The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-16
SOUTHERN ExroRTs AND IMPORTS

The question OF southern imports ana
exports is one of the most interesting con-
nected with the material condition of this
section and at the same time one of the
most significant in its bearing upon the pro-
bable developments of the future.
II we will take a retrospective view of the
exports and imports of the South we will
find that there has been relatively to the
exports and imports Of the North marked
decline, but apart from such comparison,
very great advance. At the close Of the
Revolutionary war the Southern States mad
one-third of the imports Of this country, in
1910 about one-ffth. in 1850 one-eighth, in
1891 one fifteenth. The proportion Of exports
has been much more favorable.
In the instance of some Of the Southern
cities the increase in the volume of exports
has not been notable. whereas in others it has
been very striking. The New York CONNER
cial Bulletin thus summarizes the differences
before and since the late war.
The exports of New Orleans for the year
1860 we're Sl07, 800 900 and the imports. S22.
900. 900. For the fiscal wear 1891 the exports
were Sos 600, 900 and the imports $50 2CO OO0
The exports of Charleston for 1860 were
S2l. 100, 900 and the imports $1,000, 900. For
the fiscal year 1891 the exports were S21, 900.-
600 and the imports less than s1,OoO,OoO. In
the interval of thirty years Mobile has fallen
from its place among the principal ports.
and Baltimore, Galveston. Newport News
and others have advanced in rank. The
exports of New Orleans first reached SlO0.-
0OO,oO0 in 1859 and again in 1860. and
not again until 1870, and again in 1873. 1881.
1880 and 1891. the highest point being nearly
Sl0SOOO 900 in 1860 and fully that amount in
the fiscal year 1891, and sl15. 100 900 for the
past calendar year. The exports of Charles
ton first reached $4,000, 900 in 1851 and first
reached s20,0O00 900 in 1860. and again in 1881,
1888 and 1891. the highest amount being s26,-
400 900 in 1851. The exports of Mobile. which
were S3s, 100000 in $50. and reached their
largest amount So 600 600 in IS 6. fell below
80, coo, 600 in 1872 and below 5000. 900 for
1891. The exports of Savannah. which were
SIS, 200. 600 in 1850, larger amount than ever
before, reached nearly s25.O00,OOO in 1868,
$50. 900. 900 in 1870 and their highest mark.
500, JOO,OOV Aspai Jo"i loJls
The exports of Baltimore, which were less
than 80. 600 900 in 1860 were $40, 500 900 in the
past calendar year. and the exports Of Gal
weston. which were $500. 600 in 1860. were
s36 ,0OO. 900 for the past year, making an IN
crease Of about Ss5 900 900 in the exports Of
six principal Southern ports for 1891 as COM
lared with 1860 The increase in the exports
of other Southern ports was relatively greater,
or from sill 600. 900 in 1860 TO nearly S65. O0O,-
900 in 1884, making the aggregate Southern
exports for tho calendar year 1891 nearly
$3.50 900 OO0 This large actual increase. how
ever, dee not represent relative increase in
the proportion of Southern exports to the en-
tire exports Of the country. From the great
preponderance of Southern exports in the
trade between the American colonies and Great
Britain. the Southern States had by the year
1900 fallen to little less than one-half the en-
tire exports of the country. and in 1920 Just
about one-half the total exports Of tho United
States were from Southern ports. In 1910
more than half the exports were from the
South. and for the years immediately proceed
ing the outbreak Of the late war Southern
exports amounted to about one-hslf the total.
For the past calendar year the total merchan
disc exports of the United States were s97O..
100000 and the Southern exports about $780,
100000.