The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-07
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE..
Facts and Figures Concerning the Enormous
Trade of the United States.
Washington Special


are almost bewildering from their magnitude,
and even to minds familiar with such subjects
those which represent the Nations growth are
astonishing. The value of the imports and Elk
ports combined for the year ending June 30,
1884, was 81, 40S, 2l1, 302. Our commerce with
the countries of Europe was $254 1872 063, g. so
per cent; with the colonies of North America,
Mexico, Central America, and West Indies, it
was $23S, 528, DOL, or 16 % per cent; with South
America $l06 $50 1914, or l. 60 per cent; with
Asia and Oceanica 1885, l66 800, or G. SO per cent;
with Africa and colonies $G. 500, SIG, or Al per
cent; with all other countries, $l5, lO3 65S or
LOT per cent.
The six principal ports stood, with reference
to imports of merchandise, as follows First,
New York, 66 IA per cent? second, Boston 937
per cent; third, San Francisco, 6.32 per cent;
fourth, Philadelphia, A. n per cent; fifth, Balti-
more, l.62 per cent; and SIXTH New Orleans
l. So per cent.
With respect to value of exports of domestic
merchandise, the first six ports stood in the
order of magnitude as follows First, New
York, 4GS3 per cent; second, New Orleans
10. 80 per cent; third, Boston, s OF per cent /;
fourth, Baltimore, 5.56 per cent; fifth, San
Francisco, 55l per cent; and sixth, Philadel-
phia, d. 70 per cent
In 1854 the value of dutiable merchandise en-
tered for consumption 1861, SO, $50. against
500 829 673 Of the preceding year. The total
amount of duties was $3.50, 254, S36, against S2l0
637, 293 the previous year
The number of immigrants arrived in the
United States during the year 51S592
against COB 800 the previous year to wit: From
Great Britain and Ireland, 129 294 from Ger
many, 179. 676; from all other countries of Eu-
rope, 143 236; from British North American
provinces, G0,5S4. The immigration from China
fell from g. OBJ in 1883 to 270 in 1884 The per
centage of female immigrants From Ire
land, 497; from England, 30.2; from Scotland
81. 3; from Austria, AZ. 8, from Denmark 81;
from France 81 8; from Germany, 400; from
Italy 1872; from the Netherlands 4O.2; from
Norway, 81; from Sweden, 81; from Russia,
373; from British North American provinces,
1913, and from Asia, only 15.
The total tonnage of vessels entered at sea
ports of the United States fell from b. 800 S07
tons during the year ending June 30, 1883 to
12,O85 Glib tons during the year ending June 30,
1884 The percentage of American tonnage en-
tered fell from Il. 90 in 1856 to % "a in 1884 and
the percentage of foreign tonnage entered in
creased from 2S "A in 1856 to 76. 66 in 1884
The percentage of imports and exports of
merchandise carried in American vessels 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 exports carried in American vessels fell
from 1872 per cent in 1856 to 2L7 per cent in
1863. Since the year 1865 the proportion of i'm
ports and exports in American vessels fuetuated
much but during the year ending June 30 1884,
it was only us per cent
The figures and statements relating to our in
ternal commerce are most impressive In 1850
was ll3, OBJ GA, against 284 III, 049 in 1883 In
1850 the number of miles of railroad in operation
was e,021, against 12l, 592 in 1888 The number
of tons of coal produced in 1850 was 1855. 899,
against g6 000 600 in 1888 In 1850 the value Of
products of merchandise was $l,0l9, loo, GIG,
against So 1863 so 19l in 1888
The total number of miles of railroad in the
States of Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis
consln, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Min
nesota and Dakota was 1916 in 1850, %, TAT in
1870, and 55874 in 1888 From 90 to % per cent.
of grain received at the ports of Portland, Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore dur
ing the year 1888 was the product of our West
ern and Northwestern States and Territories 1t
is estimated also that about 80 per cent. of our
exports of beef 90 per cent. of our exports of
pork products and So per cent. of our exports of
live animals are the products of these States and
Territories. The value of the exports of bread
stuffs and provisions chiefly the surplus product
of our Western and Northwestern States which,
before stated amounted to 73, 664, 49, in 1856,
increased to 1920 526 4S3 in 1880, and the develop
ment Of internal commerce was very much
greater.
The tonnage transported on the New York
State canals fell from 442, 225 tons during the
year 1868 to 1864 056 tons in 1888, but the ton
mage transported on the New York Central and
Hudson river railroad increased from ], SAG, 500
tons in 1868 to 10 1872 40 tons in 1888 the ton
mage transported the New York, Lake Erie
aud Western railroad increased from 3, sos, 243
tons in 1868 to ID Gle, 623 tons in 1883; and the
tonnage transported on the Pennsylvania rail
road increased from 4, 722 OILS tons in 1868 to 81,
GA 100 tons in 1888 The total tonnage trans
ported by rail on these three roads increased
from TO- 476 S57 tons in 1868 to 46 III DOB tons in
1883. From trustworthy data it appears that
the total value of our industrial products for the
year ending June 30, 1883, amounted to at least
$40 600 600 000 that the value of the products of
industry in the United States is about u 6 times
the average annual value of our exports of
merchandise and about Il 6 times the average
annual value of our imports of merchandise
during the last five years, and nearly
seven times the average annual value Of
our entire foreign commerce, embracing both
imports and exports. The real value of the in
ternal commerce of the United States was
nearly seven times the value of the exports of
merchandise from Great Britain and ireland,
five times the value of the imports of merchan-
disc into Great Britain and ireland, and three
times the value Of the total foreign commerce
of Great Britain and Ireland. 1t was eleven
times the value of the exports of merchandise
from France, eight and sx-tenths times the value
of the imports of merchandise into France, and
five times the value of the total foreign com
merce of France. Compare the total value of
the products of the industries of the United
States with the value Of the exports of the coun-
tries named, and the case stands as follows:
Annual value of products of in
dustIy in the United States $40, 600 600 coo
Total value of the exports of mer-
chandise from Great Britain and
Ireland. France Germany Russia
in Europe Holland Austria
Hungary and Belgium 4,463, 7o3 329
From this it appears that the total value of tho
products of all industries in she United States
is more than twice the total value of the exports
Of merchandise of all kinds from the countries
of Europe just mentioned.
The total value of the foreign commerce of
Great Britain and Ireland with countries other
than the United States, was about one tenth of
the value of the industrial products OF the
United States
much-quoted English authority, the United
States is now the largest manufacturing country
on the globe, the value of its manufactured
products in 1880 being, as stated by him, about
$3.50 GOO, 900 in excess of the value of the prod
ucts of manufacture OF Great Britain during
that year Our census valuation of products of
rnnn1i iurn in 1850 WAS s. 1853 SO l9l OF this