The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-06-07
What We Buy Abroad.


imported foreign goods to a greater value
than during any previous year The inn
porss for the year amounted TO the large
figures of s6T7, l44,579 in gold--oyer
eighty-seven millions more than during
1871. OF this immense Importation about
one-fifth came in as free goods, being
chiefly the raw materials of foreign pro-
duetion, entering into American manufac-
lures The other four-ffths paid duties,
and these duties were the chief source Of
revenue of the Treasury during the year,
OF the aggregate impOrtations only sixteen
millions came into the country overland
from Canada and Mexico.
1t is instructive as well as interesting in
examining the details of this enormous
importation to find how largely foreign
countries contribute to our stores of goods,
and what diversified articles they send us.
The greater portion of the import trade,
however, is usually made up of few elias
ses of staple articles, and more than one
half of the imported values for 1872
some 800 millions Of dollars--was composed
of sugar and molasses, coffee, cotton, WOOL
len and silk goods, and of iron and steel
manufactures thereof The heaviest i'm.
pOrtation was Of sugar and molasscs and
their manufactures. The value of these
articles was over ninety millions of dollars,
this being nearly one-seventh of the entire
trade. The second was wool and woollens,
of which we imported nearly eighty-two
millions. Iron and steel were third in the
list, England and Germany sending us
nearly sixty-two millions. The fourth
article was coffee, of which we got forty
two millions the fifth cotton goods thirty
six millions, and the sixth silk goods,
thirty-fve and half millions. These six
classes of articles made up more than one
half he import trade of last year.
There are several other articles of which
We also receive large amounts from abroad.
Thus of tea during 1872, We imported over
twenty-four and half millions of hides
and leather, twenty eight millions Of fax
and linen goods, nearly twenty-three mil
lions, and of gold and silver, over twenty
one millions. Nearly eleven millions of
chemicals also came in, exclusive of a large
amount of acids, salts and similar goods
that are separately classified OF foreign
fruits we consumed ten and a half millions
of dollars worth; of tin, over seventeen
millions, and of foreign woods and furni-
ture, eleven millions There were nine
million dollars worth of foreign wines i'm
ported, aud little more than that amount
Of Cuban tobacco and cigars, We get
nearly ten millions worth of breadstuffs.
OF foreign crockery, nearly six millions
came in, and nearly seven millions of for
eign glass. We also took seven millions
of India rubber, whilst the growth of our
silk factories is attested by an importation
of nearly seven million dollars worth of
"raw silk"
Some smaller items are also of interest.
We imported more than a million aud a
quarter dollars worth of foreign jewelry,
million and half of precious stones, and
three and half millions of watches and
watch materials. Over two millions of
spices came in, and nearly four millions of
fiaxseed. That we are at peace Except
with the Modocs, isattested by saltpetre
importation of but 1884 900. Salt came
in to the value of a million and half.
Maine and New jersey, it seems, cannot
grow enough potatoes for us, for we i'm
ported l3S,000 bushels; and the Ameri-
can hen will probably demand more opro-
lection" when she learns that last year
over five million dozen eggs came from
abroad. A half million pounds of bristles
from foreign countries show that the
American hog will have to look after the
safety of his hide. There is also food for
speculation in the inquiry as to what was
done with 81 900 tons of imported brim-
stone, and that rags are of value is attested
by an importation Of nearly liz millions
of pounds Nearly million dollars worth
of "human hair" was imported, and this
was accompanied by half million dollars
worth Of perfumery to dress up the natural
article. Coffee drinkers, who prefer the
pure article, will regret to learn that four
million pounds of chicory figure in the list
Of importations. That buttons are numer-
Gus as well as useful, is attested by an
importation of over two and half millions
of dollars worth. A million dollars worth
OF sardines and nearly third of million
OF salad oil came in. We also took a mil |
lions worth of foreign musical instruments |
Somebody bought and others doubtless
drank over two million gallons of English
ale and German beer, three times the
quantity Of the previous year Indigo to
the extent of ,l67, 900 pounds came in
for the washtub and other purposes, whilst
that plaster of Paris is used for something
more than casting images is attested by an |
importation of $4,000 tons. OF wines
in bottles there were no less than 7,O46.-
976 brought in last year, at an average
gold valuation without duty of about
ffty-six cents bottle, which is an inter.
esting fact for wine consumers to know,
considering that it costs them from two
dollars to four dollars'a bottle l-Philddel.
DhiG Je,l1er