The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09

The results OF our last years trading with
other countries showed marked turning
of tho tide aud were not at all fatteripg to
our national pride. The balance Of trade
was still in our favor, but we had sold
twenty.six millions less than We had
bought. Ten years ago even this balance
would have been matter ofsincere con-
graduation.
From 1860 to 1870 there was but one
year, and that war year Of 1852, in which
we sold more than We bought. The
balance in our favor was comparatively
slight, S., 1913, 1924, but it showed change Of
seyenty.one millions as compared with the
previous year. In the next year, however,
we bought from foreign countries over thirty
nine millions more than we sold to them
and this adverse balance, FIVE times exceed
lag hundred millions, never lower than
iorty.three millions, reached hundred and
eishty.two millions in 1872.
The panic Of 1873 told on the fiscal year
1874. Compelled to prudence and economy
we bought seventy.6ye millions less than
for the previous year. We sold about
filty.three millions more, and for the first
time in decade the balance Of trade was
in our favor, nearly nineteen millions.
The next year the tide turned again, and
the balance against US was nineteen mil
lions and half. Since then we have an
nually sold more than we bought-in 1878,
1879 and 1881 over two hundred and fifty
millions since 1873 the magnificent total
OF twelve hundred millions.
But the balance in 1882 as compared
with that OF 1881 showed falling of OF
more than two hundred millions. We had
been free buyers Of foreign products, par
icularly Of those which come under the
head Of luxuries, and in consequence OF
the unfayorable crop season OF 1881 had
less Of breadstufrs and provisions to dis
pose OF. rhe falling off in our exports,
that is to say. foreign rates, was hundred
and fifty millions. Hence the smallest
balance in our favor for any year in the
past seven.
The crop season Of 1882, the effect Of
which would be noticeable in the fiscal
year 1888, shows, according to the agricul-
tural department reports and other estl-
mates, considerable increase in produe'
ton. The increase Of cotton, in bales, is
1,244,952, 90 s per cent; OF wheat, in BUSH
els, l22, 500,5l0, 1922 per cent; oil corn, in
bushels, 10000 800, SO per cent. Products
OF agriculture form so per cent OF our ex-
ports. Aspecial treasury report, prepared
by the accomplished chief OF the Bureau
Of Statistics, just published, justifes the
hopeful view we have taken Of 1888.
For the six months ending De-
cember l, 1882, we sold abroad
$54,572, 229 more than we bought As COM
pared with the same period OF 1881 there
Is a considerable increase in cotton exports,
smaller increase in breadstufis, and a
slight falling off in provisions. But the
general increase Of the past six months
came in the months Of October, November
and December, showing for that period an
excess Of exports over imports OF nearly
seventy millions, while for the correspond
ing period Of the previous year about half
that sum was on the other side Of the
account. u...
The outlook, with respect to home and
foreign conditions, the supply and demand,
is favorable to large balance Of trade in
our favor at the end Of this fiscal year
how large it is impossible to predict, but
unless some serious reverse comes upon
us 1t ought not to be less than hundred
and fifty millions-fve times the balance
OF last year.