New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-23
THE NATIONS CONQUEsTs.


statements from the Treasury Department
showing the wonderful progress of the country
in production and in command of foreign mar
kets can hardly weary. March fails, but only
by a little If the Washington figures are cor
rect, to eclipse all past records of exports. De
cember usually surpasses other months, but last
December has been left far behind. and only
that month in 1898 remains with larger eX-
ports than those of the month just closed At
that time the outgo of breadstuffs was enor-
nous, while provisions and cattle were scarce
ly ever surpassed, and the value of cotton ex-
ported had been exceeded but once. so that with
oil the great staples made up the largest ag-
gregate ever reported in q month"; sol .500.000
larger than last month, but at the time that was
scarcely considered the most remarkable or
gratifying feature of the return. The marvel
that the minor exports, chiefly of manu-
featured products, rose to S41 .SS4, 9S4 the
highest point then ever reached in any month.
Prices in this country have since risen far,
threatening to break the strengthening hold of
the country upon foreign markets. but with the
movement of great staples materially reduced
by the change in foreign crops and needs the
minor domestic exports. chiefly of manufact-
ured products, rose in March to $50. 1913 800 in
value. so that the aggregate exports for the
month were S134 31334S and in spite of i'm
ports never surpassed, except when people were
trying to anticipate new duties in April, 1897,
the excess of exports was SAT, 81 III for the
month.
Ex-Speaker Reed touched popular feeling
when he said this had become "a billion dol
lar country" But its exports have grown in
value about third since that recent date
and the value in the twelve months ended
with March has been 81 $50, S63, 022 Nor should
tbn no OLE +Ga
possessions in this development. 1t is announced
that the customs revenue at Havana has been
S3,126,213 for the last quarter surprising that
of last year by SI11,425. Exports from this
country 10 Cuba were S1S,615,7O7 in twelve
months, ending with last June but in eight
months, ending with February, S16.412. 547. This
included only S9633215 from New York of
which S925.346 was in February, but In only
four weeks of March shipments from New-Yorl
10 Cuba were S1,507.746 in value and in the
two weeks ending April 10. they were 1868
10S. more than in the entire month of February.
Since March l. of all the countries TO which
goods have been forwarded from New-Yorl
Cuba ranks seventh surprising South Africa,
Japan and Australia. close after China and
much surpassed only by Great Britain Ger
many and France Holland and Belgium. Yet
the growing commerce OF the United States
and a comparatively small one, of the extraordi-
nary increase in manufactured exports.
How great a difference this makes to the in
dustries of the country not many are yet able
to realize When the Nation was shut up within
itself as respects the products of its mines and
manufactures the expansion of those indus
tries was in some degree limited, as the ex-
pansion of agricultural production and of oil
was not by the increase of the country in popu-
lation and purchasing power. But when almost
$50 100000 in value of other products can he
marketed abroad in single month. and that
In spite Of the remarkable advance in prices
here, there is shown power In competition
which has no limit save the worlds power Of
consumption 1t is not In every kind Of pro-
ductiOn that this country can yet compete with
success, but the record shows that the num-
Der Of them is increasing beyond all expecta-
ton.
Imports exceeded exports Of gold by $3.50, $3.50
in March while the excess Of silver exports