Arizona republican., 1909-02-01
DUR TRADE
 IN PANAMA For Five Years It Has Aver
 aged sl2,OOO,0OO BEFORE THAT TWAS NIL
While a Considerable Part of the Showing is the Result of Canal Construction the Private Commerce Has Grown Rapidly.

Washington. D. C., Jan. 31-Trade of the United States with the Repub- lie of Panama in the last G,,e years amounted to about s66.O0o.OOO. of this total sG.OOO. 900, speaking in round terms. represented the value of the imports from Panama, and $6O,O0O,OOO still speaking. in round terms, was the value of merchandise exported to Pa anna
 The imports from Panama in 1904 and 1905, the earliest dates for which the bureau of statistics of the depart ment of commerce and labor presents figures, amounted to a little over S75O.O0O in each of the years mention ed; in 1906 they amounted to nearly s1.5OO. .OOO in 1907 a little over $1.509. GOO, and for the year 1908 to probably a little less than S1,50O,000. though the precise total can not yet be stated, because of the fact that the foreign trade statements covering the mon In of December, 1908, have not yet reach ed the bureau of statistics in such complete form as to make possible an exact statement of the total trade If the calendar year 1908 with any coun- try. The exports to Panama amount ed. in 1904. to a little over $2.50O.G00; in 1905, to S7.75O. coo: in 1906, to s14,- 250.O0G: in 1907. to $iS.500,000; and in 1908 to about $16.250,O0o, estimating the December figures, which, as above stated, are not yet available. This makes the grand total of exports from the United States to Panama during the five years in question practically s6O. .0OO.O 900 in value and the imports therefrom about S6.O00.O00 in value.
 While a considerable part of this S6O 0O0. GOO 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 per haps be supposed has been for other purposes, especially foodstuffs and clothing. Doubtless a large proportion of this was for the use of persons em- ployed upon the canal or work per taining thereto. though a portion was for the residents of Panama aside from those engaged exclusively in the canal work. Cotton manufactures. for example. amounted in value to about g. 800. 900 in the exports to Panama during the five years in question-19oi to 1908; meat and dairy products to nearly $5.O00,000, flour to about sl.- 500. GOO in value, boots and shoes to about s1.50O.00O and vegetables over S1 OOO. GOO Iron and steel manufac lures amounted to nearly S1S,0OO,oO0, though presumably a large proportion of this was for canal construction; cars amounted Co 4,50O. .0G0; chemicals nearly S1 .0O0, 900. and explosives near Iy 1000 0O0
 The above figures relate to the com merce of the United States with Pan anna during the five years ending with 1908 For the single year 1908 the de- tails of eleven months only are at present available. They show S4,000,- OOn worth of iron and steel manufac- lures sent to Panama from the United States in the first eleven months of 1908. of which S170,000 was iron plates. s17S,O0 steel rails, $157,000 builders hardware S123,000 steam engines oth- CT than locomotives, and S42S,OO pipes and fittings. Passenger cars amount ed to S1.01G,000, cotton cloths to S237- 900. other gcotton manufactures S3s1.- GOO, coal SS09.000. explosives S264, 900, instruments and apparatus for scien- tific purposes S220 900. fresh beef s411 .0OO, lard S135,O0 butter s113,oOO. and hams SIP. .000 in value. The value of boots and shoes sent to Panama from the United States in the eleven months ending with November. 1908, amounted to s416.OOO, against $4S2. .OOO in the same months Of 1907, and s3OS,- 0e0 for the same months of 1906; of meat products, $1.396,712. against S1,- 521 ,9G4 in the eleven months of 1907 and $955,4G6 in the corresponding months of 1906; of Illuminating oil, $129,5SS, against S125.S56 in the eleven months of the preceding year; of malt liquors, s25O,S79. against S2O0342 in the same months of the preceding