The Monticellonian., 1895-09-06
OUR TRADE ABROAD.
Returns show the Wisdom of Tarif Re
 duction.

Returns show the Wisdom of Tarir Re-
 duction.
 The total value of imports during the last fiscal year was s731 ,057, s75, against S654, 994, 622 the previous year, an in' crease of S76, 963, ,253. In view of the great industrial and commercial de- pression which prevailed last year the value of imports was large, 1t having been exceeded only five times in the history of the country.
 On the other hand, the value of do- mestio exports was s798, s97, ,s9o, against @s69, 204. 037 the year before, decrease of 975. sO7, ,047 Notwithstanding the large increase in imports and decrease in exports, the latter exceeded the for mer by SGl.440.O15 The exports of last year have been exceeded eight times in our history, and once-in 1s92-by oyer S242, ,O00.000.
 In view of the fact that for ten months of the last fiscal year the im- ports came in under the new tariff law comparison of some of the principal items with the same for the year be. fore will be of interest.
 
 free list by the new law, we imported to the value of S3, ,s43, ,097 last year, against Sl, ,724, 394 the year before. Of chemicals, drugs and dyes, the duties on which were materially reduced, we imported S43, 559, ,569 worth, against S37, ,553, ITO the year before. Of cotton goods we imported S33, l95, 33s, against $22, 346, 547 the year before; of earthen, stone and chinaware, SS, 956, ,034, against $6, S79, 437; of iron and steel, S23, 037, 327, against S2l, 3I4, 4s9; of leather and man. Il aetures thereof, S13.819,019 against $9, ,4i6, 145. On all these goods the duties were considerably reduced.
 But while there was decided in- crease in the importation of all these articles, the duties on which were moderately reduced, there was also an increase in imports of goods which were free under the old law and still remain free. Thus there was an in- crease from S90, 3l4, ,676 to S96, 129 326 in coffee, from S16 7s6, 152 to S36, 122, 95i in hides and skins others than furs, and from S15, l62, 333 to SIS, AT O67 in un- manufactured rubber and gutta pereha. And. again, there was de- crease in the importation of some ar ticles the duties on which were re- duced. For example, from SIS, 954, I'll to ST, 239, 095 ia fruits, including nuts; from s6, eos. s65 to S3, 4ss, 584 in lead and manufactures thereof, and from S18,- 154, ,073 to ST, 813, S54 in wool and manu- factures thereof.
 The imports of sugar and molasses fell from S126, 914, 10. to S76, 492 3O2 This decrease of more than S50, GOO, 900 was due in part to the enormous i'm portations in anticipation of the 10 per cent. duty, and in part, and principal ly, to the great fall in the foreign price of raw sugars.
 The value of wool, which was put on the free list, increased from S6, 107, 43S to S25. 556 i21 and the value of woolen goods, the duties on which were re. duced about aue-half, increased from St9, 301, $50 to 536. 542, 39l. But the in crease i'll these articles as in the case of others the duties on which were considerably y reduced, was in no small measure due to restriction of i'm ports in 1894 in anticipation of lower i duties
 On the whole the returns indicate that the reduction of the tariff has stimulated importations, but it is too early yet to make very confident de- ductions.-Chicago Chronicle.