Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-09

portations in 1900 against 2S13 per
cent in 1899, 2O.25 per cent in 1885. Is
per cent in 1870 and 1916 per cent in
IS6O.
Exports of manufactures in 1860 were
S40,345.S92 and in 1900 S432, 2S4,3 500,
while the total exports in 1850 were
1888, 5I6.O 5T and in 1900 81 1884. 1851.
Thus, while the total exports Of 1900
are four times as great as In 1850, those
of manufactures alone are ten times as
much as in 1850.
That large proportion of the grow
ing demand for tropical and subtropical
products can be supplied by the islands
which have recently come into closer
relations with the United States Is il
Illustrated by the statistics showing the
value of the imports into the United
States from Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii
and the Philippine Islands in each year
from 1890 to 1900
The imports into the United States
from these islands were: From Cuba,
S31,311,T 04: from Porto Rico. S3,07S,
AS; from Hawaii, $50, 707 ,903 and from
the Philippines, S5.971 pos. The fact
that the most rapid growth in our i'm
ports is in the class of articles pro-
duced in these islands-sugar, fibers,
coffee, tropical fruits, tobacco, ETC.,
and for which their producing capacity
may be rapidly and greatly increased
suggests that n much larger share OF
our tropical imports may be supplied
from this source in the near future.
The fact that the expectations Of
1900 exceeded by S31T.749,25O those Of
nrannH{nn nd Ior in
crease, while apparent in every class,
Is especially marked in manufactures
alone, the increase in which amounts
to $92, COS, sos over 1899. suggests that
new markets are being found for
American products. A detailed study
of our export trade for 1900 shows that
this growth is found in every part of
the world and especially in those coun-
tries to which all the great manufac-
turing and producing nations are now
looking for an Increased market.
The phenomenal commercial record
of the year has been accompanied by
an equally striking record with refer
ence to gold production. The gold
mined in the United States during the
year ending Dec. 81, 1909. exceeds that
of any year in our history, and for the
first time surpasSeS the record eStaD-
lished in 1858, when the mines of Cal
ifornia made their highest record of
$50, 100000. The gold production of
the United States was in 1890. accord
ing to the estimate of the director OF
the mint, So, 100000. while no prior
year had shown so high n total as that
of 1858. SG5,000,0O0, though the total
for 1898 was $64. 463, 900. The annual
average gold product of the United
States is now double that of n decade
earlier, though III this particular the
growth has been no more rapid than in
other parts of the world, the worlds
product in 1899 having been. according
to the best estimates. $4,000. 600,
against S123, 100000 a decade earlier.
The very rapid increase in gold pro-
duction both i'll the United States and
elsewhere during the last few years
brings the total gold product OF the
half century now ending to the enor-
nous figure of S6,G65, 631 900, or more
than twice as much as during the en-
tire $50 years preceding the half cen
fury now closing. The gold production
of the world from 1892 to 1880 amount
ed to but So. 129. 900. while that of
the period 1S51-99 was S6,6oo. 631, 900.