La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-04-02

S~es>~As
is Our Payments to Foreign ship Own
era for Carrying Our Products q
Europe.
The January record of the foreign
, trade Of the United States shows q
continued increase OF exports and de-
crease Of imports. and constantly
augmenting trade balance in favor OF
this country. In addition. the foreign
trade figures for the seven months OF
the fiscal year ending with January
six OF the seven months being those in
which the Dingley tariff was in opera
tion-show a heavy increase both In
the value Of exports and the credit
balance Of 1893 as compared with the
corresponding period OF 1897.
Our exports Of domestic products for
last month aggregated the very high
total OF $106.761.524. or at the rate OF
Sl,2sO, 100000 year. Adding the re-
exports of foreign goods, the grand to-
tai of our export trade was sos, ASS. ass.
an increase OF $l4.537.572 over our to-
tai exports in January. 1897. while the
gain in our foreign shipments OF Amer
lean products and manufactures was
sl4.2s7,242 for last month.
Imports Of foreign goods, on the
other hand. show slight decline.
S55l jog, as compared with January.
1897 There was a decrease OF IS, 1885,
GAO in the imports Of foreign goods that
are admitted free of duty and gain
Of 1854 531 in the value OF dutiable
Imports.
For the seven months of the cur
rent fiscal year ending with January
our foreign trade shows an increase of
s63. .25S,s23 in exports and 4 decrease OF
s22,657.G2s in imports. thus making q
gain of $S5.916.451 in our favorable
trade balance as compared with the
corresponding months of the last fiscal
year. During the seven months of the
current year we have sold t340. .000. 900
more OF American products and manu-
factures than we purchased of foreign
goods. Our imports of goods admitted
free OF duty have decreased by $3.S02,-
1876 during the seven months OF this
responding period In the 1896-97 fiscal
year, while our imports OF dutiable
goods have diminished to the extent Of
$I2, ,s55. .4s2.
The fact that Americas trade bal
ance for the sixth month of the Ding
ley tariff amounted to 357.6S5. .546. or
at the rate of nearly 500. 100000
year. while for the seven months end
ing with January the actual gross trade
balance was 1917. .s15.561. constitutes
most extraordinary demonstration Of
he workings of the American policy OF
protection. Sharply in contrast with
this showing 10 balance Of trade
against Great Britain amounting to
1856, 900 900 for the calendar year 1897.
In other words. while the United States
is gaining wealth at the rate Of $780,
100000 year under the workings of a
protective tariff, Great Britain. enjoy
ing all the superior advantages" of
free trade. has bought nearly $500, ,000.-
900 more than she has sold. At this
rate it will not be far beyond the be-
ginning of the twentieth century when
the commercial, industrial and finan-
ciaI supremacy of the world will have
been transferred from Great Britain to
tne United States.
Provided. however. some steps are
taken to establish ana maintain an
American merchant marine. Unless
this be done, our big trade balances
will be more imaginary than real. for
from every annual excess Of exports
over imports must be deducted the
5000. 10000 which the United States
pays each year to foreign shipowners
and sailors. to say nothing Of the vast
amount of capital that would be In
vested in labor and material in the
building Of American ships in which
to carry American commerce. Then In
deed would the industrial, commercial.
and financial supremacy Of the world
be permanently transferred from Great
Britain to America within very few
years from the beginning OF the twen-
tieth century.