The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-27
WASHINGTON
CORRESpO NDENCE.

Special Dispatch 70 the Poet-Inteliigencer
WASHINGTON. March A-Ambaseadcr
Chcate's recent remark that the United
States and the United Kingdom would
doubtless continue friendly rivalry in
regard to the worlds commerce Is quite
justified By the latest figures on the COM
merce OF the two countries as supplied
BY the treasury bureau OF statistics These
show that the exports Of domestic ner-
ch1ndise from the United States in the
eight months ending with February
amount TO $50. 3S.14l and those from the
United KingdOm amount to $79S 50. g. In
the calendar year isSe the domestic ex-
ports from the United States amounted to
s. s3 5SASzS. while those OF the United
Kingdom amounted TO H.l3l ~. sal. The
year 1875 was the first in which the do
mestic exports from the United States ex-
ceeded the domestic exports from the
United Kingdom. On only two occasions
prior to 1855 have the domestic exports
OF tho United States exceeded billion
dollars. while those OF the United King
dom have constantly exceeded a billion
dollars during the past twenty years. The
latest year in which her exports of domes-
tic merchandise fell below the billion dol
lar line was 1879 when they amounted to
sseS go 0& while In 1888 they amounted
10 $.l3l .s44.33l. In 1872 our own exports
of domestic merchandise amounted to $7Sa..
CSC. 75S and in 1885 to 81. Is. sass. This
shows an increase in the twenty years Of
but p per cent. in the domestic exports
OF the United Kingdom and of S3 per
cept. in those OF the United States. ap-
parently quite tustifying Ambassador
Choate's assertion that the United States
would continue TO be q rival though
friendly one, OF the United Kingdom In
its relations with the commercial world.
That the rivalry has been and Is
-. Ifx.r % h0 o~fn ont nj
diaiity. is shown by the .act that despite
cur rapid increase in the supplies which
We are offering TO the markets of the
world, Great Britain continues to take a
proportsonate share of that increase. Our
exports of domestic merchandise to tho
United Kingdom in 1879 amounted to $685.
4sS.Ss1. and In 1888 were $5s4. ssS soc, an In
crease of 81 per cent. while. as already
shown. our general exports increased 81
per cent. during that period. This Is tho
more striking and worthy Of remark in
view of the fact that our own imports
from the United Kingdom have not In
creased at the rate her purchases from
US have grown. Indeed, the imports into
the United States from the United King
dom in 1885 are no greater than they were
twenty years ago. the imports from the
United Kingdom in 1879 being $loS. 5SS, Sl2.
and IN 1895 $10S. 945. lS5.
Upon this subject of the relative growth
of the export trade of the two countries,
the United States and the United King
dom. which Tin friendly rivalry supply
about one-third of the worlds importa-
tions, the following table will be interest
ing. 1t shows the expectation of do
nestle merchandise (by which term Is
meant purely home products. emitting all
foreign merchandise re-exported) of each
of the countries In question from 1865 to
1888. fiscal years ending June 50 being
given in the figures OF the United States.
and the year ending December 81 given IN
those relating to the expoQs of the United
Kingdom. The expectation of domestic
merchandise" only is given. as this seems
TO present more accurate picture of the
growth of the producing power of the
nation. The figures are taken in each
case from the official reports of the gov
eminent represented, and therefore in the
column showing the exports of Great
Britain, are stated in pounds sterling:
Exports Of Domestic Merchandise.