The Story of the Philippines / Natural Riches, Industrial Resources, Statistics of Productions, Commerce and Population; The Laws, Habits, Customs, Scenery and Conditions of the Cuba of the East Indies and the Thousand Islands of the Archipelagoes of India and Hawaii, With Episodes of Their Early History; The Eldorado of the Orient; Personal Character Sketches of and Interviews with Admiral Dewey, General Merritt, General Aguinaldo and the Archbishop of Manila; History and Romance, Tragedies and Traditions of our Pacific Possessions; Events of the War in the West with Spain, and the Conquest of Cuba and Porto Rico

by Murat Halstead

It is interesting to note that next to Great Britain we are the largest customers of the Philippines, and that they export to us nearly three times as much as to Spain. On the other hand Spain sells to the Philippines fifteen times as much as we do.

The articles of import and their value in 1894 were as follows:

In Millions of Dollars (Silver).

Spain. Great China. Germany. United Other Total.
Britain. States. Countries
Cotton Goods 3.9 4.O .4 .3 — .7 9.3
Cotton Yarns 1.2 .9 .2 .1 — .1 2.5
Wines 1.8 — — — — .1 1.9
Russia.
Mineral Oils — — .2 — .4 .8 1.4
Iron .2 .7 — .2 — .1 1.2
Rice — — 1.0 — — .1 1.1
Flour — — .7 — .2 — .9
Sweet Meats .5 — — — — .3 .8
Paper .4 — — .1 — .2 .7
Linen Goods .1 .1 .1 — — .3 .6
Hats .1 — — .3 — .2 .6
Other Articles 2.3 1.4 2.O .9 .1 .9 7.6
— — — — — — —
10.5 7.1 4.6 1.9 .7 3.8 28.6

The articles of export and their value in 1894 were as follows:

In Millions of Dollars (Silver).

Spain Great China United Austra- Other Total
Britain States lia Countries
Hemp — 5.3 .9 6.6 .6 1.1 [2] 14.5
Sugar .4 2.7 4.O .7 1.9 1.3 [3] 11.O
Man'f. Tobacco .2 .1 .7 .. .1 .7 [4] 1.3
Leaf Tobacco 1.1 .. .. .. .. .3 1.4
Coffee .3 .. .1 .. .. .. .4
Cocoanuts .. .6 .1 .. .. .. .7
Other Articles .9 .. 1.O .1 .. 1.3 3.3
— — — — — — —
2.9 8.7 6.8 7.4 2.6 4.7 33.16

With these islands in our possession and the construction of railroads in the interior of Luzon, it is probable that an enormous extension could be given to this commerce, nearly all of which would come to the United States. Manila cigars of the best quality are unknown in America. They are but little inferior to the best of Cuba, and cost only one-third as much. The coffee industry can be revived and the sugar industry extended, mainly for consumption in the far East. The mineral resources can be explored with American energy, and there is every reason to believe that when this is done the deposits of coal, iron, gold and lead will be found very valuable. On the other hand, we ought to be able to secure the greater part of the trade which now goes to Spain in textile fabrics, and a considerable portion of that with England in the same goods and in iron.

Revenue and Expenses.

The budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, was as follows: