Coma Cattily is not cultivated in Costa Rica, and there are establishments for its manufacture, and as there is practically no hand-manufacture in the country all cotton wares consumed are imported. Of the piece goods imported, the United States monopolizes the trade in graygoods to almost as great an extent as England does in the sale of white goods. The English also .have the largest share of the colored goods trade, while the United States has the largest proportion in the sale of prints. In 1913 cotton goods to the value of $828,948 were imported, of which $355,042 worth came from Great Britain, $243, 802 from the United States, $124,699 from Ger many and $105,405 from other countries. The cotton imports in 1915 totaled $460,699, and of this $129,848 came from Great Britain, $266,333 from the United States and $70,518 from other countries. The imports of cotton goods from the United States in 1916 were valued at $623, 699, an increase over 1915 of about 135 per cent.
No cotton is produced or manu factured in Panama, and there is no hand-loom work except possibly on a small scale among the southern Indian tribes. The share of the United States in the trade of Panama has steadily increased since the foundation of the republic until now it buys nearly all that Pan ama has to sell, and supplies about 73 per cent of her requirements from other countries. Notwithstanding the favorable position held by the United States in the general trade of the republic, for some time prior to 1914 England controlled more than half of the cotton goods trade, the share of the United States being about one-third, the remainder falling mainly to Germany. But a comparison of the imports in 1914 and 1915 shows that the United States gained at the expense of European countries, on account of the war then raging, in nearly all classes of goods imported, Spain being the only European country that increased its ex ports in 1915. In 1915 the imports from the United States amounted in value to $913,391, and in 1916 there was an increase to $1,396,880, or 53 per cent. The main imports from the United States consist of bleached, unbleached and colored cloths, knit goods, clothing and other wearing apparel,. other miscellaneous wares and a small quantity of yarn.
Cuba's imports of cotton goods in the order of value are cloth, knit goods, lace, ready-made clothing and thread. Of the cloths imported the largest takings are white goods, prints, colored goods and gray goods. Prior to the World War, Great Britain supplied more than half the cloths classed as close-woven, followed by Spain, the United States, France and Switzerland. Of loose-woven cloths Great Britain also . supplied over half, followed by the United States, Spain and France. The bulk of the knit goods came from France, Ger many and Spain, with only a small amount" from the United States, laces from Great Britain, with smaller amounts from Germany, France and Spain. Of the wearing apparel im ported the United States furnished nearly half, with lesser amounts from France, Austria and Germany. Cotton velvets were imported from Spain and Great Britain, tulle from the latter country and. France, piqué from. Great Britain,
and passementerte from Germany, the United States and France.
Prior to 1900 the exports of cotton goods from the United States to Cuba were a very small proportion of that country's require ments, being a little less than 7 per cent of the total, but beginning with the independence of the island the proportionate share of the United States increased materially, and in 1915 reached per cent of the total. The cotton goods trade of Cuba ever since 1900 has been undergoing a marked change. The value of cotton goods sent to Cuba from the United States increased from $4,325,000 in 1915 to $7,742,000 in 1916, being a gain of $3,417,000, or 79 per cent in a single year, mainly due to the war.
Haiti.— A very superior quality of cotton is grown in Haiti, but the crop is small and the quantity uncertain, owing to continuous revo lutions and the unsettled condition of labor. In 1914 the exports of raw cotton amounted to 3,121,839 pounds, and in 1917 to 8,381,786 pounds, nearly all of which was shipped to Liverpool. There are no cotton manufactures, all the cotton wares used being imported. There are no statistics relating to the cotton goods imported from the various countries, but as the United States is now controlling about 90 per cent of the import trade, it may be assumed that most of the cotton goods used are obtained from this country.
In spite of revolutions the cotton-goods trade with Haiti shows a gratifying increase in recent years, the total value of such goods ex ported to that rtublic in 1916 being $2,275,749, compared with 70,452 in 1915; $1,706,208, in 1914; and $742,978, in 1908.
Dominican Republic.— The cotton-growing district of this republic is in the northern half of the island, principally the provinces of Monte Christi, Santiago and Puerto Plata, and some little planting in the provinces of Espaillat and La Vega. The province of Pacificador also contains much good cotton land. The cotton grown is of the sea-island variety and com mands a high price. The cultivation of cotton for export was begun in 1908, and for a time enjoyed considerable prosperity though the production was small. The largest yield was in 1912, but since then the crops have gradually lessened, and in 1914 only 368,439 pounds were exported, and 297,471 pounds in 1915. The cotton wares used in the republic are all im ported, as there are no hand-looms or mills for making such goods. The total value of cotton goods imported in 1913 amounted to $1,880,211; in 1914, to $1,232,725; and in 1915, to $1,869,849. The values of the cotton goods imported from each country in 1915 were as follows: United States, $1,377,222; Great Britain, $390,192; Porto. Rico, $62,716; Germany, $19,875; Spain, $15,517•France, $4,327. It will thus he seen that the United States controls the bulk of the cotton trade, its share being nearly 74 per cent of the total, while that of Great Britain is 20 per cent, the remaining 6 per cent being divided between Porto Rico, Germany, Spain and France. Cotton exports of 1917 were valued at $32,164.