal cannot be definitely determined
nor is it practicable to determine whe-
Their this $50. 100000 worth Of material
covers all merchandise or other valu-
able property sent from the United
States to Panama during this period
since any property intended for the
use of the Commission and going on
Government vessels would not be re-
ported to the Bureau of Statistics. The
| British minister at Panama reports
the total value of imports into Pan
anna during 1907 at 5,25o.0 900 and
the value of the exports at about
| $2,G0o,000 OF the imports. his fig
ures indicate that about eighty-tfree
| per cent. We're from the United
States, and of the exports about eighty
Per cent. sent to the United States.
His statement also indicates that about
s1l,0o9,0o0 worth of the imports are
canal supplies, about s9.oooooo dutiable
merchandise for general use, and about
$1,000. 600 for the commissaries of the
Canal Zone.
Aow'S This2