The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-22
A YEARS TRADE.

The full account of the foreign trade of
the United States for the year 1890, now
given to the public by the Treasury Depart
ment, is q satisfactory exhibit. The total
trade amounted to 81. 669, ST., 912, to wit, I'M
ports footing up 1873, 390,201 and exports
footing up $685. III, exclusive OF re-eX-
ports of foreign merchandise. This was an
increase of about $50 600 600 over the move
ment of 1882 namely, $50, 100000 increase IN
imports and $780, 900 increase in exports
say a net increase of per cent for the whole.
The aggregate movement was the heaviest
on record. Yet it did not lead 10 any drain
upon the country for gold, nor was the pro-
portion of goods entered for warehouse
larger than usual
Over half the imp0rtations were articles
of food, such as tea, sugar and coffee, live
animals and raw materials. One-eighth con-
sisted of articles used in manufactures or in
the arts about one-fifth were manufactures
ready for consumption; and about one sixth
were luXuries or articles not strictly neceS-
Sarles, and claSSed as " of voluntary uSe."
This distribution shows the class of mer-
chandise for which we are dependent on
foreign countries. The proportion borne by
manufactures ready for consumption is less
than has been generally supposed. and the
proportion of luXuries and non-necessaries
indicates an unusual degree OF general pros
perlty. The latter item is marked increase
over 1885,
In domestic exports the products of agri-
culture take the lead, as usual, and cOnsti-
tute three-fourths of the whole. In com
parisOn with them, the products of mining,
the forests and the fisheries occupy an in
significant place. Our exports of manufac-
lures show an increase of about 3 per cent
over 1889; they amounted in 1890 to $780,
9S3,7S6-as much as the total exports OF do
mestic products were at the time California
was admitted to the Union.
When the tables of exports of domestic
produce are dIsseeted, some curious facts
come to light. The movement of cereals
is thus given in dollars:
Export OF corn. SAY 6O3 O22
Export OF wheat ..................-...-- 4234S25l
E&poIe OF hour 527O9,lO5
1t was only the other day that all our
breadstuffs were shipped in the raw state to
be ground into -four by foreign mllers now
we make in California and Minnesota so
much better flour than they do In England
and France that we send them the manufac-
tured article. Two-thirds of all the bread
stutfs sent abroad are shipped to Great
Britain, but this includes cargoes cleared
for Cork or ORDERS" which are often I'M
loaded at Continental ports.
The movement of fruits shows a falling off
from 1889, the figures being 2,S45,O 56, as
against "a, COS, rs. Great Britain and Ger
many account for 100000 of the falling
off, and this was probably caused by the
short fruit crop last year i'll the Atlantic
States. But there was also a decline Of $780,
600 in the shipments to Australasia which
go from here. This is unexplained. The
export of cotton-Seed oil was doubled the
figures are So, 4006S4, as against So 6Sf, 422;
the chief increase being in the shipments to
Italy and Spain, where it is used to adulter-
ate olive oil. Great Britain increased her
consumption of canned and cured beef from
about 100000 worth to about $40, $50, 600
she likewise increased her consumption of
American hams. The "other countries in
Europe" consumed little or none of our
pork in any shape, except lard. Even Ger
many was compelled to increase her pur-
ehases of lard from six to eight millions. a
surprising increase is shown in the export
of refined sugar to England. The exports
of that article rose from nothing to 81, 400 =
| 600, showing that the Eastern sugar trust is
driving the German refners out of tie En-
gliSh market. The movement of lumber is
about steady, a diminished consumption Of
Eastern lumber in Argentine being offset by
an increased consumption of Pacific Coast
lumber in Australasia and the Asiatic and
Oceanic countries.
Comparing 1890 with 1885, we note an in
crease of over 80 per cent in imports and of
about % per cent in exports of domestic
products; showing which is a fit subject
for general congratulation.