Iron County register., 1893-03-30
THE BALANCE OF TRADE.

THE BALANCE OF TRADE.
saggestive Figures which Indicate Yer,
Plainly the Cause of the Heavy Outflow
OF Goid-We Import More than We Ex
port, and There Doesn't Seem to be ANY
Immediate Prospects OF tho Conditions
Being Bettered. Crop Prospects ON the
Other Side Being Favorable.
WASHINGTON, March 24-The Post
prints the following story:
During the month of February, Just
ended. the balance of trade against the
United States amounted to $50, OO0, 600.
For the twelve months ended on Feb
ruary % last the balance of trade
against us was s32, 600, ,O0G. These fig.
ures have just been made public in a
bulletin of the bureau of statistics, and
have attracted unusual attention
here among men who have given
thoughtful attention to the financial
situation. 1t is remarkable and un-
pleasant showing, and the worst Of it is
that there does not seem to be any
reason to expect a change for some time
to come.
First of all the excess Of imports over
exports shows why $50, 900, 900 of the
$50, 100000 of gold was exported last
year. This amount at least has not
been exported for foreign nations who
desire to hoard gold, but because the
people of the United Stated contracted
debts for purchases made abroad
The articles which The people of The
United States buy abroad to such an
extent as to make the balance of trade
against us make an interesting show
ing. The figures for the seven months
ending on January 81 last, the latest
obtainable, given an answer to this in
teresting question. One of the largest
items of increase is coffee. The inn
ports in the seven months named, as
compared with the same period in the
previous year. increased from S62, ,O00,-
900 to SIS, 900, 900. The imports of to-
bacco Increased something like
"a, 000, 900, while the one item of rubber
ran up from Sc, ZOO, 900 to SIS, 900. 900.
There was increase of s3, 600, 600 in i'm
portations of manufactured cotton, the
total reaching s19, 900. 900; of 81. 500. 900
in manufactures of fax and hemp; Of
the same amount for fruits; of g, 900. OGo
for manufactures of wool, and of nearly
$4,000. 600 for manufactures of wood.
The imports of iron and steel have
increased $500, 900. The item of silk
is alss interesting. The importation of
manufactured silk increased in the
seven months named to 10000, 900
from SIS, 600, 900, while. in addition to
this increase of s., 200. 900, there should
be added the $4,000 900 shown in the
increased importations of articles of
manufactured silk.
In other words, for the few articles
here enumerated the people of the
United States paid over $50, 900, 900 more
during the seven months ended on JAM
uary 81 last than they did for the same
period one year previously. Nor, as
above stated, does it appear that there
will be any immediate relief from this
outgo of American money. Wheat and
cotton are the great factors in the ex-
ports. The figures show that in the
Sc ven months already stated as COM
pared with the previous year, the cx-
ports of raw cotton fell off in round
numbers fror S17s, ZOO, 900 to s127, ,OOO,-
600. over s50,OO0,O 600.
The exports of wheat fell from s116,-
O0G, 600 to $50. 900, 900, and all the other
brea dstuffs in like proportion. The
exports of agricultural products fell
from S513, ,000, 900 to S397 900, 600, a very
heavy decrease.
A bulletin issued by the department
Of agriculture conveys the information
that the present conditions for the Eu-
ropean crop are very favorable. This
indicates, of course. that there will be
very little demand for American wheat
! ,broad.
This same bulletin of the department
.rop of Europe this year will be no less
siian 1,312, 100000 bushels, an increase
rom 1,J61 200. 900, to which Asia will
,dd S56, 900, 600 bushels AS against this
yield the entire crop of North
America is placed at only 100000, 900
bushels. Another element that must
De taken into consideration in connec-
ion with the figures of the balance
# trade is the fact that since
he war the merchant marine of
he United States has steadily
leclined, until now this country pays
IS high as 800, 900. 900 to foreign crews
md ship owners for carrying American
FOODS. The expense under this head is
ometimes estimated as high as $780,
700. 600. This, of course, adds to the
mount of gold which has to be shipped |
broad to meet payments, and under |
he present condition of affairs no |
hange is likely to occur.
It will be seen. therefore. from this |
that the question of ex-
'orts and imports has reached a point |
where it forbodes a serious situation |
t adds another problem to confront an
which is already over
'urdened with perplexities and will |
ave to be taken into account when |
he next tariff bill makers begin Their
work.
japanese Budget.