Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-07
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
The Fiscal Year just Ended an UnparaI
Irlod Record OF American Prosperity.

Washington July 1.-YcsterGay the 1877
S fiscal year closed, and to-day the new
Year commences for the United States.
The hgures illustrating our commerce are
full enough to allow of IL general view OF
the gains during the last year.
The total foreign commerce of the Uni
ted states, 30 far as the imports and cx-
ports of merchandise can be compared
shows remarkable increase. Our eX-
ports have reached a higher figure than
ever before IN the commercial history Of
this country. and the imports have fallen
Oh The exports represent Il value of over
81 ,HpoJO,CUO. and the imports will be little
more than 5000. 900 Geo. showing difference
in our favor of 100 per cent. The differ
cncc in the specie trade is also in favor CT
the nted States. The imports of god.
as forcshadowed by the full reports for
the eleven months ending May 81, 1898,
and the weekly reports from New York,
show an import CT gold of 1872 COZ, 900,
against an export of only sl7,OCO.0oo. Add
ed to the balance of merchandise trade.
We can note to our credit the lndsome
amount of SIl5.G0l,0OD.
The exports of breadstuffs, as compared
with the same exports during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1897. have increased
most wonderfully Wheat has been eX-
ported to the extent of 1856 00Q. go bushels.
against 79,50J,0oo bushels during the last
year. Even the corn exports increased
considerably and the exports Of tho latter
months of the fiscal year seem to prove
that the demand for our maize will I've
steady and permanent. We have export
ed during the year 1895 nearly 100000. coo
bushels. against III. 0O0O0O bushels during
the fiscal year 1897.
The cotton exports nave increased as
far as quantities arc considered. but the
value has not advanced in proportion the
price of cotton being, on the average, low
cr than during the preceding year. Dur
! ing the year 1897 we exported 100000, 90,
| pounds of cotton, valued at $3.50 800 ~
against 3.S2O 1000 600 pounds during the year
1898, valued at 1921 ,cO0OOO. The provision
! exports have been all that can be desired
/ bacon and ham will exceed 500 900, 90,
pounds, against GG5. COO 900 pounds the pre-.
| vious year. Lard runs up to go 0OO "a,
pounds, against jGS,0O0,O0O pounds in 1897
| Cheese shows an increase of about 100 ON
| pounds. The exports of beef product.
have slightly decreased the exports. OF
cattle show "A small gain Of about $1,000
| head.
our imports have fallen off all alone
! the line, Only in comparing the good.
/ imported free of duty, and the dutiabl,
| goods separately, are found some pro
! nounccd changes. The articles of fooo
! and live animals, free of duty, have de
creased in about the same proportion al
| the same articles subject to duty. Blu
| the dutiable articles in crude condition
! for domestic industry have increased owe
100 per cent, showing the influence of tn.
new tariff. The articles of voluntary use
! luNurics, etc. have only slightly increased
Tho gain in the exports of manufactur
ed articles is worth noticing. There has
been slow but steady progress in thl
| direction and 20 per cent. of our Who'll,
| exports are now manufactured articles
A continuous increase in this respect Il
| certain. In imports we note "A decrease o
manufactures, the 81 per cent of th
year against Al per cent. of the year %
! 1877 showing an acceptable improvement
The imports and exports of the prcsen
year ending June 30, 1898, combined, rep
resent the amount of 1900 100000 and Sc
care for the United States the secon,
place in the commercial world. Formerl.
we stood fourth, England Germany ant
France being before us; now we follow
England closely.