The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-03-29
STARTLING FIGURES.

An Ofhcial Document showing That the
Balance OF Trade Against This Country
is Rapidly Growing Larger-The Ques-
tion OF Exports and Imports Forbodes
u Serious Financial situation.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-During the
month OF February the balance Of trade
against the United States amounted to
sS0,0OO,0O For twelve months ended
on the 2Sth of February last, the bal
ance OF trade against us was $50, 900, 900.
These figures, which have just been
made public in bulletin Of the bureau
of statistics, have attracted an unusual
amount of attention here among men
who give thoughtful attention to the
financial situation. IL is remarkable
and unpleasant showing, and the worst
of it is that there does not seem to be
any reason to expect q change for some
time to come.
First Of all the excess of imports over
exports shows why S32,OOO,OOO of the
$50, 900, 900 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 States 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 showing.
The figures for the seven months end
ing on the Slst of last January, the
latest obtainable, give an answer to
this interesting question. One Of tho
largest items Of increase Is coffee, The
imports in the seven months named, as
compared with the same period in the
previous year, increased from sG9,OOO,-
900 to s7s, 300 900. The imports of to-
bacco increased something like sS,OOO,-
900, while the one item of rubber ran
mp from 50, 900, 900 to SIS, 600, 600. There
was an increase of $1,000, 900 in impor-
tations Of manufactured cotton, the to-
tai reaching $40, 600, ,OOO-of 81, 500, 900 in
manufactures Of fax and hemp, and Of
the same amount for fruits; of SS,0OO,
900 for manufactures of wool, and near
ly $1,000, 900 for manufactures of wood.
The imports of iron and steel have
increased s., 100000 The importation
of manufactured silk increased in
the seven months named to 10000, 900
from SIS 900, 600, while, in addition to
this increase of s., 900. 900, there should
be aided the a, 900, 900 shown in the in
creased importations Of articles OF man
ufactured silk In other words for the
few articles here enumerated the peo-
pie Of the United States paid over s5O,-
OOO 900 more during the seven months
ended on the Slst day Of last January
than they did for the same period one
year previously.
Nor does II appear that there will be
any immediate relief from this outgo of
American money. Wheat and cotton
are the great factors in the exports
The figures show that in the seven
months already stated, as compared
with the previous year, the exports Of
raw cotton fell off over $50, 900, 900. The
exports Of wheat foil from Sl16,O 900
10 800. 100000 and all the other bread
ftuffs in like proportion. The exports
Of agricultural products fell from sj19,-
600, 900 TO S379, 900, 900. A bulletin issued
by the department OF agriculture con-
veys the information that the present
conditions for the European crop are
very favorable. This indicates that
there will be little demand for Ameri.
can wheat abroad
Another element tina, must be taken
into consideration in connection with
the balance of trade is the fact that
since the war the merchant marine OF
the United States has steadily declined,
until now this country pays as high as
500, 600 900 to foreign crews and ship
owners for carrying American goods.
The expense under this head is esti.
mated as high as $50, ,OOO 900.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the
question OF exports and imports has
reached point where II forbod IS Sc
rious situation, IL adds another prob
lem TO confront m administration which
Is already overburdcned with perplexi-
Ties