New-York tribune., 1900-12-07
FOREIGN MARKETS SECURED

Final official returns Of foreign commerce dur
ing the record breaking month Of October con-
tain few details worthy Of study. This un-
paralleled aggregate Of exports is slightly
increased to S163, ,129.316. on account Of few
reports not included in the preliminary state
ment. while imports also gain somewhat to
SI0,620,03O. This makes the balance on mer-
chandise account S92. 500. .2s6. which promises to
remain the record for several months because Of
the enormous movement OF cotton at high
price Other items of the account will undoubt-
edly expand but there will be a large margin
required to make up the S6O474.437 worth of
raw cotton sent abroad, Of which the United
Kingdom took $35. 49,. .336-within S5OOOOOO of
the total exports to all countries of this article
in December. 1895. which was the top point
heretofore.
Much more encouraging, because Of their
steady increase. are the figures Of manufactured
articles sent 10 foreign customers. In this de-
partment the Improvement has been gradual
and promises to continue. In October the total
so classified was S37, ,656337, against S33 S64 376
in 1899. An unsatisfactory item was the de-
crease OF $1O3.2S1 in manufactures OF cotton
but the loss 10 China alone was ST47, ,459
there appears moderate gain TO other countries
in the value of exports. although the advance
in prices reduced the quantity sent elsewhere
than to China by 6.O3S.S27 yards or about one
third Many new markets were secured for coal
especially in Continental Europe, but owing TO
a heavy loss in shipments to Canada there was
little gain in the aggregate. Exports Of FISH more
than doubled. the gain being mainly in canned
salmon. and Of fruits and nuts there was an
increase Of over 80 per cent, chiefly in canned
fruit.
Manufactures OF iron and steel went abroad
to the extent Of $12,179. .237, against S9.59S 900
in October 1890 nearly every item shov,fps =
gain. While the increased foreign purchases OF
machinery are most gratifying on the whole.
they have a serious drawback in the fact that
our markets for the products Of many OF these
machines must OF necessity decrease as the other
countries introduce American methods Despite
Russian competition. our exports Of refined oil
were $3.50. 723 in value. and reached over
twenty different nations. A considerable lose
occurred in shipments of butter mainly 10 tba
United Kingdom but cheese showed an eouiva-
lent gain. The movement OF lumber is better
and exports OF furniture were $780, ,395. reacb,ns
all parts OF the globe.
Recently the argument was made for rsuo,,.,
or the duty on hides that this country was upahlo
TO produce the raw material in sufficient ouap.
tity. and under the present tariff exports ~,
boots and shoes and other manufactures NJ HID.
were impossible. The October statement is con,
plete refutation Of this assertion, as boots ana
shoes went out 10 fifteen or more different com
tries and the total exports OF leather and i,s
products were valued at 81. .460.4O1, while tha
| entire imports OF dutiable hides were valued q,
Sl'ol0o6S. After deducting the value OF Arnor,.
ny land. it appears that only s.. 9.3O6515 worth
OF merchandise went out in American vessels
against S143.31s.0 .043 carried by foreign sh,r.
This is the one really discouraging feature -,
the most notable monthly statement Of foreign