The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-17
TRADE FIGURES OF 1900
FAVORABLE TRADE BALANCE is
NEARLY $50 MILLIONS.
Exports Are 1,47O Millions and I'm
parsons of Startling Significance.
;pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The CONNER
cial record of the United States in the
calendar year 1900 will surpass that of any
preceding year both in exports and In the
excess of exports over imports, or favor
able balance of trade as this excess is
termed. The imports will be slightly below
those of one or two preceding years, n
when considered in their relation to popu-
lation show a smaller importation for each
individual than at almost any other period
in many years. Basing the estimate for
the year on the eleven months actual fig
ures already received by the treasury
bureau of statistics it seems probable that
the exports of the calendar year 1900 will
reach about 81. 470, 900. 600 and the imports
ss25, 600. Goo. making the excess of exports
over imports, or favorable balance of trade,
se45, 900, OOO. a sum greater by SIS, 10000 than
that of any preceding year. 1t is only
since 1873 that the exports have with any
regularity exceeded the imports or pro-
duced the favorable balance of trade which
has almost continuously characterized our
during the last quarter of a
century. Yet il remained for the closing
of the century to present not only the high
est figures of exports, but the highest rec
ord Of excess of exports over imports, or
favorable balance of trade, in the history
of our commerce.
said that for the calendar year 1900 they
will be double those of the calendar year
1888, three times those of 1872, four times
those of 1869 and five times as much as in
1860. On the import side the figures are less
imposing. They will aggregate for the year
about s25.0o0,c0O against $4,000 600 in the
calendar year 1892, when they reached the
high-water mark Of the century's imports.
Considering the commerce from the per
capita standpoint, the contrast between
the import and export figures is even
more phenomenal. Following the records
of our commerce back to 1870, il is found
that the imports, when considered in the
light of the actual population, have de-
creased rather than increased, while the
per capita of exports has enormously in
creased. In 1870 the population was 49,
55S. ST.. and the imports 1851, 132. 05s, an av-
erage per capita of $l1.96. In 1880 and 1890
the per capita was a little above $13; in
1895 it had fallen to SLIT, and in 1900 will
be about 5000. This shows a slight de-
crease per capita comparing 1900 with 1870,
and a material decrease comparing 1900
with 1880 or 1890. On the export side the
increase is even more striking. In 1870 the
exports per capita amounted to SIC. 46; in
1885 to SIPS; in 1890 TO $13.69, and in 1900
will be about S19.42 Thus the imports show
since 1870 a slight reduction per capita,
while the exports have almost doubled per
capita during the same period.
Considering the question of excess of
exports over imports. or favorable balance
of trade from the per capita standpoint.
the development is startling. In 1870 i'm
ports exceeded exports by So, $40, 04S, and
the excess of imports over exports amount
ed to s1.50 per capita. BY 1875 the balance
had turned in our favor, but amounted to
only IL cents per capita. By 1885 it amount
ed to $1.D per capita, and in 1900 will
amount to about $3.50 per capita. Thus, in
the thirty years the balance of trade has
gone from a minus quantity of $1.50 per
capita to a plus quantity of $3.50 per capita.