The value of declared exports from the consular district of Barcelona to the United States during the quarter ended June 30, 1898, were: Licorice, $26,000.79; mineral water, $3,909.73; nuts, $514.67; preserves, $706.51; tartar, $7,844.16; wine, $451.66; total, $39,427.52. Spanish gold is at a premium. The highest premium of gold during this quarter (ending June 30, 1898) in this district was 110 per cent; the lowest was 60 per cent. J. NEDONETT, Temporarily in Charge of United States Consulate-General at Barcelona. No exports were declared during the quarter ended June 30, 1898, from the consular district of Gijon to the United States. WILLIAM PENLINGTON, Temporarily in Charge of United States Consular Agency. Declared value of exports from the consular district of Malaga, Almeria, and San Felin de Guixols to the United States during the four quarters of the year ended June 30, 1898. The value of declared exports from the consular district of Tarragona to the United States during the quarter ended June 30, 1898, were: Tartar, $13,111.73; almonds, $6,843.38; wine, $1,750.16; oil, $110.58; total, $21,815.85. Spanish gold is at a premium. The highest premium of gold during this quarter (ending June 30, 1898) in this district was 80 per cent; the lowest was 35 per cent. THOS. ROBINSON, Temporarily in Charge of United States Consular Agency. The value of declared exports from the consular district of San Felin de Guixols to the United States during the quarter ended June 30, 1898, were: Corks and cork wood, $52,004.82. Spanish gold is at a premium. The highest premium of gold during this quarter (ending June 30, 1898) in this district was 81 per cent; the lowest was 71 per cent. SWEDEN. J. SIBILS, Consular Agent. REPORT FROM CONSULATE GENERAL AT STOCKHOLM. Sweden has made more progress during the past two years than probably any other country in Europe. That great expanse of timber and iron land in the northern part of Sweden that formerly was the home of the Laplander and his reindeers, is just being opened up to civilization. It has in times past been thought to be a worthless stretch of territory, but exploration has brought to light some of the finest mineral land in the world. Immense forests of birch and pine are also to be found awaiting the woodman's ax. A new railroad is to be constructed from Lulea, over the mountains, into Norway, thus making the territory near to the world's markets and giving it speedy communication with the seaports on the North Sea, which are never closed by ice. Labor is well paid, and it might be said that this land is virgin soil. Machinery will be needed, iron (manufactured) and steel rails required, and immense quantities of canned goods to feed the workers; American park, fat and heavy, to take the place of butter; tools to put in the mechanics' hands, and tobacco to keep away the mosquitoes in summer and solace the laborer during the long winter nights. Great things are in store for Sweden during the coming years, and her wants are to be many and varied. Our merchants can find an outlet for almost any product that a new country is liable to require. It is a land that is going to be the Klondike of Europe. A great mistake our exporters make is in not having the goods sent here properly packed and inspected before shipping. Many articles, such as machinery, bicycles, boots and shoes, and provisions, lose their attractiveness and ready sale on account of their poor appearance on arrival. Many orders are placed from samples, and, to the disappointment of the buyer, the merchandise is frequently some grades below the sample which brought the order. A merchant who has been disappointed in this manner is loath to venture a second time. Belgium and England have been supplying Sweden with cast-iron pipe, rails, and iron and steel beams suitable for building purposes. In the city of Stockholm, the old houses are fast disappearing and the modern structures will require a great quantity of these beams. Sweden has to a great extent been overlooked by our merchants. In a large measure, the American goods come here through German and English houses, thus making the importations more expensive. The latest statistics that are obtainable in regard to the trade of Sweden for the year 1897 are herewith presented. They indicate the value of imports and exports, with a detailed statement of the estimated value of the leading articles of commerce. Value of imports, $99,625,000; value of exports, $94,600,000. Compared with the preceding year, we have in these figures an increase of about $4,000,000 in the value of imports, and an augmentation of almost $8,500,000 in exports. According to the population, it may be said that each inhabitant imported $20 worth of goods and exported $19 worth of goods. The principal articles of export and import, with the value of the same, may be condensed as follows: I submit the inclosed report of the number of factories in this Kingdom, value in dollars of their output, and number of men employed. I have compiled the same from the latest statistics obtainable. The report covers the year 1896, and shows the great strides that have been made in manufacturing in Sweden. The factories that are maintained by the Government, such as ammunition works, gun casting, printing offices, etc., are not included. Their production is estimated at about $9,600,000 for the year 1896. About $1,000,000 worth of soap is produced yearly, and about $1,000,000 worth of minor goods, under which head may be mentioned shoes, stockings, ready-made clothing, etc. About $750,000 may cover the value of the products of the bakers, porcelain manufacturers, fertilizing works, etc. To summarize: There are estimated to be in the Kingdom 8,812 factories and 202,293 workmen employed therein; and the value of their combined production for the year 1896 is about $185,000,000. This figure shows an increase over the previous year of some $70,000,000. STOCKHOLM, August 5, 1898. EDWARD D. WINSLOW, TRADE IN 1898. I give below statistics of the imports and exports of the Kingdom of Sweden in 1898, as compared with 1897: |