THE PHILIPPINES
743
exports had increased more than nine and a half millions at the same time. Trade in the islands has received an impetus since ther transfer to the United States which, under the present conditions, is bound to continue. The only visible factors which will in any way check or impede an immediate greater development are lack of means of transportation and of proper agricultural machinery and methods. The construction of railroads and highways and the improvement of harbours will necessarily be gradual, but the introduction of proper farming machinery and implements should be immediate. The imports into the islands rose from a little more than $19,000,000 (gold) in 1899 to nearly $25,000,000 in 1900, and to more than $30,000,000 in 1901, the increase for 1901 being 57 per cent. over 1899 and more than 21 per cent. over 1900; exports having risen in the same period from nearly 8 5,000,000 in 1899 to about $23,000,000 in 1900, and approximately $24,500,000 in 1901. Customs duties on merchandise rose from $4,411,680 in 1899 to $7,700,679 in 1900 and to 88,164,466 in 1901. During the latter years of Spanish ownership the revenue from this source averaged between three and three and a half million dollars annually. In 1899 the United States supplied 7 per cent, of the imports; in 1900, 9 per cent., and in 1901, 12 per cent. ; the United Kingdom 17, 22 and 18 per cent. for these years respectively; Spain 14, 8 and 6 per cent.; Germany 5, 7 and 7 per cent.; France 2, 4, and 6 per cent.; China, including Hongkong, 43, 31 and 16 per cent.; British East Indies 4, 7 and 11 per cent.; Japan 1, 2 and 4 per cent.; all other countries 7, 10 and 20 per cent. Quite a large portion of the Philippine trade is via Hongkong, and from reports, especially of exports, it would appear that Hongkong furnishes the archipelago a considerable part of its imports and absorbs a large percentage of its exports. This, however, is not the case, as Hongkong is simply a distributing point.
For the three years named the United States took 27, 13 and 19 per cent. of the exports respectively; United Kingdom 24, 35 and 45 per cent.; Germany less than 1 per cent. for each year; France 3, 11 and 5 per cent. : China, including Hongkong, 27 per cent. in 1899, but in 1900, when exports to Hongkong were first recorded separate from those of China, the latter is discharged with but 1 per cent.. and in 1901 less than 1 per cent. of the exports, Hongkong receiving 16 per cent. in 1900 and 12 per cent. in 1901, which would indicate but little actual trade with China in 1899; Spain 7, 7 and 5 per cent. for the three respective years; Japan 7, 3 and 6 per cent.; British East Indies 3, 4 and 3 per cent., and all other countries 1, 9 and 4 per cent. The great increase of exports to the United Kingdom consisted principally of hemp; the exports of this article to the United States shows over a million dollars increase in 1901 over 1899. While the United States is yet behind certain other countries in the Philippine trade, there has been a great increase in its exports to the islands, which during the last years of Spanish control amounted to an annual average of barely 3 per cent. of the total as compared with 12 per cent. in 1901. The twelve principal articles, in the order of their importance, exported from the United States during the year 1901 were malt liquors, wheat flour, iron and steel and their fined forms, paper in its different forms, distilled spirits, glass- ware cars, carriages and bicycles, oils, cotton goods, wood and its manufactures, leather and its manufactures, and watches and clocks.
The importations of wheat flour amounted in 1899 to $382,261, in 1900 to $475,236, and in 1901 to $553,869, of which the United States furnished 17 per cent. in 1899, 26 per cent. in 1900 and 96 per cent. in 1901. The importation of coal is furnished almost entirely by Australasia and Japan.
The United States supplied about 40 per cent. of the clocks and watches imported in 1901, France nearly 37 per cent.
Cotton goods constitute the most important imports of the Philippines, aggregating more than $7,000,000 in 1901, which was nearly one-fourth of the total amount of merchandise imported during that year. These goods were furnished by many coun- tries, the United Kingdom leading with 48 per cent., Spain following with 11 per cent., British East Indies with 10 per cent., and Germany 9 per cent. The United States furnished but 2 per cent.
The increase in importations of opium is very marked, rising from $328,713 in 1899 to $638,915 in 1900, and to 81,070,431 in 1901; 92 per cent. coming from China in 1899, 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 8270,364 worth of matches imported in 1901. The importations in 1899 were $198,854, of which China furnished 88 per cent.; in 1900, $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.