The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-28
j. S. HAS A BIG
PANAMA TRADE
DURING DECADE
As is Shown by a Report of the
Department of Commerce
lust Issued.

WASHINGTON, ID. O.. April 81
An Indication Of the stimulation OF
trade and industry in the republic Of
Panam and the Canal zone in the
brief period since the United States
began work on the Panama canal Isl
contained in recent figures compiled
by the Bureau of Foreign and Do
nestle Commerce Department of Com
MERGE. They show that over 10 mil
lion dollars worth of American mer-
chandise has been exported to Panama
and the Canal zone during the last ten
years, and that twenty-four million
dollars worth of products OF Panama
entered the United States during the
same period.
THE record of our trade with Pan
ANA begins with 1904. In that year
our exports to the Isthmian republic
were valued at about two and one-halI
million dollars. In 1907, the year IN
which active canal building operations
began. the total rose to eighteen and
two-thirds million, and in 1912 ana
1913, respectively, the exports were
only a little under twenty-five mlllon
dollars in value, the crest OF the move
ment having been reached In iSIz. ou5
exports to Panama thus increased
nearly tenfold in ten years, while Inn
ports from that country steadily grew,
though at a much slower rate, from
less than one million dollars In 1914
and 1905 to a little less than nve mil
lion last year.
Canal a Cause.
That this remarkable expansion OF
orr EXPORT trade with Panama was
largely due to purchases of supplies
for canal construction and commlsary
is apparent from comparison OF our
own figures with the corresponding
/ 81 PanRmA1n
government. The latter Indicated for
| 1912 only five and one-haf million
dollars worth OF imports from the
United States and four and one-halt
million from other countries, an az
gregate importation of ten million
dollars in value, or less than one-half
the declared value of our known e1-
ports to Panama.
Additional evidence that the gooos
shipped to Panama from this country
we're Incidental to the requirements OF
canal construction is developed by a
| study Of the character of the articles
making up the trade in question the
| largest items contributing to the
| twenty-four million dollars worth OF
| products shipped to Panama last year
| and of the no million dollars worth
sent thither during the last decade
| are structural iron and steel, cement
| dynamite, electrical machinery, mis-
| cellaneous iron and steel goods, coal
-four and meats.
Much Cement Shipped.
During the last ten years the United
states has exported to Panama nine
| million dollars worth of cement to be
used in concrete work on the Canai
zone, eight million dollars worth oil
l3itunfnous coal, nearly seven million
dollars worth of board and planks'
six and one-half million dollars worm
of structural iron and steel, four ana
oae-half million dollars worm OF
-four. and three million dollars worth
of fresh beef. A single year showed
record OF two and one-haf million dol
lars worth of structural iron and
steel. and over one million dollars
worth each OF electrical machinery
castings, and coal; also considerable
quantities of cotton goods, patent ana
proprietary medicines, earthen, stone
china and glass ware, cars ana car
riages, soap, cigars and cigaTeos'
paints, fish, butter, potatoes and otner
vegetables.
been handicapped through lack OF
adequate dock and bonding facil1ties'
INT improvements in this line are re-
ported by consular officers on the 1stn-
mus In fact. with the opening OF the
canal the character OF exports thitner
will materially change. Large ship
ments Of coal will be necessary TOT
bunkering ships. Warehouses and DE-
nots may also be established for the
distribution of goods to many coun-
: 90 Bananas Half of Imports.
Bananas represent half the entire
value OF merchandise imported from
Panama. Last year the total exceeded
two million dollars. Except for ABOUT
one million dollars worth of American
made articles returned to the United
states. the remaining inward snip
ments are relatively small. They con-
sist chiefly OF coconuts, hides and
skins. crude rubber vegetable ivory
cofFee and cabinet woods. 1t is esti-
mated that $500, 100000 worth OF cab
met woods, many of them similar IN
appearance and fineness to mahogany
and lignumivitae, are. available in the
repubiic, and they offer promise OF IN
creasing commercial Importance. Tne
eoconut industry is also rapidly de-
yeIoping and assumes further staoll-
ity to the economic position OF Pan
anna.