REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE SECTION OF FOREIGN MARKETS. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Division of Foreign Markets, 

 n^ashingtou, D. C, September 1, 1902. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Section 

 of Foreign Markets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. 

 Respectfully, 



Frank H. Hitchcock, 



Chief. 

 Hon. James W^ilson, Secretary. 



WORK OF THE YEAR. 



During the past year the office force of the Section of Foreign Mar- 

 kets, although somewhat larger than in the year preceding, was taxed 

 to its utmost to meet the various demands for information regarding 

 our agricultural export trade. The correspondence of the office was 

 greater than ever before, indicating a more general appreciation of 

 tlie importance of wider foreign markets in which to sell the surplus 

 produce of American farms. 



trade relations with CUBA. 



As a result of the active discussion that occurred during the last 

 session of Congress in reference to a plan for commercial reciprocity 

 with Cuba, the office received many requests for information relative 

 to our commerce with that island and particularly regarding importa- 

 tions of Cuban sugar. Considerable time was accordingly devoted to 

 a study of the sugar imj)ort trade, special attention being given to 

 the matter of price and to the several factors affecting price, includ- 

 ing the costs incident to transportation. Much statistical information 

 was compiled in response to inquiries on this subject. 



Some of the sugar-trade statistics prepared by the office were pub- 

 lished in the last report « of t' e Department's special agent having 

 charge of investigations regarding the beet-sugar industrj^ of the 

 United States. 



At the request of the Senate Committee on Relations with Cuba the 

 chief of the Section appeared before that committee as a witness on 

 the subject of our import trade in sugar. 



the BRITISH MARKET. 



During the year a further special inquiry was begun as regards the 

 condition of our agricultural export trade with the United Kingdom, 

 where we find our princijial foreign market. The increasing competi- 

 tion we are obliged to meet in that market, j)articularly on the part 

 of some of the British colonial dependencies, makes it important to 



"Report No. 72. •'Progress of the beet-sugar indtistrv in the United States in 

 1901, ■• by Charles F. Saylor. 



377 



