COMMERCE. In 1900 Costa Rica owned three small merchant steamers and two sailing ves sels. The two main ports are visited regularly by eight lines of steamers—Ameriean, Chilean. and European. The annual value of the commerce exceeds $12,400.000. the exports only slightly exceeding the imports. The exports for 1900 (not including gold coin) amounted to $6.000, 000, of which coffee contributed $3,800,187: bananas, $1.354.385; woods, $382,000; gold and silver in bars, over $240,000; and bides, rubber, skins, etc., the remainder. The fur the same year amounted to about $6.000,000, and were distributed largely between the United States, England. Germany, and France, in the order named. The imports from the United States show an increase from about 33 per cent. in 1896 to over 46 per cent. in 1900. The imports of the other three countries show a decrease during the same period. The chief ports are Punta Arenas on the Pacific, and Port 1.11111111 on the Atlantic, whose combined shipping exceeded, in 1900, 700.000 tons. The annual imports of
merchandise from the United States into Costa Rica for the period of 1891-1900 averaged $1, 246,000; the exports from Costa Rica to the United States during the same period averaged $2,907,960. The United States takes almost the entire crop of bananas and a considerable por tion of the coffee. in 1901 the import duties were increased 50 per cent., while the export duties on coffee and the import duties on ma chinery were abolished. Considering the area and population of the country, C4.sta Rica com pares favorably in its economic condition with most of the Central and South American coun tries. The comparative freedom from political disturbances and the favorable climatic condi tions have attracted foreign capital and immi gration, factors which have figured prominently in the development of the country.