The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13
Our Com m ercs with Aussralia.

The growing commercial importance Of
ciated in the United States In extent these
splendid possessions Of the British Crown,
now rapidly tending toward ON independent
existence, embrace an area Of 3,114.479
square miles, or but little less than the
total area of the United States, which is
8, COS, 1874 square miles, including Alaska.
With m estimated population in 1875 of
but 2,278,614, their foreign commerce for
that year amounted to s458, 800, 2O5, or more
than one-third the value of the foreign COM
MERGE Of the United States. During the
five years ended with 1875 the average value
of England's trade with Australia was
1924, 135, 573 per annum
These figures appear astonishing, but
they are not less so than is the relative in
significance of the trade we have as yet
secured with that rising Pacific Empire, less
distant and more accessible to us than it is
to England, and in the face of trade posi-
bilities such as we have thus indicated it is
mortifying to state that the total commerce
Of the United States with Australia for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1877, amounted to
but 81, 361, 7O5, and that for the five pre-
ceding years tho average was only
Sc, 479, 98S per annum.
The elaborate tables, complied from
official data, which we publish in our
columns to-day, showing our commerce
with Australia since its commence
ment in 1852, and England's commerce
with those colonies for the ten years ending
with 1875, should call the attention Of our
manufacturers and business men to the
opening that exists in that direction for q
practical and substantial increase of our
trade relations, and especially of our export
trade.
Prior to 1852 commerce between the
United States and Australia scarcely ex-
listed. In that year it amounted to but
sos, 900. The following year it suddenly
increased to 81, 2S7, 900, and from that time
forward hos been maintained ut rate that
gives On average for the twenty-five years
ended Juno 80, 1876, of 81, SOL, 403 per an
mum. For the last ten years of that period
the average was So, 400, 439, and for the last
five years it was, MS we have already stated,
Sc, 479, 998 per annum.
While these figures show steady in
crease they arc utterly unsatisfactory when
compared with the magnitude Of the lucra-
tive commerce England has with Australia,
and which is now largely transacted by
means Of correspondence carried across our
territory rs the shortest route to reach her
distant Pacific colonies. During the five
years ending with 1876 her commerce with
Australia has averaged sos SO per capita per
annum Of the population of those colonies,
while our commerce with them for the Same
period has amounted to IN average Of but
50 "a per capita per annum. England's ex-
ports thither have been s42 rs per capita,
while ours have been but 81 CT per capita !;
and her imports, $50 10 per capita, whilc
ours have been but 81 20 per capita.
With people similar in their habits and
wants to our own, who are now sustaining
and requiring 50 large foreign commerce,
and with relation to whom we occupy a
more favorable position. as to practicability
Of access than England does, 1t is evident