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article to one of a higher price, no matter how much superior and more durable the latter may be. It may not be impossible, therefore, for American merchants to compete with foreign trade by adapting their manufactures in quality and price to this market. English houses find it profitable to send bales of remnants and inferior goods by steamers to Syria at low prices, contenting themselves with quick sales and small profits. The distance of America is, doubtless, the chief obstacle, but it is one that has been frequently overcome in more distant ports by the enterprise and energy of American merchants.

Beirût is annually increasing in commercial importance, and deserves attention on account of the door which it opens to the interior by means of the Damascus carriage road which is now in successful operation. The cultivation of cotton is gaining ground in Syria. France exported from Beirût, in 1862, 424,000 francs of cotton more than in 1861; but before Syria can take a high position as a producer of cotton additional encouragement must be given to the natives, and foreigners must be allowed to acquire a title to land.

Annexed hereto please find extracts taken from the reports of the United States consular agents at Tripoli, Latakiah, Messéne, Aleppo, Alexandretta, Sidon, Tyre, Acre, and Caipha, Damascus, and Aintab, also tabular statements of the imports, exports, navigation, freight, assurance, and currency of Beirût, together with an average price current for the year 1862.

American capital in Syria is principally invested in mission establishments, such as churches, printing presses, and schools. Machinery for the weighing and pressing of wool has been placed here to advantage by a Boston firm which deals in Syrian wool. In proportion as encouragement shall be given to agriculture, American agricultural implements may find a market, especially such as pertain to the cultivation of cotton.

Statement showing the description and value of the imports at Beirut and the names of the countries whence shipped during the year ended December 31,

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NOTE. It is impossible to obtain information with regard to other than the above coun. tries, which are, however, the most important. The elements of these tables have been furnished by the manifests of vessels deposited in the respective consulates. The Turkish custom-house furnishes no information. The goods have been valued at the price current of the place, consequently after the payment of the custom-house duties.

308,000

805,000

1,390,000

750,000

216,000

736,000

1,398,000

162,000

272,000 1,226,000

1,847,000

5,730,000

8, 156, 000

Statement showing the description, value, and countries of destination of the exports from Beirut during the year ended December 31, 1862.

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Statement showing the number, tonnage, and the countries of origin and destination of vessels of all nationalities entered and cleared from Beirat during the year ended December 31, 1862.

Entries by nationalities.

Departures by nationalities.

Total of entries.

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No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Tonnage. No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Ton'age. No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage.

Total entries.

Country of production

and destination.

French. English. Austrian.

Russian.

French.

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REMARKS.

From the two tables of navigation it results that England has had, in 1862, at Beirût, 80 vessels to enter and depart; of the entries, 47 had cargoes and 32 in ballast; of the departures, 6 had cargoes, 28 departed with a portion of their original cargoes, and 46 departed in ballast. Of the 110 French vessels, 63 were steamers and 47 sailing vessels entering; all had cargoes, but 10 sailing vessels, measuring 1,773 tons, arrived empty; in departing, there were 30 sailing vessels in ballast, in all about 6,000 tons. Austrian vessels: entries, 61 with cargoes, 1 empty; departures, 55 with cargoes, 7 empty. Russian vessels have in general but a portion of their cargo both in entry and departure.

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Statement showing the rates of freight and marine assurances at Beirût during the year ended December 31, 1862.

FREIGHT.

American sailing vessels: 50 cents per cubic foot, (war price;) from 20 to 30 cents, (peace.)

European steamers: 1st class, (rich merchandise, silk, cochineal, &c., &c.,) 40 francs the 100 kilogrammes; 2d class, (cotton in bales, leather, pressed wool, tobacco, fruits, &c., &c.,) 20 francs the 100 kilogrammes; 3d class, (grains, madder roots, metals, (crude,) sugar, &c., &c.,) 10 francs the 100 kilogrammes; 4th class, (merchandise of encumbrance,) 60 francs the cubic metre.

Sailing vessels: freight of a vessel of 150 tons for the Mediterranean, for importation, 4,000 francs; for exportation, 8, 000 francs.

ASSURANCES.

European steamers: per cent. for the summer, and
Sailing vessels:

toper cent.

per cent. for winter.

American sailing vessels, (1863) common, per cent.; war risk, 3 per cent. Statement showing the description, value, and country of production of the imports at Tripoli (Syria) during the year ended December 31, 1862.

Countries of production.

Grain. Rice. Soda. Wood. Sugar. Iron. Hides.

Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs. Francs.

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60,000 6,000

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Total value in francs..

250,000 3,000 87,000 60,000 6,000 4,000

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Statement showing the description, value, &c.-Continued.

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Statement showing the description, value, and country of destination of the exports from Tripoli (Syria) during the year ended December 31, 1862.

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Statement showing the number and tonnage of vessels of all nations entered and cleared at the port of Tripoli during the year ended December 31,

1862.

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