The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-02
NOTABLE ACTIVITY
OF MANUFACTURERS
SHOWN IN IMPoRTATIoNs AS
WELL AS EXPORTS.
The Increased Demand for Raw Silk
India Rubber, Fibers and Hides, as
Shown in the Custom Receipts,
Means That Our Workshops Have
Been Unusually Busy.
Special to The Scranton Tribune.

Special to The Scranton Tribune.
Washington, Jan. THAT the manu-
facturers Of the United States and
those depending upon them have been
exceptionally busy in the year just
ended is shown by some figures re-
lating to the imports of manufacturers
materials and manufactured goods
compiled by the treasury bureau Of
statistics. with large importations of
manufacturers materials and small i'm
portations of manufactured goods, and
accompanying this an abnormally large
demand at home for manufactures, II
is apparent that those engaged i'm their
production must have found constant
occupation.
Four great classes of raw materials
are habitually and necessarily brought
into the country for manufacturers
use-raw silk india rubber, fibers and
hides. If the importations of these
show marked increase, it may be ac-
Ceptcd as evidence of increased ac-
tiVity on the part of manufacturers.
1t is interesting, therefore, to COM
pare the figures of the eleven months
impOrtatiOns in these great classes
with those of earlier years. The fig
ures covering the eleven months show
that in hides the importations have
been largely in excess of any earlier
year, the total value of hides imported
in the eleven months of 1898 being $685.
2OS4OO against S3O,915,367 in the cores
pOnding months Of last year, and $17,-
915,32S in the corresponding months of
1896. The number of pounds imported
in 1898 were in round numbers. 0.000-
900 in excess of the corresponding
months of 1897.
RUBBER.
Indian rubber, of which large guam
titles are used by our manufacturers
show in eleven months of the present
year a value of So, 2,S31.57S against $19
270,633 in eleven months of 1897, $12.-
964,633 in 1896 against $17,413,S4S in 1895.
Raw silk for the ten months ending
with October amounts to $21, 40225 in
value against 500. 500, 900 in the cores
ponding months of 1897. and s10,529,S37
in the corresponding months of 1896
being thus IN ten months of 1898 more
than double that of the corresponding
period of 1896. OF fbers the importa-
tions in the eleven months ended with
November amounted to S15,542, ,211
against $12, 2,3O5 1858 in the corresponding
326,506 in the eleven months of 1896.
In all of these four great articles i'm
ported for the use of manufacturers it
will be seen that the importations Of
the year for the period covered by the
above figures have been in excess of
the preceding years; rubber being 50
per cent larger than in 1894 silk 50
per cent. in excess of 1893; hides more
than double that of 1895 or 1894, and
fibers 80 per cent. in excess of 1894
When this increase in materials i'm
ported for the use of manufacturers is
considered in CONNECTION with the fact
that the importations of manufactures
have fallen in the year just ended from
$3.50, 600, 900 in 1897 to $3.50, 600 900 in the
present year, it will be seen that there
is good reason to believe that the
manufacturers have been exceptionally
busy. In addition to this, the figures
of the treasury bureau of statistics
show that the exports of manufactures
in the year just ended will he more
than 100000, 600 in excess of those of
any preceding year, and will reach in
round terms an average of 81 900, 900
day for every business day of the year.
WOOL.
In only a single article among the inn
pOrtatiOns for manufacturers use has
the year 1898 failed to show an in
creased demand. This single article is
wool. The imports Of wool in 1897 were
abnOrmally great by reason of the i'm
porters bringing in all the foreign wool
available prior to the enactment of the
tariff law Of 1897 which transferred wool
from the free to the dutiable list. The
wool importatiOns of eleven months Of
1897 amounted to 1885,, ,264 pounds
against 133, 35j. .265 i'm the corresponding
months of the preceding year, and
against an average in the correspond
ing months of earlier years of less than
half that quantity. In other words, a
fun two years supply of foreign wool
was brought into the country i'm the
| calendar year 1897, and it is not sur
| prising. therefore, that the eleven
months of 1898 show imports of only
| 80, ia, ,620 pounds 1t is thus apparent
! that the small impOrtatiOns of wool in
/ 1895 did not indicate a lack of activity
! on the part of woolen manufacturers.
! since they evidently had in hand when
| the year began a full ordinary years
| supply, and the fact that 81. 600 900
| pounds have been imported i'm eleven
months Of 1898, in addition to the large
! stock on hand at the end Of 1897, indi-
/ Gates an unusual activity on their part,