New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-02
GROWING EXPORTS.

There is 50 much solid encouragement in the
record of foreign trade for August that the com
plete returns just published deserve notice
1t has been seriously apprehended that the
marked advance In prices especially of manu-
featured products Of iron. might cut off an i'm
pOrtant part Of the gain recently achieved in
exports Of such articles. But the record for
August shows a larger value Of manufactured
products exported than in any previous month,
not including as manufactures the refined petrO
leum. The exports Of iron and steel products
with agricultural implements, cars and cycles
and Instruments, amounted TO S12442014
against S9061 800 in the same month last year
and were larger than in any other month ex
cept March and April, when the excess was
less than S5O0000 The exports Of copper
and its products were S4.21S,535 in value
and were but slightly exceeded in March only
while the exports Of wood manufactures were
larger than in any previous month. The value
of leather and manufactures has been exceeded
in two months. Of cotton manufactures in three,
and Of vegetable oil and oil cake in several
but of paraftine in no previous month. In these
and manufactures Of paper, tobacco, fbres,
india rubber and glass. fertilizers, starch,
paints naval stores glucose and books and
publications. considerable gains appear, so that
the aggregate value of twenty classes was S33-
$50. $50, against S25.329.S11 last year, a gain Of
over 100000, or 316 per cent.
Dcductng the great staples, breadstufs, cot
ton provisions and oil. In which an increase Of
$0.4000OO appeared in August, the remaining
exports were S4S.0lS.j36, against S3s, 59S,Ss7, a
gain Of over Sl000OOO0 and such exports in
the aggregate have never been as large In any
previous month. About four-ffths Of this gain
is In the manufactured products above men
toned and in great number Of smaller items
Of the same character the gain relatively
greater. Coming after most Of the remarkable
rise in prices had been realized, this return
shows clearly that foreign markets for Ameri.
can products have not been as much affected
thereby rs was expected This IS in part be.
cause manufacturers are still working on many
orders taken before the great advance began
but most Of these must by this time have been
filled and il Is well known that others
have been placed at continually rising prices
even 10 this time, for some were taken last
week. while others are stu pending for rails
and many kinds Of machinery.
The fact Of chief importance is that the
greater part Of the demand "a for finished prod
ucts the cost Of which does not depend mainly
upon the cost Of raw material The great va
rety Of machinery exported amounting in value
for August to $7,595410 out of the S1244og74
Of iron products, does not rlre IN price nropor.
tonately 10 the cost Of materials and has
conc to he valued by great number Of Gus
toners in other countries on account ~ OK
ccllcnces which cause American 70 he preferred
even though II is in many cases dearer than
competing foreign machinery. Exports az this
class and Of the finished products Of many
othe- industries. appear to command the for
eicn market thus far as fully as they did before
the rise in prices. change in this respect
may come, but II is gratifying TO find evidence
that it has not yet begun to appear
The Importance Of this in connection with
doubts and difficulties in the money market will
be appreciated II the month Of August alone
there appears n gain Of more than S1OOOO 600 in
exports Of products Lot Of the great staples and
considerably over 100000 in the exports II
manufactured products Were this increase to
continue during the coming year there would
be no room for apprehension regarding the sup
ply Of gold from other countries Indeed there
IS but little room for such apprehension now. II
estimates based on past returns do not mis-
lead In regard TO the unsettled balances al
ready due from other countries to the United
States. But with every reason 10 expect full
outward movement OF the great staples and
sufficient supplies 10 sustain such a movement
il is clear that with continuing increase in the
manufactured products this country VIII he
steadily gaining In the money markets Of the