The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-25
oUR FoREIGN TRADE.

While the foreign trade of San Francisco
remains abOnt stationary, in consequence
of the obstacles which have been thrown in
the way Of the extension Of our maritime
commerce and the rapid growth Of the sea-
going commerce Of the ports OF Oregon and
Washington, the general trade of the cOun-
try is showing a gratifying increase. The
total exports Of domestic produce and mer-
chsndise from the leading ports for the
year ending the 31st Of May last were In
voiced ut over thousand millions of dol
lars. which is nearly two hundred millions
more than the exports of the year ending
May 81, 1891, and one hundred and twenty
millions more than the exports Of the year
ending June so. 1881, when the export
movement was the heaviest on record.
The increase is due TO three causes-frst,
the active demand for brCedstuffs in Europe
caused by short crops; second, the improve
ment in the prices of all forms Of food ;
and third, the Increased movement Of goods
to countries with which reciprocity treaties
Laye been concluded. The effect OF the
treaties has been really surprising in stimu-
latlng exports Of small articles Of merchan-
disc. which are olassed under the general
head OF miscellaneous. Ten years ago cur
most active year only showed an expert Of
$40. GOO. coo Of miscellaneous goods; during
the year ending May 81, 1892, the miscelia-
neous exports amounted to S21S, 434, 900.
The whole of the increase occurred On the
Atlantic coa5t. But if we had had steam
intercourse, with reasonable rates Of
freight, with the Mexican, Central Amer
lean and Southern American ports, we
should have participated 10 the gain. There
i. 70 & alAnrf IF oil ri
of production for which markets south OF
US could be found il We had any means OF
getting at them at fair charge Of transport
tation.
The main cause of the contrast between
the exports Of lS90-9I and 1912 has been
the crop failure Of last year in Europe and
the peTemptory demand for American foods
TO I'LL the vacuum. Our exports Of bread
stutfs during the year ending May 81, 1892,
amounted TO S295, 00O, 600. while during the
year ending May 81. 1891, they were only
S125, 100000. Here is $4,000, 600 Of the total
increase Of 500. O00, 600 accounted for. We
cannot rely On this increase continuing.
From Russia the withdrawal of the pre-
hibiton of grain exports indicates better
harvest. Nothing has thus far been pub
lished to show that the English, French or
Dauuban crops are likely to be short, and
thus. though our Agricultural Bureau hgures
for this country a crop equal to 80 per cent
of that Of last year, It is not certain that the
foreign demand will warrant an export
equal to that Of 1912. 1t is more likely TO
be less.
The older this country grows the more
apparent does it become that We shall de-
pend more upon our home markets. Manu-
features are steadily increasing, hence our
surplus products will be more largely con-
sumed in the United States. Tie world is
also large. and there ara other countries
besides England where the people have to
be fed and clothed and supplied with the
con YeBiences and comforts Of life. When
the United States began to develop foreign
trade England was their natural market,
and as the highly trained mercantile IN
stincts Of the English taught them to stand
ready to buy, at some price or another, all
the foreign goods which dTifted to their
ports. we found it more convenient to send
to Liverpool and London everything we had
to spare than to see If we could not sell it to
better advantage elsewhere. 1t is time that
all this were changed and that we started
out aield in search Of consuming rather
than distributing markets.