Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-05
OUR EXPORT TRADE.
Remarkable Showing for F1scai
Year Just Ended.

year just Endeus
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 4.-(Spe-
ciaI)-While our wonderful export trade
in the fiscal year just ended has attracted
much attention, the most interesting and
really wonderful feature of it has been,
in some degree at least, overlooked.
While our expectations of agricultural
products during the year have been won
derful, surprising in value those or any
preceding year in the history Of the coun-
try, and thus attracting universal atten-
ton, the expectation Of manufactures Is,
when considered in detail, equally int
resting in its bearing upon the general
commerce and prosperity, both present
and future, of the nation.
The expectation Of domestic manutac-
lures in the fiscal year 1898 is set down
by the records of the Bureau of Stats
tics Of the Treasury Department at
$2SS 81, 449, which is nearly twelve millions
of dollars greater than any preceding year
in the history of the country. This is
especially interesting In view Of the fact
that the imports Of manufactures during
the year were abnormally small. In ad-
diton to this, 1t is reasonable to suppose
that the purchases of manufactures by
the people Of this country in the pros
porous year just ended were unusually
earnings and the further fact that during
several preceding years their purchases
in these lines had, because of the finan-
cial depression, been light. For these
two reasons, the smalness of importa-
tons OF manufactures and the probable
increased consumption of manufactures
by our own people, it is reasonable to
suppose that the home demand upon our
own manufacturers was unusually great
-
tention which they had formerly been
able to give 10 an invasion of foreign
markets In addition TO this, it had been
feared by some that the increased custom
rates adopted year ago would result in
a reduction of the purchases OF our goods
by citizens Of other nations, but this ex-
pectatlon was not realized.
In view Of these facts, the large expor-
tations of manufactures In the year lust
ended is. 10 say the least, a very notable
feature of the commerce of this remark
able year. The total expectation of man
ufactures for the year as already indi-
Gated. is $2SsS71, 449, which is more than
double that Of a decade ago. almost three |
times as much as that Of 1880. more than |
four times as much as in 1870. and seven !
times as mach as in 1860. How much |
the Centennial exhibition had to do with |
awakening taste throughout the world l
for our manufactures and products which |
were there exhibited would be difficult to |
say, but IL is an interesting fact at least /
that in that year QS70 the expectation /
of manufactures for the first time |
touched the 500, 900 600 line, and since that |
time has gone steadily forward. until in
1888 it reached $2SS.s71 .449, or nearly
sl2.ooo,0o0 more than in any preceding
year.
ARTICLES OF EXPORT.
What are the manufactured articles
which we have so freely exported and
who have been their purchasers? To an
swer these in detail would occupy much
space for they include almost every va
riety OF article that could be imagined,
and go TO every part of the world.
OF agricultural implements the exporta-
lions of the fiscal year 1898 were S7,60S, 1872
against $2.6i5,lS In 1883. They went 10
Great Britain France, Germany. British
North America Central and South Ameri-
"a, British East Indies, and Australasia,
other parts of Asia and Oceanica, and
even to Africa. while the great grain
fields OF Russia also drew largely upon
)ur manufacturers in this line. Our cars
'or street and steam railways went to all
parts OF Europe, China. Japan, and the
East Indies TO Brazil, 10 Cuba, 10 Cen
raj America. Hawaii. Mexico. and Az
-.ca. the value Of this class Of exporta-
ions for the year amounting TO g. 42l, 40.
Dur cotton goods went 10 every part OF
he world. China. British North America,
south America. and Ocean.ca being the
argest purchasers. the total exports OF
,otton manufactures for the year being
II. 024092. against S9.999.27 in 1890. People
n Africa and China and British East
indies and Cuba and British Australasia,
md Japan and Mexico. as well as all
Iarts of Europe, are riding our bicycles,
he expectation for the year being 1886
20 against less than 900 in the fiscal
ear 1856. Our expectation OF copper and
thereof has increased
Enormously in the past few years.
'eing SS21S0.S2 in the fiscal year
ust ended, against $3.S2.79S in 1855.
u refined mineral oils the expor-
alton during the year amounted 10
81, 1925 In value. against A7.0i2, 400 in
SIS. The value Of the years ex-
,ortation OF oil Is slightly less than that |
4 the preceding year. which was S5S.4sS,-
S.. but this is due altogether to a reduc
ion In price. the number OF gallons ex
orted being &, 10000 greater than In the
preceding year. Every part Of the world
ccepted and used our Illuminating oil.
aore than 100000 gallons going 20 |
Erica. 20000.00o 10 British Australasia,
900 20 China. and $4,000 70 Japan.
he largest article or class OF articles
ncluded In the list OF exports OF manu-
actures is manufactures OF iron and
teeI" The value OF this single class Of
xports In 1898 was s7.36T.5zT. against
30 lO6, 8s2 in 1888. and ST. 0e4 in 1855 thus
howing an increase OF 800 per cent IN ten
ears. while. curiously. there has been
corresponding decrease in the tmporta-
ions OF manufactures OF iron and steel ,
,hich fell from SIS. 90. 757 In 1858 10 N2.el5.-
Is in 1893