IMPORTATION OF TROPICAL FRUITS. Enormously increased demand by the people of the United States for tropical and subtropical products is shown in the import figures of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The latest report shows that the total value of tropical and subtropical products brought into the United States in the fiscal year 1904 amounted to $430,556,775 including those brought from the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. The far-reaching importance of this figure is only realized when it is compared with that of the total value of merchandise imported into the United States last fiscal year, which in round numbers was $991,000,000. In nearly all of the products originating in tropical and subtropical countries the importations of 1904 are much larger than in earlier years, while in quantity the increase is even greater than that in value, because of the declining prices of many of these articles. The total quantity of sugar, for example, brought into the United States in 1904 from the Tropics, including that brought from Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands, is 4,675,627,813 pounds, against 3,305,087,796 pounds in 1900, 2,332,820,896 pounds in 1890, 1,829,286,030 pounds in 1880, and 1,196,662,049 pounds in 1870. Coffee importations in 1904 amounted to 998,831,292 pounds, against 787,991,911 pounds in 1900, 499,159,120 pounds in 1890, and 235,256,574 pounds in 1870. Importations of raw silk in 1904 amounted to 16,722,617 pounds, including all classes of unmanufactured silk under this title, against 11,259,310 pounds in 1900, 5,934,360 pounds in 1890, 2,562,236 pounds in 1880, and 583,589 pounds in 1870. Importations of fibers in 1904, including those from the Philippine Islands, amounted to 299,951 tons, against 249,306 tons in 1900, 195,332 tons in 1890, 111,751 tons in 1880, and 43,533 tons in 1870. Cocoa imported amounted to 72,277,600 pounds in 1904, against 41,746,872 pounds in 1900, 18,266,177 pounds in 1890, 7,403,643 pounds in 1880, and 3,640,845 pounds in 1870. Tea importations in 1904 amounted to 112,898,016 pounds, against 84,845,107 pounds in 1900, 83,886,129 pounds in 1890, 72,162,936 pounds in 1880, and 47,408,481 pounds in 1870. Fruits also show a rapid increase in importation, the value of tropical and subtropical fruits brought into the United States in 1904 being $24,990,800, against $19,263,592 in 1900, $14,028,908 in 1880, and $7,416,592 in 1870. The table which follows shows the quantity of the more important tropical products imported into the United States in 1870, 1890, and The table which follows shows the value of the principal tropical and subtropical products imported into the United States in 1870, 1890, and 1904: a Includes articles from Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. SISAL CULTURE IN PORTO RICO. The growing of sisal grass for commercial purposes on the island of Porto Rico is a possibility to which attention is drawn by the New York "Post," which states that the henequen plant grows almost everywhere throughout the island and that the natives have produced surprising results with the fiber, despite the fact that they have given it little or no cultivation. The value of the plant has been known for many generations, four kinds of which grow in Porto Rico, namely, henequen, maguey, San Leveria, and emajagua. All belong to one general family, though they vary somewhat as to the size of the leaf and the quality of the fiber. The plant is thickest in the Mayaguez IMPORTATION OF TROPICAL FRUITS. Enormously increased demand by the people of the United States for tropical and subtropical products is shown in the import figures of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The latest report shows that the total value of tropical and subtropical products brought into the United States in the fiscal year 1904 amounted to $430,556,775 including those brought from the Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. The far-reaching importance of this figure is only realized when it is compared with that of the total value of merchandise imported into the United States last fiscal year, which in round numbers was $991,000,000. In nearly all of the products originating in tropical and subtropical countries the importations of 1904 are much larger than in earlier years, while in quantity the increase is even greater than that in value, because of the declining prices of many of these articles. The total quantity of sugar, for example, brought into the United States in 1904 from the Tropics, including that brought from Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands, is 4,675,627,813 pounds, against 3,305,087,796 pounds in 1900, 2,332,820,896 pounds in 1890, 1,829,286,030 pounds in 1880, and 1,196,662,049 pounds in 1870. Coffee importations in 1904 amounted to 998,831,292 pounds, against 787,991,911 pounds in 1900, 499,159,120 pounds in 1890, and 235,256,574 pounds in 1870. Importations of raw silk in 1904 amounted to 16,722,617 pounds, including all classes of unmanufactured silk under this title, against 11,259,310 pounds in 1900, 5,934,360 pounds in 1890, 2,562,236 pounds in 1880, and 583,589 pounds in 1870. Importations of fibers in 1904, including those from the Philippine Islands, amounted to 299,951 tons, against 249,306 tons in 1900, 195,332 tons in 1890, 111,751 tons in 1880, and 43,533 tons in 1870. Cocoa imported amounted to 72,277,600 pounds in 1904, against 41,746,872 pounds in 1900, 18,266,177 pounds in 1890, 7,403,643 pounds in 1880, and 3,640,845 pounds in 1870. Tea importations in 1904 amounted to 112,898,016 pounds, against 84,845,107 pounds in 1900, 83,886,129 pounds in 1890, 72,162,936 pounds in 1880, and 47,408,481 pounds in 1870. Fruits also show a rapid increase in importation, the value of tropical and subtropical fruits brought into the United States in 1904 being $24,990,800, against $19,263,592 in 1900, $14,028,908 in 1880, and $7,416,592 in 1870. The table which follows shows the quantity of the more important tropical products imported into the United States in 1870, 1890, and a Includes articles from Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. The table which follows shows the value of the principal tropical and subtropical products imported into the United States in 1870, 1890, and 1904: a Includes articles from Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. SISAL CULTURE IN PORTO RICO. The growing of sisal grass for commercial purposes on the island of Porto Rico is a possibility to which attention is drawn by the New York "Post," which states that the henequen plant grows almost everywhere throughout the island and that the natives have produced surprising results with the fiber, despite the fact that they have given it little or no cultivation. The value of the plant has been known for many generations, four kinds of which grow in Porto Rico, namely, henequen, maguey, San Leveria, and emajagua. All belong to one general family, though they vary somewhat as to the size of the leaf and the quality of the fiber. The plant is thickest in the Mayaguez district on the eastern shore of the island. Of the four varieties the San Leveria is the favorite with the natives. They plait ropes from the fiber that for strength and lightness can not be surpassed. These ropes are used on the harbor sailing vessels and have often been purchased by skippers of foreigh vessels putting into port. The rope is made of every size, from the donkey-engine hawser to deck twine. Some effort has been made to encourage the industry and a considerable quantity of the fiber was shipped to England with gratifying results. The best fabric was made in Belfast, Ireland, where a linen manufacturer evolved a textile that closely resembled the finest silk. The fabric, which was named boriquen, after the ancient name of Porto Rico, was made into gowns and was highly praised, but because of the uncertainty of the supply of the raw material the manufacture had to be discontinued. The exact localities for obtaining the plant are known only to the natives, as well as the best methods to be employed for promoting its growth. At present there is no systematic manufacture of henequen into marketable goods, but experiments are continually being made with more or less success. FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR SEPTEMBER, 1904. The United States Treasury closed the third month of the fiscal year on September 30, showing a surplus for September of $5,896,683. Conditions have steadily improved since the close of August. The deficit for the fiscal year is now $18,385,637, as compared with $23,790,336 August 31, the reduction in the deficit in the month having been more than $5,400,000. Receipts for September of this year were $46,344,683, as against $43,204,995 in September, 1903, and expenditures were $40,488,000, as against $37,675,000. In September, 1904, healthy increases in both customs and internal-revenue receipts are shown in comparison with September of last year. The Treasury working balance now exceeds $31.000,000, and is about $5,000,000 more than at the end of August. The monthly report of the Comptroller of the Currency on the organization of national banks shows that during the month of September 32 new banks were chartered with capital aggregating $1,550,000. Of the new banks 20 have individual capital of less than $50,000, the total being $525,000, and 12, with capital aggregating $1,025,000, are of the class with individual capital of $50,000 or over. The Southern States led all other sections in the number of banks organized, with 11 new institutions-9 of the smaller class and 2 of the larger with capital aggregating $400,000. The Middle Western States were second, with 3 new banks of the smaller class and 5 of the larger, with capital aggregating $450,000. In the Western States 5 new banks of the smaller class and 1 of the larger class were organized with capital of $325,000. In the Eastern States 1 bank of the smaller |