The evening times., 1900-02-06
STATISTICS OF COMMERCE.
Interesting Facts Concerning I'm
ports aud Exports.
The Trade of the United States, as
Set Forth fn Government Publf-
of Rapid Transit on the De-
mand for Horses in This Country.

There are more things than the dry sta
tistics Of the shipments Of wheat and coal
to be found in the summary Of American
imports and exports for 1899, recently pub
lished by the Bureau of Statistics. Exact
figures on the imports of ladies' millinery
and gloves from Paris are made available.
1t is possible to discover that very small
importation Of Japanese art works has
been sufficient to supply the millions of
dollars worth of alleged Japanese goods
sold in this year. 1t is shown that despite
the advent of the bicycle, the electric stree!
railway, and the automobile the country
has imported large number Of horses
in the year. and SO on Indefinitely, the list
Of the transactions in a great nations
trade might be prolonged.
Mr.. Austin, the Chief of the Bureau CT
Statistics, is almost engulfed in this class
of figures. His records are filled with
them.
The horse will be an extinct animal in
a certain number of years, unknown, ac-
cording to the theories Of the rapid tran
sit enthusiasts. The friends OF the horse
will be interested to learn that America
with more rapid transit than all the re-
mainder of the world combined imported
in 1899 more than 5000 horses, valued at
more than s5500 900 or nearly 5000 each.
The number OF animals imported has fall
len off somewhat since 1897, but the total
value is greater, which seems TO indicate
that hunters and other finer breeds, for
pleasure purposes largely, are still quite
as much in favor as before the automo-
bile fever came.
America was at the same time rather
heavy exporter of horses the total num-
ber exported being $4,000, valued at s5.147,-
600. Exports OF horses have increased
slightly in the past two years. II is inter
esting 10 note that this country exported
horses to the Philippines for the first time
last year, the number being 1,i54, valued
at $l37, 900.
The trade of America with Japan pre-
sents several interesting contrasts. Under
the head, art works" the imports for that
country, if there were any, were so small
that they were not enumerated. Japan
sent only $500 of books to America, and
only $500. Coo of "earthen, stone, and china
ware" Manufactures of paper imported
from that country were $3.50, coo. The i'm
ports of carpets were inconsiderable and
japanese toys are not mentioned. tritie
more than half million dollars was there
fore spent on these goods sold in the ia
panese stores" On the other hand S32,
worth Of coal was imported from that
and s.. 900 worth of oranges, which
the consumer probably believed were home
productions.
In the matter of teas and silks Japan
lives up TO her reputation better. The to-
tai imports of tea by this country in the
year were S7,CO00O0 pounds valued at $11,-
600 000. OF this amount Japan furnished
&c 000, ,000 pounds valued at 4.500. coo. 1t
will be seen that the cost was about l. 1-2
cents a pound, 4 figure that it is interest
ing to compare with the price paid by the
The imports OF raw silk from Japan in
the year were $500. 900 pounds, valued at
$21, ,000O00. about half the total imports of
the country from all sources. The imports
of silk manufactures from Japan were 3d.
Geo GOO.
The craze for Paris gloves has not vet
attained alarming proportions or if it has
it is satisfied largely with the imitation
article. The total imports Of gloves from
France in the year were only $4,000, ,000
which would hardly give two pairs each b
10 the women OF Greater New York and
Boston. The glove importations from Ger
many were larger by 100000 than those
from France.
The Bureau of Statistics does not go into
detail on the question Of imported millin-
cry but II is stated that the total imports
of hats. bonneGs. and hoods" from all
was only S65s. 10. 1t will be seen
that this amount does not allow of many
$50 Paris Creations for the year.
The tobacco statistics furnished by Mr..
Austin tend to create suspicion of the
Havana cigars smoked by the many
millions in a year in America. The total
of cigars and cigarettes imported from al
in 1899 was only 100000. II
there are 10. 600, 600 smokers in the country
their average consumption of Havanas vas
one each four months during the year. The
importation of Cuban tobacco leaf was
larger II, 1,000,0 900 pounds valued at Sc, 900.-
GOO in fact. but even this amount seems
to be far from enough to account for the
cigars labelled "all Havana 1t is
most encouraging fact, however. that last
years importations were far in excess of
those in the two years before. In 1897
only s2.50O,000 of Cuban tobacco was
bought. and in 1898 the amount was but
s., soc, ,000
Consumers of foreign" champagnes will
be Interested 10 ledTH lHdI the lOld1 I'LL
portation of champagnes and other spark
ling wines for an entire year was only
277. .421 dozens, valued at 81 600 600.
Another of the anomalies of America S
foreign trade is in the fact that the great
est grain producer and exporter in the
world should be also an importer of wheat,
flour, oats. and other breadstuffs The
exports of wheat in the past year were
109, 600, 000 bushels, valued at $S1, ,450 600.
but despite this fact, 45S,639 bushels of
wheat were imported from some foreign
for some purpose not easily un-