Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-02
TROPICAL TRADE
Purchases Last Year Were
$6oo,0oo,oo0.
The Total in 1895 Was About
$3o0,0O0,00O.
Figures Showing Distribution Of
This Remarkable Trade.

Washington. Jan. 1.-The growing de-
pendence Of the United States upon the
and manufacturers materials is illustrat-
ed by some figures just made public in
the annual report of the chief Of the
Bureau of Statistics. Department of Com
merce and Labor They show that prac-
tically $600,O0OO0O worth of products of
tropical and sub-tropical countries con'e
into the United States annually against
practically $200,0O0,0O0 worth in 1873. and
practically $500, 600, 600 worth in 1895.
The report enumerates certain tropi al
and sub-tropical. products brought into
the country to the value of S516, OOO,o 900 in
1908 and 1861 oOO, 900 in 1901 but does not in
clude the imported articles manufactured
groups of articles, of which part arc
brought from the tropics and part from
temperate zone countries. If to the i'm
ported tropical products, distinctly emu
merated as such, are added those import
ed articles manufactured from tropical
products and proper share of the otE+r
Countries the grand total would appr.xi,
mate $500 900, OOO or practically $500" coo
for every business day of the year. end
total imports into the country.
Sugar, coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits and
nuts, rice. sage, ,tapioca, spices. toba eco
india rubber: silk, cotton; hemn: ~,
woods and numerous other articles of his
character form the SIG millions CELLARS
worth of tropical and sub-tronlHal 20
States in 1903 and the 561 millions ~ G:'s
worth brought in 1907. The falling or in
tropical and sub-tropical produce ~
ported in 1903 occurs chiefly in ind, - D.
Der, silk. cotton, jute, hemp, and slSai. Z
part of this reduction being due to over
prices and a part to the partial stisIcr-
sion of activities in the manufactures IL
dustries by which they are consumer IN
practically all these imports. ',T"cN5r.
The closing months of the calenGa" year
1903 show a marked increase, AMI It IS
probable that the record of 1909 Will bring
the total of tropical and sub-tropi al NJ
ports again in the vicinity of the 81 -
go 600 line.
In the above statement OF. tropical ana
sub-tropical articles imported. 10 mention
is made of the s23.O00,0O0 worth IF ute
burlaps imported chiefly from india, rue
from India. the si50O0oo worth of goat
skins brought from Latin Ii; in Ame a o 20 :"
worth Of imported tin. copper, iron, lt tIa
ana other minerals originating III tHe
tropical countries. but not ciasse VA a.
tropicnl prGidncfMS S"|. ba A and tn
other West Indian islands. the HaWat'al
Islands. the Philippines. the Dutch Fest
Indies and Straits settlements; lni,a ,,, A."
utors in this large supply of troplca: ara
sub-tropcal articles imposed
of the $133,0oo.ooo worth Of cane sugar
brought into contnental United STATES IN N
$500 600 worth, Porto Rico 1900 oo oO
worth, the Hawiian Islands SAC. O0o, 900
worth. and the Dutch East Indies ST. Wo
600 worth OF the $6S.0O00D worth of cot
fee brought in in the fiscal year 1908, Bra
iii contributed $iS0o0,0oo worth: other
South American countries 81, moWo CEN
ira America s4,50O,ooo, Mexico s5.S'.G GO.
and the East Indies a little over one nil
lion dollars worth OF the $l4,O0oo0 worth
of cocoa imported in 1908. 81 5oH) care -,
from other West Indies; practically 81
600 900 from Brazil. and s.. 100000 from otf-
er South American states.
OF the S32@0.G00 worth of tobacco On
GLIDING in thiS IN the tn.nt Tired as
we'll as manufactured articles) brought
into continental United States in 1909, $l3
900, 900 worth came from Cuba IN ! .
crude state and $4,000o00 worth in IT,"
manufactured form IS, 600 900 worth from
the Netherlands in the form of wrappers
for cigars. s3,5ooo0o worth from Porto h,co
from that island in the unmanufactnted
form. OF the $I4, N.Go0 worth of cotton
imported in 1908. 900 worth came
from Egypt, Of the 81 $$7 c 10000 worth d1 OF
bananas of which practically s6"o.Oo
came from Central America and nsar!y
A@",ooo came from o the British West
came chiefly from Italy. A.,
India rubber to the value of S'6 ;on n,o
was imported in 1908, Of which $1,000 p l.o
worth from Mexico, while about SO "n 900
worth. which is credited to Europe. was
chiefly products of Africa, with smaller
quantities from the British possessions in
India. Ceylon and the Malayan Peninsula
OF the $16GG,0O0 worth of tea imported IN
1908. Japan contributed about one-haif :
China about e-fourth. while the re-
mainder came chiefly from India and
| Ceylon. a part of it direct from thcse
countries and Il part Of it by way of re
United Kingdom.
Sixtv-threc million dollars worth of raw
silk. usually considered as at least Il SaI'-
tropical product came into tn" country
during the year. Forty million dollars
worth of this quantity came from Japan
N3.oo00oo worth from Italy. $3.50. 900
worth from China. and N,3o0o00 worth
from France. OF the s17Gh0,GNo worth Of
goatskins imported in 1908. though not
usually classed as tropical importation.
s. 10000 worth came from the East In
dies practically 100000 worth from
Mexico, nearly 100000 worth from Bra