Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-02-02
FALLING OFF IN IMPORTS.
Total implications for 1908 the
Smallest in MANY Years.

Total Impbrtations for 1903 thu
Smallest in Many Years.
Washington, Fell. i.-The detaiis
Of the import trade Of the tinted
States in the year just ended have
been completed by the bureau OF
statistics. They show the smallest I'M
perthtihh in twenty years, With the
single exception of the year 1855. This
total imports for the year are $634,95s,'
229, the revised figures being slightly
in excess of those of the preliminary
statement, issued by the bureau OF
statistics earlier in the month. This is
S1U6, B6D;06d less THAN the import. OF
1897, and 5000, 100000 less than those oil
1892, while, as already Indicated, they
are the lowest in twenty years. with
the single exception of 1885.
The reduction Of imports j.s alto
gether in articles free of duty; the
dutiable imports in 1898 being $685.
595,549, while those OF 1891 We're 500
s02,240, while the free of duty articles
imported amounted in value in 1898 to
$2Gs, 1862 $50, against S377,32o,1l0 in
1897. This reduction of Si0o,oOO,000 IN
the Importation of non-dhtiable arti.
clcs is due, first, to Il very great reduce
tibh in the importations of wool and
the transfer of wool from the free to
the dutiable list; second, to reduc-
ton in the free importation of manu-
featured articles, whether for use in
the mechanic arts or for consumption;
third, to the transfer of tea from the
free list to the dutiable list, and,
fourth, to reduction in the prices and
also a slight reduction in the quantity
sof coffee imported.
The class, PARTICLES of food and live
animals" which amounted to $11s,144,-
700 in 1897, was but $sT,323, 644 in 1898,
and this, as already indicated, is reaeli-
ly accounted for by the transfer of tea
from the free to the dutiablc list, and,
second, by the reduced prices, as we'll
as reduced importations, of coffee and
certain other articles which still come
in free of duty, but, the price having
been reduced, do not make as large a
total in values as last year.
Articles manufactured for use in
the mechanic arts fell from S25,293, 522
in 1897 to $19,166,517 in 1898; articles
manufactured for consumption fell
from S2O,942,27 in 1897 to 81 ,S42, 537 in
1898, and articles of voluntary use, lux
ury, etc, fell from $6,7o2,37o in 1897 to
$3,s51,377 in 1898. The above state
ments all relate to the non-dutiable
| importations.
Under the dutiable head the imports
of 1898, as already indicated, differ but
little from those of 1897. Articles OIL
food and live animals, coming in under
the dutiable list, amounted in 1898 te
500, 5O6,14s, against $102,349,373 III
1897. Articles in crude condition fol
domestic industry show marked i'll
crease, being $49,O70,s23 in 1898
against $32, 555,794 in 1897, this being
due to the general activity on the par
of manufacturers and to the fact thai
wool was, in July, 1897, transferred
from the free to the dutiable list.
Articles manufactured for use in the
mechanic arts amounted i'm 1898 TO S3o,
961 1863, against $55,S7S,363 in 1897, ane
articles manufactured for consumption
amounted to SOC, 962,272 in 1898, agains
$97, 1903 sos in 1897, and $100,3S1,3os IL
1896. Articles of voluntary use, lux
uries, ETC., under the dutiable list
amounted in value to Ss0,O95, l32 IL
1898, against $76,625, 1o5, in 1897. o
the total importations of 1898, 42.2 pc
cent we're imported free OF duty
against 500 per cent in 1897, 48 pc
cent in 1895, 56.7 per cent in 1894, o..
per cent in 1891, 35 per cent III 1870
and from 80 to 35 per cent in the year,
ranging from 1884 to 1891.
The reduction of more than S1oo,
100000 in imports is apportionec
among the great group as follows:
Articles manufactured for consump
ton, S14,ooo,ooo; articles manufac
tured for use in the mechanic arts
$22, 100000; articles of food and live
animals, 100000, and articles in 9
crude condition for domestic indus
try, S39,OOO,OOO.