The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-24

Japan imports nearly 100000 worth OF
raw cotton each year. and 50 10000 more
In cotton goods, but the United States
sent to Japan last year only $4,000 OF
raw cotton, and less than $4,000 Of cotton
cloth. The most interesting demand OF
Japan is for iron and steel and their
manufactures. OF the crude product she
requires 100000 and of manufactured
product S3.jCG000 During the past year
the United States sent 100000 of machin-
cry and S2.G0.010 of other iron and steel
manufactures. thus supplying practically
the entire present demand of Japan for
these articles.
Trade in China Is making less rapid
Roadway. Our imports average about
$50 000,00 a year, and have varied but
little from that amount for the past
twenty-five years. The largest imports
from that country were in 1881 when we
took so. 900 900. The exports to China,
however, have recently shown some inn
provement. The largest values ever sent
to that country were in 1870, nearly thirty
years ago. over 100000, but in 1880 the
exports had dropped to but little over one
million. From 1881 to 1896 the exports
ranged from 80 900 to S. 100000. In 1895
the exports were $4,000, but was in
creased to 81, 10000 a year. dropping off,
however. to 100000 during the past
year.
China requires each year $6,5OOOOO of
iron and steel, including SIS 900 of ma
chinery but last year the United States
furnished only $685. 900 China imports
S64. 600 GOO worth of cotton goods, of which
only one-ninth comes from this country.
She requires $2,500,000 worth of flour, of
which less than 100000 worth Is from the
United States. Nor does this country
make better record in taking the prod
ucts of the Chinese empire. China sends
out each year S35, 100000 worth of silk, of
which the United States takes barely S.
100000 She sends out $4,000. 900 pounds Of
tea every year of which the United States
takes about 600 pounds.
In the British East Indies our import
trade is about $2OO000O0 a year, and our
export trade $4,000, 600. These totals have
varied little for the past twenty-five years.
AS compared with fifty years ago how
ever, there has been a gain of fully ten
fold. Our imports and exports from Dutch
East Indies are about the same as for
the British East Indies, but the improve
ment In trade has been marked within the
past few years. Up to 1898 we rarely i'm
ported from the Dutch colonies more than
100000 but last year our imports were
over $27,000000 Our usual exports, up to
1896 were about $500 600, but last year we
sent $470O,000, a gain of more than 200 per
cent.
In the Philippines there has been a
few years Ten years ago we were i'm
porting Sl0O000O0 a year from those ISL
ands. Last year, however, our imports
dropped below 100000 the lowest on
record for the past twenty years. At pres
ent we are taking one-hfth of the exports
of these islands. The Philippines are re-
ceiving about S10,0OO000 a year in imports,
of which only about $780, 900 or one and
one-haf of one per cent. is from this
country At the same time Great Britain
is sending these islands $500 eco; France,
81 S00,000; Germany, $75O,00O and Spain,
ST. 400 900
The United States to-day, with only one
ocean between her and these rich ma
tons of the East, has a trade equal to
but one-thlrd that of Great Britain, whose
goods must cross two oceans before they
reach their destination. And yet we have
developed to a point where we cannot only
compete in trade with the other nations
of the world, but can lay down our goods
in home markets of the English people. 1t
would seem that Americans have now an
opportunity to change these unequal con-
ditions. George b. Waldron.