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

@cdnat zone curing the last IO YEARS.
and that $4,000, 900 worth of products
of Panama entered the United States
during the same period. - /
The record OF our trade with PaRa-
ma begins with 1904. In that year
our exports to the Isthmian Republic
were valued at about $2,000,000
In 1907, the year in which active ca
nal-building operations began, the to-
tai rose to SIS $3.50, 666, and in 1912 and
1918, respectively, the exports were
only a little under SIS, 900, 600 in value,
the crest of the movement having been
reached in 1912. Our exports to Pan.
anna thus increased nearly tenfold in
10 years, while imports from that coun.
try steadily grew, though at a much
slower rate, from less than $1.000000
in 1904 and 1906 to little less than.
Sc, 0O0, 900. last year.
That this remarkable expansion oil
our export trade with Panama was
largely due to purchases of supplies
for canal construction and commits
sary is apparent from comparison
of our own figures with the CORES.
ponding import statements of the Pan.
ANA government. The latter Indicated
for 1919 only $500. 900 worth Of Inn
ports from the United States and 81
100000 from other countries, an aggre-
gate importation Of $10.000,000 in.
value, or less than onehalf the de-
clared. value of our known exports to
Panama. - u
Additional evidence that the goods
shipped to Panama from this country
were incidental to the requirements
of canal construction is developed by
study of the character OF the ar
ticles making up the trade in ques-1
ton. The largest items contributing
to the $4,000, 900 worth of our prod
ucts shipped to Panama last year and
of the 70,000,000 worth sent thither
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 $4,000
coo worth of cement to be used in
concrete work on the canal zone, S.
COG, 1000 worth Of bituminous coal near
ly $7,000,000 worth of board and
planks, $6,500000 worth of structural
iron and steel, $4;500,000 worth OF
flour, and $3,000.000 worth Of fresh
beef. A single year showed a record
of $2,500,00 worth of structural iron
and steel, and over 100000 worth
each of electrical machinery, castings,
and coal; also considerable quantities
of cotton goods, patent and proprie-
tary medicines, earthen, stone, china,
and glass ware, cars and carriages, |
soap, cigars and cigarettes, paints, !
fish, butter, potatoes, and other vege-
tables. Trade with Panama has here
tofore been handicapped through lack
of adequate dock and bonding facili- |
ties, but improvements in this lineI
are reported by consular officers on
the isthmus. In fact, with the open |
ing of the canal the character of ex.l
ports thither must materially change
Large shipme nts 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 100000. 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 i
ly of coconuts, hides and skins, crude
rubber, vegetable ivory, coffee, and
cabinet woods. It, 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 assures further stability to the /
position of Panama