The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-08
Special to The Scranton Tribune.

Special to The Scranton Tribune.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 7.--Repre-
sentatives of the great ports Of the
United States will be interested in
some figures which the bureau of sta
tistics of the treasury department has
just compiled reg9 riding the import and
export trade of the various ports of the
country and comparing the years busi-
ness with that of preceding years. The
rivalry between the coast cities for the
honor and profit of handling a salts
factory proportion of the foreign COM
merce has been unusually sharp in the
past year or two. The rapid grow tn of
the carrying trade along the chain Of
great lakes and thence by canal or rail
TO the coast, the sharp competition
and reduced rates by rail from the
great grain fields of the West to the
South Atlantic ports and the increas-
ed rail and water facilities of trans
portation between the upper Missis-
sippi valley and the Gulf ports, togeth-
or with improved harbor facilities at
various points, have produced mater
ial changes in the drift of the great
bulk of the grain and provision product
of the country which goes to Europe,
while our increased commerce with
Asia and Oceanca has materially and
advantageously affected the business
of the ports on the Pacific coast.
These facts, together with the claims
that certain ports enjoy special ad-
vantages in railway rates and terminal
facilities have made the interest in the
comparative business of the various
ports unusually great.
COMPARISON OF FIGURES.
comparison of the figures covering
the exports and imports of the various
ports during the fiscal year with those
of preceding years presents some in
teresting and suggestive facts bearing
on this subject. They show that the
Atlantic ports considered as an entire
group retained, when compared with
the preceding year, their normal pro-
portions of the exports Of the year,
but lost slightly in imports, the total
increase in expectation in these ports
being 1851 per cent, while the total
increase in expectation from the en-
tire country was 17.3 per cent; the
total importations OF the Atlantic
ports however, fell PA per cent, while
the total importations into the coun-
try decreased but 1913 per cent. The
gulf ports did not as whole maintain
the rate of increase which the country
at large made in exports, their percent
age of gain being but Sc per cent.
against an average of 17.3 per cent. for
the total: while their loss in imports
was still greater. being 299 per cent.
against an average Of 1913 per cent. for
the entire country. The Pacific ports
made the most satisfactory record of
any group, their gain in exports being
23.7 per cent, while they actually
gained in imports 1863 per cent, while
the total imports for the country were
being decreased 1913 per cent. The
Northern border ports made the larg-
est percentage of gain in expectations,
their total for the year being 27.3 per
cent. greater than that of the preced-
ing year. while in importations they
lost 2l.1 per cent.
PORTS INDIVIDUALLY.
Taking up the ports individually,
however, and considering their per-
centage of the total commerce during
n longer term of years, the contrasts
and comparisons increase in interest.
Beginning with the port of New York
II is found that she handled only 45.9
per cent. of the foreign commerce of
tht '-'o per ttuls III
1890 52.2 per cent. in 1898, 51.4 per cent.
in 1896, and As per cent in 1897. The
loss altogether in expectations, having
been in 1898 but SOL per cent. of the
total expectations of the country,
against 37.2 per cent. in 1897, 40.1 per
cent. in 1896 and AIS per cent. in 1894;
while her importations in 1895 We're 65.3
per cent. of the total imports of the
country, against ell per cent. in 1896
and 63.4 per cent. in 1884.
Boston did not make a satisfactory
record either in her imports or ex-
ports during the year just ended. Her
importations were only S3 per cent. of
the total imports of the country against
lis Per cent. in 1897, 10.1 per cent. in
1896. 81 per cent. in 1895, 81 per cent
in 1893, and S.4 per cent. in 1891. Her
expectation were in 1883 only 9.5 per
cent. of the total, against 1oS per cent
in 1896, 10.5 per cent. in 1888, and los
per cent in 1898. Taking the total i'm
ports and exports of the country, Ros-
ton had in 1898 but 81 per cent of the
total. against 1915 in 1896 and 1897, 80
in 1895 and go in 1898. Phladelphia's
percentage of the total foreign COM
merce of the year was not altogether
satisfactory when compared with that
OF preceding years. her lmportatlons
were 81 per cent. of the total imports
into the country, while in 1897 they
were SO per cent, in 1895 6. per cent,
in 1894 so per cent and in 1898 7.6
per cent. Her expectations were As
per cent, against As per cent. in 1897,
"A per cent. in 1895, 4.3 per cent. in
1895, 5.S per cent. in 1898 and Sc per
cent. in 1892, her percentage of the
total imports ard exports being in 1898
a. per cent, In 1897 So per cent, in
1896 SO per cent, in 1895 5.4 per cent,
in 1894 60 per cent, in 1898 GA per
cent. and in 1892 6.3S per cent.
Baltimore made material gains in her
exports, though in imports there was a
slight loss in her percentage of the
total importations into the country.
Her percentage of the total exports of
the country in 1898 was e.6 per cent,
in 1897 81 per cent, in 1896 rs per cent,