The trade of Mexico with Cuba during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, was: Imports from Cuba, $363; exports to Cuba, $26,700. The commerce of the island with the principal European countries cannot be given with accuracy, as the various official statistics include Porto Rico in the statements of trade-the figures for Germany comprising other Spanish dependencies as well. The commerce of the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium with Cuba and Porto Rico in 1896 was as follows the figures for the United States and Spain for the same year being repeated for comparative pur

There are 2,300 miles of telegraph line with 153 offices. Messages in 1894, 357,914.

227

4 ft. 8.5 in.

78

11

2 ft. 6 in.

3

12.5

4 ft. 8.5 in.

11

110

4 ft. 8.5 in.

21

1,130

455

34

16

81

37

35

1,070

93

546

40

219

PORTO RICO.

Area and Population.

In 1887, the population numbered 813,937, 300,000 of which were negroes. It has an area of about 3,668 square miles-35 miles broad and 95 miles long. The chief city, San Juan, numbers 23,414 inhabitants; Ponce, 37,545; San German, 30,146.

Industries.

Agriculture and lumbering are the chief industries of the island. The principal crops are sugar, tobacco, coffee, cotton, corn, rice, bananas, pineapples, and many other fruits.

Gold, copper, and iron are found, as also a large variety of marbles, limestones, and other building stones. There are salt works on the island of considerable importance.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF MERCHANDISE INTO PORTO RICO DURING 1894 AND 1895, CLASSIFIED AS AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL.

COMMERCE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

The total trade of the United States with Porto Rico is shown as follows:

The imports into the United States classed as agricultural and non-agricultural, and of sugar and molasses, for a series of years, appear below:

$1,964.850

The following table shows the quantity of coffee exported to various countries in 1895 and 1896, and the value for the latter year:

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Area and Population.

The Philippine Islands, the most northerly of the Indian Archipelago, embrace an area of about 115,000 square miles, and are bounded on the north and east by the Pacific, on the south by the Celebes and Sooloo (or Mindoro) Seas, and on the west by the China Sea. The group consists of nine larger and over 1,200 smaller islands, most of the latter being hardly more than bare rocks of volcanic origin. The larger islands, exclusive of Palawan, with their area and population, as estimated by Dr. Meyer in 1871, are as follows:

The total population is variously estimated at from 7,500,000 to 10,000,000.

Climate.

The climate of one region differs considerably from that of another, owing to the great distance covered by the islands, though the general characteristics are everywhere tropical. The northern islands lie in the regions of the typhoons. Three seasons are usually recognized-cold, hot, and wet. The cold extends from November to February or March. The atmosphere is bracing, for the most part clear and sunshine, and woolen garments can be worn with comfort in the mornings. The hot season lasts from March to June, and the heat becomes very oppressive at the approach of the southerly monsoon. During July, August, September, and October the rain comes down in torrents, flooding the lower country. The following meteorological record, kept by the Jesuits during eight years, will give an idea of the temperature and precipitation:

The "Bulletin de la Société de Géographie Commerciale" (Paris, 1897) says of the industrial condition:

"There are about 25,000 Europeans resident in the islands, of course not counting the troops. Some 12,000 are established in the capital, Manila. English, Spanish, and German houses are engaged in trade, advancing money to the natives on their crops. Such business methods involve risks and necessitate large capital in the beginning, but the profits are immense. The land is fertile and productive, and lacks only intelligent cultivation. Abaca (manila hemp) is one of the chief sources of wealth of the country. Sugar cane does not give as satisfactory returns, owing largely to the ignorance of planters. The average production is 178,000,000 kilograms (175,186.96 tons), while that of Cuba is equal to 720,000,000 kilograms. The sugar goes almost entirely to Japan, England, and the United States. It is of poor quality and very cheap. The cultivation of tobacco is one of the most important industries, although it is capable of much greater development. The native coffee, although not equal to the mocha or bourbon varieties, has a fine aroma. It goes chiefly to Spain. Cocoa trees grow in abundance, and the oil is used for lighting houses and streets. The indigo is famous for its superior qualities. The inhabitants are apathetic to a degree that is noticeable even in these countries, where every one is averse to exertion. The women have long and slender fingers, remarkably fine and sensitive, and well adapted to their work. The hats and cigarette holders they make and the articles they embroider are models of delicacy. Cotton spinning and work in bamboo are among the chief industries."

MINERAL RESOURCES.-The following memorandum is compiled from a recent report of the U. S. Geological Survey. Only about a score of the islands are known to contain deposits of valuable minerals. Grouped according to the character of the minerals, the distribution is shown below: