The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-25
FURNITURE.
Here. Too, the Balance of Trade Has Beer
Shifted to the Side of the United States.

Here. Too, the Balance of Trade Has Been
Shifted to the Side of the United States.
The United States were for many years a
market for foreign-made furniture. especially
OF the higher and more expensive grades.
Mahogany tables, sideboards and cabinets and
furniture of rosewood and ebony, particularly
desks and tables. were familiar articles Of
supply. coming chiefly from England and
France. In the cheaper lines OF furniture the
American market was supplied with American
made products. but the importations were con-
siderable and grew year by year until the enor-
nous development OF Americas product Of
factory-made furniture completely transformed
the situation.
By the last Treasury report. the total impor-
tations into the United States OF cabinet ware
and housefurnishings collectively amounted to
only S275.000. and the year previous it was
about the same. while the total value OF Ameri-
can-made furniture is now In excess OF $780,
100000 a year. The three chief cities in furni-
ture manufacture are New York. Chicago and
Grand Rapids. and the business Of the latter.
which had by the last Federal census thirty
one furniture factories and has still a greater
number now. has been steadily increasing.
There are In all the United States nearly 800
furniture. factories. distributed throughout
nearly all the States; but relatively few
which some of the most desirable wood
for furniture comes. An exception to this gen
eral rule is Georgia. in which Atlanta and
considerable work, The superiority OF Mich.
gan. woods for furniture making has secured
the esta bliShment OF a number Of factories in
CITIES OF that State besides Grand Rapids,
SSagIaaw and Muskegon among them. The
Pacinc coast states are coming competitors In
this field, too, Washington and California hay
Ing wood OF the desired quality and in almost
ineYhaustible quantities for furniture making.
Along with the increase in the home manu-
lecture OF furniture for the American market.
there has been developed an extensive foreign
trade In American furniture, completely chang
ing what was the rule up 10 a few years ago Of
the excess OF Imports, over exports In this
tions OF American furniture to foreign coun-
tries were to the value Of 49, 700, 900, and il Is n
curious fact that the country to which the
largest Quantity went. EXCLUSIVE Of England
American made furniture TO Africa, notwith.
standing the current belief that the household
furnishings OF, native Africans are about as
a meoSre as To 5h ss4S sySseT I clothing is sparse,
can furniture to the value OF $3.50 was
sent: to, Asia, exclusive Of China, japan and
India $4,000; to the Argentine RepubIic.
800 70 Mexico: 1857 900 to Cuba, S25.O0O;
Islands. $l25.090; 10 Brazil, $4,000; to China
S21:OOQ to India. SlS,O0O:to Japan S27oo0
70 the United States Of Colombia, $33.O0O: to
SGaanAdan; S52S; and 10 England. 81 .O27.-
not take, much American-mad furniture.
the value OF ,s23i.OOO. and to Germany srShf te tho be
value OF 5,O0 A still larger market for
probable, for its quality is constantly being
improved, and there Is at the same time a
lowering IN prices, and these two considera-
IONS point TO increasing trade, even apart from
! the evident expansion OF all American markets.