Value of declared exports for the United States at the several consular offices in Germany during the year ended June 30, 1898-Continued.

Value of declared exports for the United States at the several consular offices in Germany during the year ended June 30, 1898-Continued.

Gibraltar produces nothing to export, and no industries or manufactories exist, except one for producing artificial ice to meet local demands. Having since the beginning of this year transmitted several reports on subjects referring to trade connected more directly with the prod uce of the United States, in which flour and tobacco formed two of the leading articles, besides giving data regarding the important trade at Gibraltar in coal for steam navigation purposes,3 I am unable to offer on this occasion much additional matter of interest.

2

The hostilities between the United States and Spain caused a suspension of commercial intercourse, not only in the navigation of this port but in the general traffic with foreign markets, even affecting the extensive coasting trade with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

The trade in American flour and refined petroleum, though perhaps somewhat less active, was not greatly disturbed, both articles being of constant necessity and consumption among all classes of the civil population of Gibraltar.

In reply to circular of August 5, 1898.

2 Advance Sheets, No. 47, February 26; No. 62, March 16; No. 103, May 3. Consular Reports, No. 211, April, 1898; No. 212, May, 1898; No. 213, June, 1898.

3 Advance Sheets, No. 20, January 25; Consular Reports, No. 210, March, 1898.

The importations of American flour, during the eight months ending August 31 last, reached 30,947 sacks.

Owing to the late decline and inactivity in breadstuffs in the leading markets of Europe, the supplies from the United States have been gradually decreasing. There is, however, every likelihood of American flour continuing to form the principal article of trade between the United States and Gibraltar. With better rates of exchange, a revival of business may be expected.

The British commissariat department still continues to require that the troops in this garrison be supplied with fresh bread made solely from British flour. The deliveries are made on half yearly contracts, the flour arriving direct from London at short intervals. The quality of the bread issued seems to satisfy all military requirements.

No supplies of unmanufactured tobacco have reached this market from abroad since my report above referred to. The large quantities which previous to April 1 had been imported and stored here, thereby escaping the 1d duty per pound which the British authorities levied upon all tobaccos entering this port for sale and consumption, have in the meantime been considerably reduced by constant retail sales.

The assorted qualities of tobacco, after being chopped and mixed together, are neatly made up in packages of one-eighth, one-fourth, and one-half pound weight, which are purchased by the 5,000 Spanish workmen who enter this fortress every morning (Sundays excepted), and who are employed by the British Admiralty in the extensive dock and other Government works now in progress in this fortress.

It is estimated that half of the quantity of tobacco imported previous to April 1 last still remains in store unsold; but a revival in the export demand for the weed having recently arisen, there is every probability that the importers will soon have to renew their supplies, submitting to the present duty imposed upon the article.

It is presumed that the unsettled condition of affairs in Spain, arising from the result of the recent war, is offering at this moment greater facilities for certain classes of the neighboring Spanish population to evade, with less difficulty and risk, the vigilance of the revenue coast guards against smuggling.

American refined petroleum continues to control this market. Russian importations have ceased. The trade in American petroleum is in the hands of three importers and retailers, doing business direct with New York. They have imported 39,805 cases since the commencement of this year.

The moment hostilities commenced between the United States and Spain, the private sales in coal diminished considerably at Gibraltar, as the following figures will show:

During the month of January, the sales amounted to 28,220 tons; February, to 29,991 tons; March, to 27,493 tons; April, to 27,553 tons; May, to 21,670 tons; June, to 21,684 tons; July, to 18,820 tons; being a total of 175,431 tons.

These were supplied to 1,463 steamships.

Owing to the long-continued strikes in the coal districts of Wales, only North Country and Newcastle coals have been supplied to steamers entering this port, and the ruling price is 24s 6d sterling ($5.95) per ton, placed in bunkers.

It has been rumored (I can not vouch for its accuracy) that the British Admiralty, with its usual foresight, has, in face of the continued strikes in Wales, contracted for several thousand tons of coal from a limited coal firm in England, to be delivered at Gibraltar, to increase the supplies of the dockyard.

Cotton, woolen, and linen manufactures are mostly imported direct from England. They form a very extensive traffic, especially in fancy goods. It is entirely of a retail nature, meeting various demands among the Gibraltar population.

This important branch of trade is chiefly in the hands of the Hebrew natives, who are constantly sending their own people to England to select and purchase the required supplies. They invariably manage to undersell the British importers and retailers. They extend their business by looking to the German, French, and other continental markets for their stocks of assorted goods, principally through foreign agents, from whom they obtain long credits and many facilities for settling invoices. These, with few exceptions, they are unable to settle for cash on delivery of the goods. The same system is in vogue with the ironmongery and other retail establishments.

American goods of various descriptions are to a limited extent supplied through foreign agencies in England, on like conditions. This credit system suits merchants here better than to order supplies themselves direct from the United States on their own account, which can only be done by cash transactions on the shipment or delivery of the goods ordered, or under some satisfactory guaranty to the sellers, a system which it is seldom they have the means to adopt.

The condition of the Gibraltar market does not at present admit of wholesale transactions in any kind of manufactured goods. The transit trade, once so extensive and active, especially with Spain and Morocco, may now be considered almost a thing of the past.

DECLARED EXPORTS, GIBRALTAR.

Value of declared exports for the United States at Gibraltar during the year ended June 30, 1898.

Owing to the interruptions and confusion caused in official circles by the late war with Turkey, it is more difficult than ever to secure official statistics or other information in relation to the commerce and industries of Greece. The Government's annual report of imports and exports for 1897 has not yet been published, and inquiry divulges the fact that it is not known when it will appear, as the chief of the bureau of statistics is at present otherwise engaged.

In reply to circular of August 5, 1898.

There being nothing in print or made public from which could be gleaned the desired information relative to the commerce and industries of this consular district for the year 1897 and the first six months of 1898, I can only give the tables of imports and exports for 1896 (which did not appear in last year's commercial report from Greece) and such other information as I have been able to gather from reliable sources. Business in Athens and Piræus has improved wonderfully since the close of the late war with Turkey, and has been for months and is at present brisk in nearly every line. Factories are being run to their fullest capacities, building has been extensive in both cities during the year, and scores of structures are now in course of erection. Many new stores and shops and other places of business are being opened, and old ones repaired and enlarged. The largest stocks of merchandise ever seen in modern Athens are now being displayed by her merchants for the fall and winter trade, and everything seems to indicate a prosperous period and a marked increase in the volume of trade.

That there was certainly a large gain in the value of imports in 1897 over former years is proven by figures from the custom-houses of Greece, which show that the customs duties collected in 1897 exceed those of 1896, a good year, by about 6,000,000 drachmas, or $1,150,000; and, judging from the large consignments now being received, the imports of 1898 will far exceed those of 1897 both in quantity and value. A sign of a prosperous and stable period in Greece is the rise in the value of her currency. The rate of exchange fell from 1.55 in the last month of 1897 to 1.40 in the first half of 1898; and although the recent and unusually large importations have caused such a flow of gold to foreign countries that the rate has been forced up a few cents during the last month, the indications are that it will fall again in the near future.

Although the brisk business of the last eight or ten months has greatly increased the demand for labor, there are still many idle men in Greece, a fact due partly to the large number of refugees driven here from Crete during the last year.

Reference to the following table of imports and exports for the year 1896 discloses the fact that six countries each furnished more of the imports than did the United States, England seven times, and Russia more than six times as much. With her vast resources, skilled labor, and inventive genius, the United States should supply this country with at least one-half of its imports. American machinery and goods are much sought for here, and many of our products reach the Greek consumer through England and other European countries.

This consulate is in almost daily receipt of communications from manufacturers and merchants of the United States, making inquiries in relation to trade here and an opening for their wares. Such inquiries are answered as promply as possible, and the desired information is given when obtainable; but my advice to all would-be exporters to Greece is: Do not burden the mails with catalogues and other advertising matter that is printed in the English language, as they are useless. Send on a live agent, or secure a good representative here to represent your interests, if you would secure your share of the trade.

There are certainly openings here for the products of the United States, and if our exporters go to work in the proper way, they can secure a large share of Greece's import trade. The first step toward that end should be a direct line of steamships between the United States and Mediterranean ports. With such a line, the expense of transferring freight would be saved, as well as losses by delay and profits of the middlemen.