Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-06

canal zone during the last 10 years
and that $40, 000, 900 worth of products
SSof Panama entered the United States
during the same period.
| The record or our trade with Pana
ma begins with 1904 In that year
our exports to the Isthmian Republic
we're valued at about $4,000. 00o
In 1907, the year in which active ca
nal-building operations began, the to
tai rose to $751; $3.50 ,666. and in 1912 and
1913, respectively, the exports were
only a little under $25, 0O0, 900 in value,
the crest Of the movement having been
reached in 1912 Our exports to Pan.
ANA thus increased nearly tenfold In
10 years, while imports from that coun-
try steadily grew, though at a much
slower rate, from less than $1,000, 900
in 1904 and 1906 to a little less than
SIS 900, 900 last year.
That this remarkable expansion 81
our export trade with Panama was
largely due to purchases of supplies
for canal construction and commits.
sary is apparent from a comparison
of our own figures with the CORES.
bonding import statements of the Pan
ANA government. The latter indicated
for 1912 only 81, SOC. 900 worth Of inn
ports from the United States and 81.
500, 900 from other countries, an aggre-
gate importation of $10, 900, 600 In
value, or less than onehalf the de.
clared value of our known exports to
Panama
Additional evidence that the goods
shipped to Panama from this country
were Incidental to the requirements
of canal construction is developed by
8 study of the character Of the ar
tieles making up the trade In ques-
ton. The largest items contributing
to the $4,000. 900 worth of our prod.
ucts shipped to Panama last year and
Of the $170, 900, 900 worth sent thithar
during the last decade are structural
iron and steel, cement, dynamite, cleo
trical machinery, miscellaneous iron
and steel goods, coal, flour and meats.
During the past 10 years the United
States has exported to Panama $1,000
600 worth of cement to be used In
concrete work on the canal zone, S.
coo, 900 worth of bituminous coal, near
" $1,000, 900 worth of board and.
planks, $6,500.000 worth of structural
iron and steel, $4,500,00o worth Of
flour, and 100000 worth of fresh
beef A single year showed a record
of $500 900 worth of structural iron
and steel, and over $1,O00,000 worth
each of electrical machinery. castings
and coal; also considerable quantities
of cotton goods, patent and proprie-1
tary medicines, earthen, stone, china,
and glass ware, cars and carriages
soap, cigars and cigarettes, paints,
fish, butter, potatoes, and other vegesl
tables. Trade with Panama has here
tofore been handicapped through lack
of adequate dock and bonding faciFf
ties, but Improvements in this line
are reported by consular officers on
the isthmus. In fact, with the open
ing of the canal the character Of ex-
ports thither must materially change
Large shipments of coal will be neces-
sary for bunkering ships. Warehouses
and depots may also be established for
the distribution of goods to many coun
tries.
Bananas represent half the entire
value Of merchandise imported from
Panama. Last year the total exceed
ed s2.000,000. Except for about ST..
100000 worth Of American-made ar
ticles returned to the United States.
the remaining inward shipments are
relatively small. They consist chief
ly of coconuts, hides and skins, crude
Iubber, vegetable ivory, coffee. and
cabinet woods. 1t is estimated that
$500. 100000 worth of cabinet woods, |
many of them similar in appearance
and fineness to mahogany and lignum.
vitae. are available in the Republic, |
and they offer promise of increasing
Importance. The coconut
industry is also rapidly developing
and assur Is further stability to the /
aOonomio DaSjfiOn IF Panama