New-York tribune., 1899-05-17

Although March exports >of this sort are usu-
ally larger than in April. a little relative de-
crease OF 81, 200 900 may be recognized, with the
fact that the remarkable gain which has so
nearly balanced losses In the exports OF staples
for months past has been arrested Hence all
exports fall TO $SS,S7. .194. and the excess or ex
ports over imports was only $23'145,65S for the
month OF April. n handsome balance, 1t Is true
but excepting In Judy the smallest In any month
since the summer Of 1897. The imports were
not heavy for the season, the difference being
in diminished movement Of staples, with a de-
crease Of S4,50OOOO in minor exports compared
|. with those Of March
1t cannot be determined for about two weeks
how much Of this decrease was in the CHIEF
products OF manufacture and due to an advance
in prices which has not ceased. The natural
impression is that much Of II may be found in
iron products, because the movement Of these
In March was exceptionally heavy, and the ad-
vance In prices has been unusual. But 1t Is not
10 be forgotten that the iron works were
crowded with orders, the largest establishments
until July before the rise In prices came In
February. and many of these orders were for
cign and not vet entirely executed The Fed
eral Steel Company now states that It's entire
capacity Is covered for the whole year and the
other large works are in similar position, many
of the orders booked even down to this time
being for foreign account There Is at least
fa.r probability that exports Of iron products
may continue larger than In previous years for
some time yet II no further orders should he
taken
As to exports Of breadstuffs also, there Is
little better outlook since May began, and the
lu
brings some increase In half Of May wheat
exports were a little larger than last year,
though lower in price, and cotton exports not
nearly as far behind as they were In April. The
more hopeful advices OF foreign prospects as to
wheat are little early, since the coming yield
in Europe can hardly be estimated with any
confidence at this date. Supplies for more than
two months have yet to be secured, ana may
be drawn largely from this country at low
prices even II foreign prospects continue good
The exports Of oil in April, though smaller IN
ouantlty. were larger in value than last year,
and exports Of cattle and provisions not much
behind last years. Still the fact remains that
neither in this month nor the next is the excess
of exports over imports likely to be nearly as
large as 1t was Inst year.
The specie movement in April was not impor-
tant. Net imports OF gold were S1,3o9,63s'
against net exports Of silver amounting to
81. 223333 1885, The Spanish settlement has passed
without disturbance, and the country stands In
no need of more gold, so that the change from
net imports Of $31, ,256134 gold In April of last
year need not be regarded as presenting dis
appointing contrast There is nothing In the
state of foreign trade TO warrant any apprehen-
sion. but n reasonable certainty that the coun-
try will be called upon for no gold In foreign
settlements for n long time, though 1t could
readily spare some and strong probability
TINT the favorable balance on merchandise ac-
count. though for a time smaller than 1t has
been during two phenomenal years. will con-
tInue TO call for settlements in cash by other
countries.