698
THE PHILIPPINES
but later the trade seems to have been diverted to the British East Indies, which furnished 63 per cent. in 1901.
Japan sent 95 per cent. of the $270,364 worth of matches imported in 1901. The importations in 1899 were $198,854, of which China furnished 88 per cent.; in 199 $115,380, of which China and Hongkong furnished 84 per cent. It is reported that a well equipped match factory has been established in Manila, the machinery for which was imported from the United States.
With the best of natural facilities for rice culture the importations are constantly increasing. Imports on rice rose from $3,523,552 in 1899 to $5,108,341 in 19 »1, exceeding in value as an imported article by cotton goods only. In 1899 China furnished more than 93 per cent., but the trade has shifted to French East Indies, British East Indie and Siam, their united supply in 1901 being 71 per cent., China's less than 25 per
cent.
Importations of tea in 1901 amounted to 893,690 as compared with $15,753 in the preceding year. In 1901 British East Indies furnished 57 per cent. and China 42 per
cent.
Steam and sailing vessels valued at nearly $1,000,000 were purchased in 1901, the United Kingdom furnishing 41 per cent., Hongkong 22 per cent. and the British East Indies 25 per cent.
The importation of wood and its finished forms have increased very rapidly, the figures being for 1899 $194,601, for 1900, $223,504, and for 1901, $532,572, the Unite States having 15 per cent. of the trade of 1901.
In value Manila hemp exported constituted very nearly two-thirds or $15,976,640 of the exports of the islands for 1901, the United Kingdom taking 65 per cent. and the United States 26 per cent. direct; more than $800,000 worth went to Hongkong, but doubtless nearly all of this eventually reached the above named countries. The United Kingdom via London, the controlling market, distributes hemp to continental Eure and furnishes the United States about one-half of the latter's supply.
Tobacco was next in value as an export in 1901, showing an increase, which promises to continue. The figures for 1899, 1900 and 1901 were 81,931,232, 82,261,233 and $2,631,941, respectively. There was a very wide distribution during 1901, the countries taking the most being Spain, 26 per cent.; United Kingdom, 23 per cent: Hongkong and Australasia, each 15 per cent,
Sugar exports for 1901 show an increased valuation of about $160,000 more than the previous year. The development and prosperity of the sugar industry will depend to a great extent upon the adoption of modern economical methods of reduction. "Of the two and a half million dollars worth exported in 1901 Japan took 49 per cent., 39 per cent. was shipped to Hongkong, and thence probably re-exported, and 12 per cent. went directly to the United States.
Copra is the next most important article of exports. Quite a variation is noted in the values in the last three years, rising from $726,653 in 1899 to $3,182,481 în 19** then falling to 81,611,838 in 1901, in which year 69 per cent. was shipped to France and 21 per cent. to Spain.
The articles of imports into the Philippines during the year 1901, of which the United States furnished notably more than any other country, were:-Art works including paintings and statuary, watches, glass and glassware, telegraph and other electrical machinery, pipes and fittings, stoves and ranges, trunks and valises, plated ware, agricultural implements, saws, wheat flour, raw cotton, honey, pumps and pump machinery, safes, unmanufactured leather, malt liquors, wooden ware, oil cloth, patent and proprietary medicines, printers' ink, typewriting machinery, scales and balances harness and saddles, paper, varnish, wool, carpets and lubricating oils.
The United Kingdom leads in the following:-Iron and steel, and their finished form (taken as a whole), condensed milk, tea, zinc and manufactures; copper and its finished forms, window glass, sap, turpentine, fertilizers, cotton goods (taken as a whole? butter, steam vessels, paints, pigments and colours, linseed oil.
Germany leads in the following:-Brass and its finished forms, chemicals, drugs (except opium), and dyes, needles, pins and surgical instruments, firearms, lamps furniture, barley, hops, rails for railways, printing presses, pianos and organs, wearing apparel (woollen), woollen yarn, celluloid and its products, hats and cap.
builders' hardware, cutlery, sewing machines, woollen cloth, laundry machines.
Of the $37,183,993 worth of merchandise, including gold and silver, imported into the Philippines during the year 1901, but 2 per cent, was brought in American vessels 63 per cent. was carried in vessels flying the British flag, German 16 per cent. andi di others 19 per cent.
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