New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
DTJTTES AND IMPORTS.

Something Is now known or the SourceS HUH
which came the remarkable customs revenue
for March. 500 933. 436 in amount, larger 'han IN
ony other month since June, 1897, and, except
ING TINT and two other months while the tarlH
of that wear was pending, the largest since jan
nary. 1893 The little tea duty added by the
war tax of last year yielded In March So43,
but the customs receipts exclusive OF this SUM
would still have been the largest since January
1902 except I'm the three months when imports
IN anticipate new duties were abnormay heavy.
The duties on wool were not large, amounting
to only 1919 on 7.447.47S pounds imported or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption
and as this averages little over cents pound
nearly all the foreign wool entering into con-
sumption must have been carpet WOOL worth
less than - cents a pound. But even II tnis
item also were deducted from customs receipts
in March, the remainder would be greater than
the total customs receipts in any month since
January, 1893. excepting the three months men
toned
The greatest single change appears to have
been heavy withdrawal of sugar for con
sumption, amounting to 36964544f pounds,
valued at S. 1895. on which the duties paid
were 81, O61 800. This was about 30 per cent OF
the total customs receipts exclusive Of those
above named. and corresponds closely both In
quantity and value with the total imports a
year ago in March, but in that month over
3OOOOOOO pounds went into warehouse to
await a future demand. This year the with
drawal for consumption was but 43,OOO,OOO
pounds smaller than the imports. indicating
smaller stocks in rcfnerles. with much more
urgent demand for use In consumption. Owing
to enormous imports to anticipate duties in
1891 the quantity taken into consumption from
imports or warehouse during the fiscal year
ending with last June was only 1857 100000
pounds scarcely greater than the dutable i'm
ports In eight months ending with February;
but Wlett & Gray report stocks In all hands
about the end of March lower than n year ago,
and weekly consumption in manufacture 1900
TONS or about 20 per cent larger than year ago.
Thus the position Of the sugar industry ac
counts for good part Of the increase in Gus
toms receipts. and 1t Is generally believed that
the year will be one Of extraordinary consump
ton and, in consequence Of heavy revenue from
this source But in most other dutiable classes
Of Importance the imports are not unusually
large. The value Of drygoods imported for con-
sumption and taken from warehouse in four
weeks ending March 80 only S9.339,OOO,
against SSS3S0O0 In the same weeks last year
and the first week of April shows no increase.
but slight decrease. The February return.
the latest published in full, suffices to indicate
clearly the general tendency during the fiscal
year thus far. In every important class except
silks the imports of manufactured products
were smaller or not materially larger in eight
months ending with February than in the CORE
spending months of 1S06-'07 under low duties
N lose Inn mi In in
of iron more than a third lower, in wood and its
manufactures nearly as much lower. in chemi-
Gals little less in manufactures Of fibres about
8 per cent less and in manufactures of leather
slightly larger. while the increase In cotton
goods was less than per cent. In silk goods
an increase of about s2.7O0.OOO appears. which
would look large but for the Increase of
81 100000 in imports OF raw silk. indicating
extraordinary activity in the home manufacture
Indeed, the most striking feature OF the re
turn Is the great increase I'm imports OF the prln-
clpal raw materials except wool. In silk the in
crease In eight months compared with 1866
has been 100000 pounds or 81 per cent; I'm
hides 40.OOO.0OO pounds. or 81 per cent I'm india.
rubber s,2OO,OW pounds. or 90 per cent: in
iibres 10000 tons, or 10 per cent and In tin
0,WO,OO0 pounds or 81 per cent These re-
markable gains give some idea OF the activity
prevailing in branches Of industry of which
comparatively few returns are mnde public
Obviously no expansion In imports not dutIuble
helps the revenue. but there Is partly CORE
spending Increase In imports OF partially mann
factured articles to he used AZ materials for
furfher manufacture. Finally. the general i'm
Irovemenf In the condition Of the people and OF
business Is reflected In heavy imports OF articles
Il.
last year. In liquors 20 per cent I'm foreign spIr-
Its - per cent, In perfumcries 20 per cent I'm
dutabe jewclry and precious stones a. Der
cent, In laces and cmbrolderes over 20 nor conf
and In dutiable art works nearly 40 Der con,
Enlargement OF expenditure for such articles.
which usually bear comparatively high duties,