The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1898-04-08
OUR TRADE BALANCE.
EVEN DEBT INTEREST MAY YET
BE PAID OFF.

The Only Thing That Stands in the Way
is Our Payments to Foreign SHIP Own
ers for Carrying Our Products to
Europe.
The January record of the foreign
trade of the United States shows a
continued increase of exports and a de-
crease of imports, and a constantly
augmenting trade balance in favor OF
this country. In addition, the foreign
rad figures for the seven months or
the fiscal year ending with january
six of the seven months being those in
which the Dingley tariff was in opera
tion-show q heavy increase both in
the value Of exports and the credit
balance of 1898 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
$1,2S0,0 900 900 a year. Adding the re-
exports of foreign goods, the grand to-
tai of our export trade was $10S, 1891
an increase of $14, 537 ,572 over our to-
tai exports in January, 1897, while the
gain in our foreign shipments of Amer
lean products and manufactures was
$14,287,2 42 for last month.
Imports of foreign goods, on the
other hand, show a slight decline,
1851, 100, as compared with January,
1897. There was a decrease Of $5,lSo,-
G40 in the imports of foreign goods that
are admitted free OF duty and a gain
of $4,634,531 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
$50, 25S, 1923 in exports and 4 decrease OF
$50, 657, CPS in imports, thus making q
gain of So, Ash 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 $340, 600, 900
more of American products and manu-
features than we purchased of foreign
goods. Dull imports of goods admitted
free of duty have decreased by $780,
1876 during the seven months of this
fiscal year, as compared with the cor
responding period in the 1862 fiscal
year, while our imports of dutiable
goods have diminished to the extent of
$12, 955, 1872.
The fact that Americas trade bal
ance for the sixth month OF the Ding
ley tariff amounted to S57 ,6S5, SAG, or
at the rate of nearly $500, 00O, 600 a
year, while for the seven months end
ing with January the actual gross trade
balance was S377, 1851, constitutes a
most extraordinary demonstration of
The workings CT the American policy of
protection. Sharply in contrast with
this showing is a balance of trade
agaio1t Great Britain amounting to
S7S5, 0G0, 900 for the calendar year 1897.
In other words, while the United States
is gaining wealth at the rate of $780,
000,0 600 q year under the workings Of q
protective tariff, Great Britain, enjoy
IAS dll luC SuPfIIOI advantages VI
free trade, has bought nearly $500, 000,-
600 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-
cial supremacy of the world will have
been transferred from Great Britain to
the United States
Provided, however, some steps are |
taken TO establish anu maintain al
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
S3OO, 0OG, geo which the United States
nays each year to foreign shipowners
and sailors, to say nothing of the vast
amount Of capital shat 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 10 America within a very few
years from the beginning of the TWEEN
tieth century