COMMERCE WITH NONCONTIGUOUS TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES. The trade of the United States with its noncontiguous territory shows a slight increase over that of 1907, though the gain occurs exclusively in merchandise sent from those territories to the United States, the value of merchandise shipped from the United States to its territories aggregating $65,771,946 in 1908, against $67,250,714 in 1907, the reduction occurring in shipments to Alaska and Porto Rico, while in those to Hawaii and the Philippines the figures indicate a gain over last year. The value of domestic merchandise sent to Alaska in 1908 was, in round terms, 16 million dollars, against 18 millions in 1907; to Porto Rico, 22 millions, against 25 millions in 1907; to Hawaii, 14 millions, against 14 millions in 1907; and to the Philippines, 11 millions, against 83 millions in 1907. The shipments of merchandise from the noncontiguous territories to the United States show an increase of nearly 14 millions over 1907 and, as above indicated, a marked gain over any preceding year, amounting to 883 million dollars, of which 41 millions was from Hawaii, chiefly sugar; 26 millions from Porto Rico, chiefly tobacco and fruits; 11 millions from Alaska, chiefly salmon, copper, and furs; and 10 millions from the Philippine Islands, chiefly manila hemp and sugar. The total value of shipments from the United States to its noncontiguous territories has grown from 7 million dollars in 1898, to 653 millions in 1908, while the value of the merchandise shipped from those territories to the United States has grown from 23 million dollars in 1898 to 88 millions in 1908. TRADE RELATIONS WITH CUBA. The commerce with Cuba shows a slight reduction in 1908 as compared with 1907, owing to the light sugar crop in that island and the consequent falling off in importations of sugar therefrom, the total quantity of sugar imported from Cuba in the fiscal year 1908 being but 2,309 million pounds, against 3,236 millions in 1907, and the value $58,320,000 in 1908, against $70,637,000 in 1907. The total value of imports from Cuba in 1908 was $83,284,692, against $97,441,690 in 1907, and the value of the exports to the island $47,161,306 in 1908, against $49,305,274 in 1907. A comparison of the figures of commerce between Cuba and the United States in the fiscal year 1908 with that of 1903, the year immediately preceding the date at which the reciprocity treaty went into effect (December 27, 1903), shows that the imports from Cuba in the fiscal year 1903 were $62,942,790 in value, and in 1908, $83,284,692; and the exports to Cuba in 1903, $21,761,638, and in 1908, $47,161,306. INTERNAL COMMERCE. Discussions of conditions of internal commerce in the United States are not included in this review, because of the fact that a large proportion of the statistical and other statements regarding that subject cover calendar-year periods. Detailed consideration of this subject will therefore appear in the December issue of the Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance. Respectfully, To Hon. OSCAR S. STRAUS, Secretary of Commerce and Labor. O. P. AUSTIN, REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES, Washington, September 14, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the work of the Bureau of Manufactures for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908. The work has been conducted along the same general lines that marked the operations of preceding years. Wider knowledge of the functions of the Bureau among business men, a more intimate acquaintance with the scope and character of its operations and of its facilities for securing trustworthy information as to commercial and industrial conditions in foreign countries needful in the promotion of international trade, have increased the demands upon the Bureau beyond the ability of its clerical force to meet them with the degree of promptness naturally expected from a department of the Government charged with the direction of enterprises closely related to the business of the people. A slight increase in the force was made for the year, which was helpful but not sufficient to meet the actual requirements of the current work, and the constant expansion of the field of the Bureau's operations makes further increase necessary. In the preceding fiscal year 18,715 letters, exclusive of postal cards and circulars, were received from business houses in relation to the foreign trade of the country, and nearly 7,000 replies were prepared, while in the year under review the letters received aggregated 29,991 and the replies written numbered 16,694. In addition to these business letters 20,182 communications of miscellaneous character were received, all of which required attention involving expenditure of time and labor. This large increase in the demands upon the Bureau is evidence of the growth of its business, and the character of the correspondence shows that those who are engaged in carrying on the commerce of the country, as well as those who are seeking to enter foreign markets for the sale of American products, are relying upon the Bureau for advice and assistance in furtherance of their efforts. COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. To comply with these varied and voluminous demands the Bureau is obliged to schedule and classify information concerning commercial and industrial conditions in foreign countries, and so arrange the material that business men presenting inquiries may be furnished with the desired information. A vast amount of valuable material is supplied by consular officers, much of which is specially furnished at the request of manufacturers and merchants, and all of which is prepared for publication and dissemination by the Bureau of Manufactures. The labor of several hundred consular officers in seeking and formulating commercial information for the use of American manufacturers and merchants is supplemented by that of expert agents of the Department in special fields. The results of this labor can only be made useful and effective by proper classification and systematic arrangement through which it may be made accessible to those for whose benefit it is collected. This work has value in proportion to ease of accessibility and promptitude of distribution. Large expenditure of money is made in its collection. It contains facts, early knowledge of which would enable those directing the industrial and mercantile affairs of the country to push into foreign markets with reasonable chances for successfully maintaining themselves against competitors who have been long established. Ordinary business prudence requires, and proper regard for the great public interests intended to be subserved demands, that the valuable material furnished the Bureau at large expense under mandate of the law shall be made available for immediate distribution. This can be done only by authorizing the employment of an adequate clerical force to collate and card the material in question, and to transcribe and forward it to applicants and others to whom it would prove profitable. To meet the present necessities in this division of the Bureau's work the addition of three clerks of the $900 grade and at least one clerk of class 2 is needed. INCREASING VALUE OF CONSULAR REPORTS. Popular appreciation of the work of the Bureau in extending lines of foreign trade already established and in pointing the way for new initiative is shown by the constantly growing demand for its publications. The regular circulation of Daily Consular and Trade Reports has more than doubled within the past two years; that of the monthly edition has largely increased, and the demand for the special publications, which include reports of special agents and combined contributions of consular officers on specific matters which they are instructed to investigate, has reached the statutory limit placed upon the number of copies that may be issued. The attention bestowed upon these publications by the daily newspapers and periodicals devoted to certain productive and commercial interests and the extended use made of them by business houses have stimulated those consular officers who heretofore were unknown as authors of reports for publication and furnished encouragement and inspiration to those who have been energetic and persistent in efforts to promote the commerce of the United States. The frequency and fullness of reports now received, and the marked improvement exhibited in the selection and treatment of subjects discussed, are recognized and appreciated by all familiar with this work and are worthy of special mention and commendation. |