In the beginning, the growth was slow, and what growth there was, was due to the increasing American civil population. The few American houses were young and struggling with inexperience and lack of capital. The older foreign houses, with their branches in the provincial centers and established clientele, had a very strong hold on import trade. [Effect of Free Trade] In 1909 a tariff law providing for reciprocal free trade between the United States and the Islands was passed, with a few limitations which were removed in 1913. Immediately following the passage of this law American goods sprang to the fore and trade increased threefold from 1909 to 1912, $24,000,000 worth having been imported in that year. MEDIUMS OF TRADE.--Generally speaking, there are three methods by which goods coming from foreign countries are brought to consumers in the Archipelago. Some manufacturers establish branches throughout the Islands and sell only their particular line. For others having a smaller volume of trade various commission and indent houses stand ready to handle their goods together with other lines. Still other manufacturers having a large volume of business in the Islands transact business thru a branch or agent direct without any intermediary. TRADE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.--The following table shows the volume of trade between the Philippines and the other countries of the world for the years 1917 to 1922: Countries 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 Pesos Pesos Pesos Pesos Pesos Pesos