The times., 1899-12-31

Purchased Abroad for S519, 9,GG6-In-
creasinG Exports TO the Philippines
The tabulated statistics Of the foreign
trade of the United States reveal many
oddities and anomalies. A great nation
needs, as shown by the import list. are
various and peculiar. and the products
which are sent abroad show that the out
side world is no less whimsical than our
selves in what it regards as the essentials
and luxuries of life.
The report OF the Bureau Of Statistics,
covering the first month of the year 1899
is complete epitome of everything sold
and everything bought in the foreign trade
of the United States in that period. In
both exports and imports many things are
found which arouse wonder in the average
man 1t is interesting to note, for in
stance. that despite the great advance of
the automobile in popular favor both as
pleasure vehicle and for strictly utilitar-
ian purposes, and despite the prophesy
so often made that the horse Is soon to
become an extinct animal, there were up
wards of 5000 horses imported into the
/ United States during the first eleven
months of 1899 valued at $519. .666 In the
same eleven months of 1897 the number
was only 1900 and the value somewhat
less than $500, ,000. 1t is evident that many
OF these animals were expensive hunters
and other fine breeds as the average value
per head was about Sl7G. The horses i'm
ported free nearly all came from Great
Britain, and the dutiable animals were
nearly all brought from Canada
The exports of horses aggregated 80, ,S75,
valued at S. 240, $40, a slight decline in
both the number and the value being shown
+. for the same months OF 1888. Half OF the
American horses went to Great Britain and
about 10000 20 Canada France Germany.
and other European countries. Central
America, South America, Asia, Oceanica,
Africa. the West Indies, and the Philip
pines all bought horses from this country
II is interesting to note also that 800
horses were sent to the Philippines, though
neither in 1897 nor in 1898 were any Of
these animals exported TO those islands.
Pictures and other art works imported
during the eleven months referred to were
of value of 81, 800 000 compared with
$4,000 600 in 1898. More than half the pic
lures came from France. Books, music,
and maps imported were valued al So eco,
600, compared with 81 zoo, 000 in 1898. \
large part Of the impOrtations in this line
came from Great Britain
The art works and books exported were
very much less than the imports The
paintings and statuary sent abroad were
valued at $500, eco, and the books and maps
at =, 2,470,6l1 Books were sent ali over the
world, to England and France to China
and Japan 10 Australia, and to the South
American countries. Ten thousand dollars
worth of books were sent TO the Philip
pines, while in 1897 none were exported to
that country, and in 1893 only $413 worth.
The opium imported not to mention that
which was smuggled, was 500 0G0 pounds,
valued at $500, coo.
Patent medicine exports for eleven
months Of 1929 were valued at 50. ESQ 600. a
gain OF $500 600 over the same period Of the
previous year. 1t cannot be discovered that
any patent medicines were imported, but
nearly 2000,0 gallons of mineral waters
valued at $500 COO We're brought into the
country.
The United States, the greatest grain
producing and exporting country in the
world, nevertheless imported grain and
grain preparations valued at 81 500 GOO
Nearly 100000 bushels of wheat We're pur-
chased from other countries, valued at
$3.50 600. The imports Of coal are quite as
remarkable. More than 1900 eco tons of
bituminous coal. valued at $500 000. were
l.
ain and other parts Of Europe from Brit
ish North America, Mexico, Japan, Asia.
and elsewhere.
The exports Of wheat for the eleven
months were 102 907 .s23 bushels. valued at
SIC. 500 900. and the exports Of -four were
1900 600 barrels valued at $64 400 500
The exports OF coal were 300 COO tons.
valued at S1+0O0.0C0. American coal went
to all countries from which this country
imported coal and to many others besides
The United States, likewise one Of the
greatest growers and exporters Of cotton
found use for as 600 .000 pounds Of raw cot
ton grown in other countries. valued st
5000, coo. Two-thirds Of this amount came
from Egypt. America exported in the
same period $500 600 pounds. or 1000 900
bales Of cotton valued at Sl65 600 600.
The exports of coal, OF breadztuffs and
Of cotton to the Philippines increased
heavily in 1889. More than 81 900 IONS OF
coal, valued at Sl25 600. were exported
thither, compared with only II GOO tons in
1898. and none in 1897 OF cotton cloths
l73.000 yards were sent to the new island
possessions. valued at $4,000. while in
1898 the total exports Of cotton cloth were
less than $500 in value. and in 1897 they
were nothing. Two dollars worth OF other
cotton goods were sent to the islands in
1885 and this amount had grown to sc 600
on November 30.
The United States imported 90 coo
dozen Of eggs IN the period Of eleven
months, valued at $23,941. The exports of
eggs were 100000 dozen, valued at
$3.50 600
The luxury Of foreign bonnets and hats
for American women reduced to figures
shows that impOrtations Of finished "crea-
tons and Of millinery materials we're
valued at 81 300, GOO, an increase of $500,
900 over the same months in 1898, and OF
$500 900 over 1897.
The country was both an importer and
an exporter of hops II purchased 800
0o5 pounds for $440 eco, and sold l2 300
COO pounds, valued al 81 900 600 It was
both an importer and an exporter of hay,
and curiously enough the imports were al
most exactly equal to the exports. The
hay imported was So, O65 tons. valued at
$3j4.S52, and the exports were 60 $50 tons,
valued at $797 600. The price paid per
ton for imported hay was thus only half
the price received by this country for the
exports.
The United States was a rather heavy
/ importer Of iron ore. pig iron. and manu-
/ factured iron despite the immense increase
OF production in this country. More than
$4,000 tons of ore valued at $3.50 009 re
imported. and 80 900 tons Of pig iron. va
ued at $l,160000, were brought from
abroad. The total importations Of iron and
steel and articles manufactured from tn IN
were valued at $l4 200 J00 The exports OF
iron ore were only % GOG fouc valued a.