The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-29
OFFICE OF THE HERALD,
LOS ANGELES, May rs, 1895.
1.-THE responsibility of tolerance lies with
those who have the wider vision"


The April and ten months foreign-trade
statement, published by the bureau of
statistics of the treasury department this
week. is q remarkable one in several re-
spects, says Bradstreet's. While the show
ing made by our export trade is, of course
a very gratifying one, that made by i'm
ports is hardly less remarkable, though
pointing to an exact reversal of the ten
denotes noted in our outward trade. The
detailed statement shows that our exports,
domestic and foreign, during April fell lit
tie short of $1000 900 in value, a gain of
Is per cent over one year ago, while our
imports only aggregated $50, 923 Cos. S43,
100000 smaller than an our imports in
April, 1897 Reflection of this exceptional
trade showing is found in the gold import
movement which shows an excess of i'm
ports over exports of s3l ,l69, 200 for the
month.
For the ten months period ending with
April the figures are none the less remark
able, because they foreshadow on the one
hand, an unprecedented volume of export
trade for the year; and, on the other hand
point to the smallest total of imports re-
ported with one exception, for at least
eleven years past. The value Of our exports
of merchandise, domestic and foreign, for
the ten months reaches the immense total
of 81 OPS APO, 6S1, more than S125 900 900 larg
er than at the same time in the preceding
fiscal year, which, it might be added, was
the heaviest export year in our history.
Imports, on the other hand, aggregate only
SSH 600 900, a decrease of $50 900, 900 from the
preceding year, and the excess of exports
over imports amounts to $514 ,245, ijo, or a
sum total ,reater than the entire aggre
gate of o. imports during that period.
The tendency of these figurse is unmis-
taxable. The maintenance of the condi-
tions now and for some time past ruling
during the remaining two months of the
present fiscal year seems likely to produce
some almost astonishing results. For in
stance If our exports during May and
June only amount to the same sum as they
did one year ago Chose of April exceeded
a year ago by 2S per cent?, the sum total
of our export trade will reach fully 81 49,
600 900, against total of $1,000 900 a
year ago. If, on the other hand, the
months of May and June this year should
show gain over last proportionate to
that already shown in the last ten months
period "a per cent?, the total volume of
our exports will be little below 81, 200, 900 ,OO0
and, again. if the gains shown in April this
year over last are maintained to the close
of the fiscal year in June, the total exports
for the present fiscal year will exceed those
of last year by nearly $3.50 600. Our in-
q very low ebb, whereas one year ago, in
anticipation of the tariff changes, our I'M
ports were at a maximum. But, even IL
last years imports were equaled, whlch
seems utterly out of the question, the total
for the present year would still be smaller,
with one exception, than in any year since
1887. And if, as appears probable, the de-
clining tendency noted in the present fscal
wears trade continues, the total imports
for the fiscal year will be reduced to a
sum smaller than any reported since
1886, even less than that reported in 1894,
wear of depression and restricted buying of
foreign goods, following the panic of 1885,
It is hardly necessary, continues the same
authority, to point out the directions III
which the immense expansion of our ex-
port trade occurred, and, in fact, the
scarcity of detailed figures prevents any
exhaustive comparison of this sort. 1t Is
worth noting, however, that the aggregate
value of our exports of breadstuffs, cot
ton, minerals. oils, cattle and provisions
in April was SIS ,OO0, 900 larger than it was
a year ago, $40 900 900 larger than April two
years ago, and $19OOO,oOO larger than in
April, 1896. BY far the greater part
of this expansion, of course, was IN
our exports of breadstuffs, which
were considerably more than double
those of April year ago and
nearly three times the value of those in
April 1896. and April, 1895. Our exports OF
cotton were larger in April this year than
last, this being due, of course, to the vastly
larger quantity exported. because the price
ruling was lower than in 1871 our shP-
ments of petroleum in April do not make
a very favorable comparison with recent
preceding years, and the same Is true OF
our exports of live animals; but IT is worth
noting that our exports of provisions are
over $500, 900 larger this year than last,
and an even larger gain is SHOWN over
April 1896.
The detailed figures of nine months trade
also coming to hand this week, are of value
principally as showing the increased inter-
est which foreigners have taken in our ag-
ricultural products, 71.66 per cent of all our
exports during the present fiscal year De-
ing in that class.
There seems to have been check given
to our export trade in manufactured goods,
because the proportion OF manufactured
goods of all exports during the nine months
period was slightly less than 20 per cent,
as against almost 25 per cent O year ago.
But an almost equally large falling off is
notable in exports of products of the mine,
the forest, the fisheries and of mscelane-
Gus goods; pointing partly to the foreign
demand being concentrated on absolute
necessities, such as food products, to the
exclusion, or at least partial neglect, of
manufactured or partly manufactured
products, and partly also to the higher
prices of some American manufactures
checking demand. There has been very
general shrinking in our imports, this be-
ing most notable in receipts of coffee, due
largely to lower prices, however, because
quantities imported are larger. Imports of
chemicals are also smaller, as are receipts
of manufactures of cotton and of miscela-
neous fibers, fruits, iron and steel. sugar,
tea, tobacco, wood and the manufactures
thereof, and of raw wool and wooden goods.
The few important exceptions to this gem
eral decrease may be found in the imports
of hides and skins, India rubber, lead, Jew
elry and raw and manufactured silk.
Important to Locators
Under new rule of the SECRETARY of the