Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-07

DECEMBER
b about s3o7 900 900, which would reduce the
excess OF imports to about al 900 900 instead
Of e6S. 000, 900 - IL now appears.
Our total trade With South America in mer-
chandise amounted to s1s3, SIS, S73, Of which
the value Of imports was sl50, 727 759 and of
exports sss, l47, 614. an excess Of imports of
$ll7 ,5so, las
The total value Of exports Of domestic mer-
chandise was 81 ,015, 732, oil, An increase of
els. 46l, 72s, and was the largest in the history
| Of our commerce
IMPORTS.
During the last fiscal year the value Of i'm
ports OF merchandise was es27 400. 462, q de-
crease Of eli, 5l3, 7S4 from the imports Of the
fiscal year 1891
The value Of free merchandise imported was
e467 ,999 ,6SS and Of dutiable was t369 4O2, sO4,
an increase in the value Of free merchandise Of
eSi ,76s. SO6, and decrease in the value Of dut-
| liable goods Of CLOS, 272, 040, caused mainly by
the transfer Of sugar from the dutiable TO the
free list by the Dew tariff.
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES.
table exhibits the total values of our import
| and export trade in merchandise with countries
TO the south of us during the years ended June
| 30. 1891 and 1892
The total value Of our imports Of merchan-
| disc from Mexico, Central America the West
indies and south American states during the
nscal year 1892 amounted to cess 1894, 9O2, or
81 80 per cent Of our total imports Of merchan-
disc
Tho value Of our exports Of merchandise to
these countries during the same year was s92,-
.SSS, or s9s per cent Of the value Of our to-
tai az pfa nfv ~h.r
Our total imports and exports Of merchan-
disc from and TO these countries during the
same year amounted to eSsl 40 ITO. or 20. So
per cent OF our total imports and exports Of
merchandise
1t will DO seen that the excess Of imports of
merchandise from these countr les over our ex-
ports to them during 1892 amounted to $780,
S4S,O34. In other words, our imports of
merchandise were 10. "A per cent and exports
"a. rs per cent Of the total trade with these
countries, and we imported merchandise to the
value Of IS IL for every dollar in value exported
to these countries
The excess of imports over exports Of mer-
chandise for the fiscal year 1891 was $780,
oss, O6i For the fiscal year 1890 this excess
Our commerce with this entire group of
countries shows q gradual increase Of both i'm
ports and exports Of merchandise since 1870
During the year 1870 the value of imports
was $ll7 1893. 95l and of exports s55, lao, 1922
an excess Of imports OF So, ass, 500
During the year 1880 the value Of imports
was ellis. 9s5, sos and Of exports s61 ,546 Ala an
excess Of ELI, 439, 432 in imports.
The per cent Of our commerce with these
countries, as compared with our total commerce,
was in 1870, 20.s2; in 1880, Is. 80, and in 1892
TRADE WITH COUNTRIES UNDER RECIPROCITY
TREATIES.
A careful analysis Of the statistics Of our i'm
ports and exports from and to the countries
with which reciprocity treaties have been es-
tablished, from the commencement Of such
treaties to September 80. 1884, inclusive, shows
that the predictions of the friends Of this new
policy have been largely verified, and that there
has been very gratifying increase in our COM
merce with these countries In both imports and
exports.
IMPORTS.
During the period since the reciprocity
treaties have been in effect it appears that there
has also been very large increase in the value
OF our imports from countries with which we
have these treaties. amounting in the aggre-
gate to sS4, 294 SIS 1t will further be observed
that this increase of imports is entirely from
the American countries with which reciprocal
relations have been established.
SEAL FISHERIES.
The modus vivendi entered into in 1891 be-
tween the United States and Great Britain was
renewed in 1892 pending the arbitration be-
tween the two governments, and in consequence
thereof the quota of seals to be taken on the
Pribilof Islands during the season Of 1892 was
again limited to $500.
Under the terms OF the modus the taking of
seals in the waters Of Boring was prohibited
as 1t was last year, and the vessels of the British
and our own navy, well as those OF the
revenue marine service, co-operated to enforce
its provisions. But three attempts were made
to enter the sea through the passes, and the
vessels In each case were seized and proceeded
against under the international agreement
From $4,000 to 10000 seals Of the Pribilof
Island herd. large proportion of which were
gravid females. were taken by pelagic hunters
in the North Pacific between January and july
1892. As result, the number of seals on the
breeding grounds on the islands found to
be smaller this year than last.
As the income derived by the natives on the
islands of st. George and st. Paul from the
taking of the 800 skins will be inadequate for
their support, thus rendering them dependent
upon the government, l recommend that the
appropriation, Of S19, 500 made for their sup
port during the current fiscal year be renewed.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The net expenditures on account Of the Dis
trict of Columbia for the fiscal year 1892 were
&c, ,96056. The net revenues deposited in
the treasury on this account for the same period
were 81, 967 ,044.71.
On July |, 1891, there were due and pavable
s2, 400 200 per cent bonds and S276, 700 per
cent bonds, making total of 80, 766, 900
There have been issued during the fiscal year
S27, 100 Of the 3.65 per cent bonds in satisfac-
tion Of judgments of the Court of Claims
Under the provisions of the act Of Congress |
approved March 8, 1891, the treasurer issued |
and sold on July l. 1891, %. 400 900 of the g. SO
per cent bonds at premium Of o. 531 per cent, |
realizing the sum of 81, 4l2. 744. which was ap-
piled to the redemption of the bonds maturing |
that date leaving 1854. 200 to be absorbed by |
the sinking funds. resulting in a net reduction |
OF the bonded debt during the fiscal year of |
ss66, 800 and reducing the annual interest |
charge S84, 7S1.
The net reduction of the bonded debt since |
July 1, 1878, is e. 979, $50. and Of the annual |
interest charge 1882, l2072.
At the close of the fiscal year 1891 the net |
surplus arising from the sale of bonds in which |