Connecticut western news., 1884-11-12
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE.
Facts and Figures that Bewilder the
 Mind.

The figures representing values and quantities employed by Mir. Joseph Nimmo, Jr., Chief of the Bureau of Statis- tics, in his report for 1884, on the for eign commerce of the United States, are almost bewildering from their magni- tude, and even to minds familiar with such subjects, those which represent the nations growth are astonishing. The value of the imports and exports com bined for the year ending June 30, 1884, was $1, 40S, ,211, ,302. Our commerce with the countries of Europe was $954.- 752, ,o63 or 67.SO per cent; with the colonies of North America, Mexico, Gen. tral America, and West Indies it was S22s. .5S9, ,551, or 1928 per cent; with South America, Sl06, 9S0, S94, or 2 50 per cent; with Asia and Oceanica, S96, 166,- 320, or 6.83 per cent; with Africa and colonies, S6, 669, ,Sl6, or AT per cent; with all other countries. s15, ,105, ,65S, or 1.07 per cent.
 The six principal ports stood, with reference to imports of merchandise, as follows: First. New York, 66.14 per cent; second, Boston, 9.37 per cent !; third, San Francisco, 632 per cent {; fourth, Philadelphia. AT per cent 1; fifth, Baltimore, 1.62 per cent; and sixth, New Orleans, 1.56 per cent
 With respect to value of exports of do- mestic merchandise the first six ports stood in the order of magnitude as fol- lows: First, New York, 46. S3 per cent. {; second, New Orleans, 10.53 per cent. ; third, Boston, S.07 per cent; fourth, Baltimore, 5.56 per cent; fifth, San Francisco, 5.51 per cent; and sixth, Philadelphia, TO per cent.
 In 1884 the value of dutiable merchan- disc entered for consumption was S667,- 575, ,3S9, against S7OO, s29, ,673 the preced- ing year. The total amount of duties was S190, ,2S3, s36, against s210, ,637, 293 the previous year.
 The number of immigrants arrived in the United States during the year was 518. 592, against sos, 1922 the previous year, to wit: From Great Britain and Ireland, 129, ,294; from Germany, 179,- 676; from all other countries of Europe, 143, ,236; from British North American provinces, 60,5s4. The immigration from China fell from 8,03l in 1883 to 270 in 1884. The percentage of female immigrants was: From Ireland, 49. 2; from England, SS2; from Scotland, 375; from Austria, 42.3; from Denmark, 37; from France, 343; from Germany, 40.6; from Italy, 192; from the Neither lands, 40.2; from Norway, SIT; from Sweden, 37; from Russia, 37.3; from British North American provinces, 3S. and from Asia, only Is.
 The total tonnage of vessels entered at seaports of the United States fell from 13,360, S57 tons during the year ending June 30, 1883, to JOSS. .6I3 tons during the year ending June 30, 1884 The percentage of American tonnage entered fell from Fl. 56 in 1856 to 23.34 in 1884, and the percentage of foreign tonnage entered increased from 28. 4 in 1856 to 76.66 in 1884.
 The percentage of imports and exports of merchandise carried in American ves- sels is now less even than the percentage of the tonnage of American vessels entered at seaports of the United States. The percentage of total imports and ex- ports carried in American vessels fell from 75.2 per cent. in 1856 to 27.7 per cent in 1865. Since the year 1865 the proportion of imports and exports in American vessels huctuated much, but during the year ending June 30, 1884, it was only 17.5 per cent.
 The figures and statements relating to our internal commerce are most im- pressive. In 1850 the number of acres of improved land in farms was l13, ,O32,- 614, against 2S4. I'll, ,O49 in 1883. In 1850 the number of miles of railroad in operation was 9,021, against 12I, 592 in 1883. The number of tons of coal pro- duced in 1850 was 1858. 899, against 96, GOO, 900 in 1883. In 1850 the value of products of merchandise was s1, ,Ol9, 1O6, 616, against S5, S69, ,579, ,19l in 1883.