The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-04-29
PURCHASES ABROAD.
Interesting Figures of Our Imports
for the Year 1903.
We Bought Less of Foreign Merchan-
disc Than at Any Time In the
Past Twenty Years, Ex-
ceptiIlg Only 1885.


United States ih the year just ended,
the first full calendar year of the
Dingley tariff, has just been completed
by the bureau of statistics. They show
the smallest importation in 20 years,
with the single exception of the year
1885. The total imports for the year
are 1854 ,229, the revised figures be-
ing slightly in excess of those of the
preliminary statement issued by the
bureau of statistics earlier in the
month. This is 500 600 900 less than
the imports of 1897, and $200,000O00
less than those of 1892, while, as already
indicated they are the lowest in 20
years with the single exception of 1885.
The reduction of imports is altogether
in articles free of duty, the dutiable
imports in 1898 being 1866, sos, $40, while
those of 1897 were $685.. 1909 ,240. while
the free of duty articles imported
amounted in value in 1898 to $26S, $780,
$50, against $377, 1926, ITO in 1897. This
reduction of 100000, 900 in the importa-
ton of non-dutiable articles is due,
first, to very great reduction in the
importations of of wool and the trans
fer of wool from the free to the dutiable
list, second, to a reduction in the free
importation of manufactured articles
whether for use in the mechanic arts
or for consumption; third, to the trans
fer of tea from the free list to the dutia-
BILE list, and, fourth, to reduction in
the prices and also a slight reduction
in the quantity of coffee imported.
Articles manufactured for use in the
mechanic arts fell from 25,293.522 in
1897 to $19, 166, SIT in 1898; articles man
ufactured for consumption fell from
$50 942,277 in 1897 to $7,S42, 537 in 1898,
and articles of voluntary use, luxury,
ETC., fell from $6702,37O in 1897 to
1851 ,377 in 1898. The above statements
all relate to the non-dutiable importa-
tions.
Under the dutiable head the imports
of 1898, as already indicated, differ but
little from those of 1897. Articles Of
food and live animals coming in under
the datiable list amounted in 1898 to
$1O0,506,14S, against $102,349,373 in
1897. Articles in crude condition for
domestic industry show a marked in
crease, being $49, O7o, 1928 in 1898, against
$32,555,7 94 in 1897, this being due to the
general activity on the part of manu-
facturers and to the fact that wool
was free in 1897, this being due to
the general activity on the part of man
ufacturers and to the fact that wool
was in July, 1897, transferred from the
free to the dutiable list. Articles man
ufactured for use in the mechanic arts
amounted in 1898 to $39, 961 ,169, against
$55,S79,363 in 1897, and articles manu-
featured for consumption amounted to
$96,962,272 in 1898, against $97 1893. COS
in 1897 and $1OO,3S1 1908 in 1896.
Articles of voluntary use, luxuries,
etc. under the dutiable list, amounted
in value to $S0.095, 1872 in 1895, against
$76,625, 1O5 in 1897. This increase is ex-
planned by the greater prosperity and
greater purchasing power of the people
under protection. Of the total impor-
tations of 1898, 42.2 per cent. were i'm
ported free of duty, against 500 per
cent. in 1897 4S per cent. in 1895, SGT
per cent. in 1894, 5l.S per cent. in 1891,
80 per cent. in 1890, and from 80 to 35
per cent. in the years ranging from 1884
to 1851.
The reduction of more than 100000
900 in imports is apportioned among
the great groups as follows: Articles
manufactured for consumption, $14,-
100000; articles manufactured for use
in the mechanic arts, $22 ,0O0,0 900; ar,i-
cles of food and live animals, So, OO0,-
600, and articles in crude condition for
domestic industry, $39.0O0,OO0.
The following table shows the impor-
tations by classes in 1898, compared
with 1897:
Year ending Dec 81
Free of duty: Dollars Dollars
Articles of food and live
animals. 80. ,11S,144,7O S7,32s,654
Articles in a crude con-
dition for domestic in
dustry.. ........, ,2oe. POI $50. It's, 5s5
Articles manufactured
For mechanic arts. So. rs, 1882 19ls6517
For consumption. 2O,9422T 7,S42,5S1
Articles of voluntary I
use. luxuries. etc.. s,7C2,s7O S,S5l,s71
Total free of duty. 81. 1926. ITO 26s. s62, $50
Dutlable:
Articles of food and live
animals. :. 80. 1902. 1888 1oOsos,14s
Articles In crude con-
dition for domestic in
dustry . 90 55h 7aA 40 n7o coz
Articles manufactured '''''-'
For mechanic arts. :. 55S7S. 1863 40 e61. 1sC
For consumptio1...:. @,S9S,6O5 s6,S62,27
use, luxuries, etc.. go. 76,625 l05 "a. 095 1S1
Total dutiable. :, :. ..s65. sO2.24O S66. ,5as
Free and dutiable:
Articles of food and live
animals. ......,, -. .,22o, l1S Isl. 500 80:
Articles in a crude con- 7.
dition for domestic in
dT1stry,:;: ,2Ss,Sol 1896 1ss.24s,41s
For mechanic arts. 49,. 81, IN .SS5 59127 6St
For consumption. lis, $50 104' S04 SO.
Articles Of voluntary
use, iuxuries. etc. -. ssls27,475 ss,s4s,5l4
Total imports of mer-
chandise.. $50 6S4.s5S,22
What Settled The Money Trouble.
The Chronicle has often pointed Out
that it was free trade, or the approx
nation to it, which Cleveland and the
democrats ofrc@d on the United State.
that made the money question an acut,