Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-01
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.

The movement of grain to foreign countries
from the American ports continues limited
| Exporters are unable to obtain bids from tns
other side Of the ocean IL at approach the val
| uation at home, adding transportation ano
charges. Whilst the stocks of -four in the Uni
ted Kingdom are reported full, the shipments
from American ports nevertheless continue
large. Millers are finding very good outle'
| for their products, which Z eeps the price OF
grain steady and firm, and this demand comes
| from abroad as well as the disposition at home
| to amass large stocks at the coast shipping
centers.
American shipping interests begin to receive
more attention. and 1t is to be hoped tnat
Congress will enact laws to promote 1t by the
repeal OF those which prevent its growth. The
want of a merchant-marine has caused much
| of the depression which has existed in pro
ducing interests. The American shipping
league has been in session. The plan of pro-
lection to American ship-building by refus-
| ing to charter foreign-built vessels, has not
stimulated construction. and has effsctually
| broken down our progress as a maritime ma.
ton. The New York journal of Commerce
| takes issue with the procee 1ipgs of the League
ard the subsidy policy as follows:
s'It is needless because all that is healthfu ]
| f'r the restoration Of American commerce can
De cOmptished without n cot OF Singh
COLLAR OF the public funds. II the America
Congress want to see what their enter prlslng
| fellow countrvmen can do toward this hlgnis
iaudable end let them repeal the old navIgd-
lion law, which has so long prevente1 the
| purchase If cheap steamships In the markets
where alone they can be had. Subsidies ana
| bounties are devices with which we are unhap-
PLY too familiar, and which we dis Ike ano
distrust. Their operation in the past has been
unfortunate, and there Is no reason To nope
| any thug bet or from them hereafter. But he
Idea of free ships Is a new one, and deserves
! trial II only for its novelty. and also because
re experiment will cost nothing nd hurt no
hOdy, i failure should await 1t. there would
then re time enough IL consider more careful
ly II there is any plan yet unsnssested tnal
peas SO strongly to the pride OF every Ameri-
can citizsn."
The value of exports of merchandise from
the United States for the month Of December
1857 was SIS $50 963 and the imports s52, 100 $780,
For the year ended 8lst December. 1851. the
exports of merchandise amouoted to s745,S20.-
95s. against s7lS, 4O4 OIL for the year 1886.
Tue imports of mercha ndise for 1887 amount.
ed to s7OS sG7 sll ag ainst $685. 42s ls9. in 1885,
The largest exports of merchandise during
the last six years were in 1888, when they
reached SIS 2O9.sle.
The imports were larger in 1882 than any SUBJ
sequent year. am bunting to 81 62,S4S,507.
Our foreign trade In NJ srchandise was smaller
In 1885 than any year during the last six years
The exports were $685. i4S 1893, and the imports
S5s7 1868. 524.
The exports of merchandise from Richmond
in 1887. valued at "a S22, 374 against 81 eOO
1893 in 1898. From Norfolk the exports were In
1887 sl47l4 4O4 against sl5. 2O592O in 1885. From
York town, which includes Newport News. the
exports were in 1887, s9.552,756 against $685.
I76 in 1885.
The immigration to the United States In 1887
was 500 2sl against 1886. 6Sl In 1885, In 1887 there
were from Germany, 1775OS; France. I1l,2Ol
Russia, 25,742; sweden and Norway. $3.50;
Italy, 45 1911; England and Wales 50 084; Ireland,
70 $40; Scotland, 1880. and the remainder In
smaller numbers from several other countries.