COMMERCE. Since the change in the control of the island, the United States has become the chief source of supplies and largest market for native products.' The tfade with over-sea lands. par ticularly with the United States, is steadily im proving. The imports from the United States in the fiscal year ending July, 1902, were $10,719, 444; the imports from foreign lands were 004; total imports, $13,148.448. Flour and bread stuffs from the United States were bought to the amount of $1,090,079; rice, to the amount of $1,803M65; cotton cloths, $2,060.826; pro visions, $1,336,646; wood matunfactures, $560, 081; fish, $300,703; leather goods, $234,331; vegetables, $231.450; mineral oils, $144,512; paper goods, $110,222; chemicals and drugs, $135.896; and malt liquors, $118,450. The chief imports from foreign countries were codfish from Newfoundland and Canada. $424,953; preserved meats, $158,046; soap, $133,962; besides olive oil, machinery, rice, vegetables, wine, and sawed lumber. The exports to the United States were $8.297,420; and to foreign countries, $4,592,505; total exports, $12,889,925. The chief sales to
the iTnited States were: Sugar, $5,890•087; cigars and cigarettes, $L570,938; molasses, $322,636; straw hats. $204,555; hides and skins, $67,888; oranges, $51,364; and coffee, $29,188. The principal exports to foreign countries were Coffee, $3,168,664; cattle, $418,268; molasses, $256,461; and hides and skins. $13,656. The larger part of the foreign trade is with Spain.
The United States Congress provided in the act creating civil government, approved April 12th, 1000, that when the Legislative Assembly should raise sufficient funds by local taxation to pay the expenses of the government, all tariffs on merchandise passing between the island and the United States should cease. The revenue act passed at the first session of the Legislative Assembly was so successful in operation that the revenues for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1901, surpassed the expenses of government ; and on July 25th of that year President pro claimed free trade between the United States and Porto Pico.