The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-05-01
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.


FRANK LEsLIEs Illustrated Net0s.
paper for the coming week contains an
article with the above heading in which
is given the yearly statistics OF our for
eign trade showing the "balaRce oftrade
for the years lS72-73-74. By this it is
shown that in 1872 our imports from
abroad exceeded our exports by the sum
of SlS7, l2G, 75l, an excess which is greater
than ha, ever happened in the CONNER
cial history of America. In 1878 the
excess ofimports was reduced to ST.
49O,lSl, and in 1874 there was
an excess of exports amounting to
$3.50, G46, and this is estimated to be
nearly two hundred million Of dollars
more favorable TO US than it was in 1872.
The result is attributed to our hard times,
which have worked out to that extent, to
our advantage. Regarding the imports
in detail. it is stated that the total value
of the merchandise imported was 5000
gG4.699 in 1872, $59524S,04S in 1873
and 1862, ll5, 9O7 in 1874, de-
crease aggregating nearly one hum
drct million dollars when compared
with 1872. How much of this was caused
by actual poverty and how much by
economy and prudence is shown rs fol-
lows: The importation Of tea, coffee
and sugar would show decrease
if we were really in state of poverty
but such is not the case; the importation
Of these necessities being u decided IN
crease. Hence it is agreed, that since
the decrease has not been in necessities,
but rather in Injuries it has been caused
by economy and retrenchment. 4 good
sign indeed, and another benefit from the
panic. The imports of cottons dry
goods, silks and linens were $liL992,-
743 in 1872; $l26, DO, 1876 IN 1873, and
only $lO5.234,6ll in 1874, rapid de-
crease. Also in the article of manufac-
tured steel and iron, it is shown that the
difference of importatiOns between 1877
and 1874. was $37, l29,69$ and it is
thought that in the course of a few years
50 far from importing any such articles,
We NAV be able to export iron and steel
to Europe.
1t is further shown that the aggregate
gold value of the exports OF merchandise,
including foreign goods rc.cxported, has
increased from total of $i6S, S37 ,94l IN
1872. to 500, 757, SCI in 1873, and 1868,
s72.553 in 1874. This increase is main
~ due 90 the exports of bread
stutfs and provisions. The currency
value of the exports of these articles was
sl5l,GOl, O76 mlS72; $2lO,5S4, 9si in 1873;
SOL. 56l, 4lG in 1874. Only "A few years
ago the value OF our exports OF cotton
used 10 be more lHdH IiI"' VI al N"' ''"N'
exports combined; but last year it fell be-
low that of the breadstufs and proyis'
ions. The total currency value of the
cotton exported WAS Sl91656,SOG III
1872; SOL. 73S,7 4G in 1878, and $2l5,.
572 1870 in 1874. Cotton therefore is no
longer king IN our foreign commerce
The reason for the present
decline in cotton expectations
however, is very palpable. Dur
ing the war, when the supply from
this country was cut off, attention to the
cultivation of this staple was extensively
aroused in India, Egypt and other locali-
ties. and this rendered Europe somewhat
independent of us. Blu. as 1t is sener-
any acknowledged that American cotton
j.. superior TO any other grown, in course
of time, the South will, probably, resume
its supremacy.
We have given these statistics quite
freely. n. they will be matters Of interest
10 every citizen. The certainly look en-
couraring for the future Of America, II
nothing occurs to disturb the advance OF
prosperity.