The New York herald., 1879-11-30
making saving to the government in duties of fully

Large quantities of opium prepared for moking
are brought into the United States. and this article
oeng of small bulk and great value is easily SNUG
ged A similar article is manufactured in the
United States from the crude opium and in endeav-
ing 20 ascertain whether in given case the article
has been smuggled it has been found difficult 10 de-
termine whether 1T is of domestic or foreign manu-
facture The imported article now pays duty
of So per pound. 1t is one that will bear a high
rate or taxation. and it is recommended that an
internal tax upon opium prepared IN the United
States Tor smoking OF an amount equal to duty upon
the imported article, to DO paid by stamps, be
adopted This would yield a considerable revenue
without repressing any enterprise which should
ceve encouraeement at the hands of Congress. IL
is also recommended that provisions be made for
aflixng customs stamps to packages of imported
opium prepared for smoking in the manner now
required in the of imported cigars and that
opium prepared for smoking imported into the
United states or ured in the United States
found without proper stamps be made liable to
The total tonnage Of vessels OF the United states
Shown oy the records OF the Registers Bureau at
the close of the fiscal year ended June &c. 1879
sented III vessels registered for the foreign trade
and 2g7s057 tons represented ~ 494 vessels enrolled
and licensed aud engaged in the coasting domes-
tic trade There has been increase Of "a $50 tons
employed i'll domestic trade, and decrease of
1884 tons employed in the foreign trade by sea- Az
compared with the tonnage of last year. The
sells built during the year are classed as follows:
Namter TONNAGE.
$40 vessels. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 46S 66.S67
Steam vessels. 335 S6.36l
Canal boats enrolled. ............. SO 4.069
Barges. 293 3o,'33
Totals. ................. 1.lS2 195sU30
The vessels built in 1878 comprised 1885, tons.
being slightly in excess of the number built during
the past year. The total tonnage of vessels en-
tered at the seaboard ports from foreign
endei june 80, 1878. and 1s.76s.l37 tons
during the last fiscal year. showing
increase of $40 tons. or about l9 per cent The
American tonnage entered exhibited an increase OF
only 4o306 tons, or per cent while the foreign
showed increase of .so4 TONS nearly 26 per
cent. The tonnage in these cases is computed on
the basis OF the number OF entries of vessels and
not on the number of vessels. and is restricted to
merchandise brought in at soaboard. lake
and river ports during the last fiscal year.
ported in American aaue vessels and $50 Msls
IN foreign. or the exports a value OF
slss..aS.sss was shipped In American and
ports and exports 23 per cent only OF the value
was conveyed in American vessels. In 1857 over "a
was carried in vessels of the United States present
but % per cent stated. is carried in such vessels
value OF nearly 900 to nearly 81 900 O0O
II IL neither to the advantage nor the honor Of tho
carrying trade has passed to other nations.
IMPoRTs AND EXPORTS.
The exports and imports of the United States
during the last fiscal year are as follows:-
Exports OF domestic merchandise :. S698 $40 ZOO
Exports Of foreign merchandise. ........ I2O0s74I
Imports OF mere handise. 445777,775
Excess of exports over imports . s264 66I 668
Compared with the previous year the Imports are
greater by ss7262s and the exports by $l557ss75.
june 80. 1873. is sIo4. 7os.s .s22. but aurns
ports over imports. as foiowsDfn 1876 4si:
in 1871 in 1872 .666, The total
gold value Of exports Of domestic merchandise
from the United States has increased from
$275 .697 in 1879 to s69s s340,79O in 1879 in
crease of l54 per cent. With one or two unimpor-
tant exceptions the United States stands alone
among the commercial nations in having an excess
of exports over imports of merchandise. The in.
mainly from breadstuffs, preserved meats.
copper. live animals, agricultural implements.
fura and & fur skins distilled spirits and refined
in the quantity exported. but decrease In value
owing to their prices. The articles which show the
wheat -four. OATS corn. rye. copper. cotton petro-
lsum and other oils. provisions exceptng beef and
molasses taiIow and leaf tobacco The value Of the
exports Of breadstus from the United States during
the last hscal year amounted to S2i0SS6. .o2s. and
exports of domestic merchandise. The value OF
brsadstutfs exported during the year 1876 amounted
The almost unlimited capacity OF the Western and
Northwestern States for the production OF cereals in
connec ton with the facilities for cheap
ton. has brought them Into sharp competition with
the older States and with foreign countries. Many
products OF American manufacture previously sx.
ported In small quantities, not at all, now find
profitable markets In foreign countries and some Of
these products are now exported to countries
largely imported into the United States. The
importation OF merchandise into the United
fiscal year ended June go ls7s It eil to s4s7 51 52s
in 1873. and increased to 1879. in
of r oers Is
road bars declined from 531 537 tons in 1872 to 26l
tons in 1872 The production OF railroad bars in the
United States during the year 1873 amounted to
1885, 112 tons. The total amount OF exports and inn
ports Of coin and bullion during the last fiscal year
Exports of coin and bullion. . s2a 997 al