Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-18
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
Statistical Review of Foreign Trade
in Last Decade.

A statistical review OF foreign trade
| in agricultural products during the ten iis-
| cal years 1S9o-99, compiled by Mr.. Frank
H. Hitchcock. chief of the foreign markets
section of the Agricultural Department,
has been made public. 1t shows that the
average annual agricultural imports for the
past decade amounted to about 1887 100000,
while the total imports Of all kinds aver
aged about S750,0o0,G00. During the first
half of this decade the average of agricul-
tural imports was S406,36J,441 or over 81
per cent of all imports; of agricultural eX-
ports, S5G9, Gi4 ,2.3 J.52 per cent, and the
excess of agricultural exports over aSriculL
tural imports averaged S2j3,2IS,sl2 annual
ly. For the remaining five years the an
rual average of agricultural imports was
$366.G64, 1OS, or over 81 per cent of the
whole; of agricultural exports, 900.
or over 6S per cent of all domestic exports,
| and the agricultural exports exceeded agri-
cultural imports by an average of $751;
900 2J2 annually.
In 1899, for the fourth time in the history
of our foreign commerce, the annual value
Of don1asttc merchaNdisA s1h"-.-3a E -,
country exceeded a billion dollars. The
first such record was made in 1882 when
the declared valuation amounted to S1,0l5.-
49,, oil. In 1897 it was 81 ,o32. COZ SOB,
and 1898 scored the unprecedented value
of S1,210 291 913. Then came 1899, recording
S1.203931 ODD. The 1899 total imports were
valued at s697 las, 4s9 much below the aver
above the 1898 figures.
In 1899 the. excess of domestic exports
over imports reached s506 49,, 1873. and Of
agricultural exports over agricultural i'm.
ports, S437, 296,S52
The foreign agricultural products pur-
chased here during 1890 had a value Of
$500. 514. ISL, or over S31 100000 less than
the average for the entire ten years pre-
ceding.
OF the domestic merchandise marketed
abroad in 1899 nearly &c per cent. with a
total value of S792. S11, I33, consisted of agri-
cultural products. While the 1890 value was
S66,O0O,000 less than the exceptionally high
figures of 1893. IT exceeded all prior rec
ords except 1892, year notable for tho
abundant American crops, accompanying
general deficiency abroad. In 1898 there was
very heavy expectation Of breadstuffs,
which decreased in 1899 under more normal
conditions, and this decrease. together with
a loss of 500. 1858 643 in the value of the cot-
ton shipments. more than accounted for the
total decrease in agricultural exports from
the preceding year The leading agricultu-
raj imports of the United States during tho
fiscal year 1899, In the order Of their i'm.
portance were sugar coffee. hides and
skins. silk, vegetable fibers, fruits and nuts,
tobacco, tea, wool. wines, cocoa and vege.
table oils. these twelve items constituting
over IS per cent of the total agricultural
import trade for the year
After breadstuffs, cotton and meat pro-
ducts. the principal exports for the fiscal
year 1899 in the order of their value. were
live animals, tobacco. oil cake and oil-cake
meal, vegetable oils. fruits and nuts, dairy
products and seeds. These ten leading items
comprised in value over 95 per cent Of the
total exports of agricultural produce during
1899. BreadstuffS cotton and meat pro.
ducts alone constituted more than so per
cent The value of breadstuffs exported in
1899 was 1913 999, 500. a decline of $50. S97,>
APO from 1895 Wheat was the principal
factor in this decline although In the case
of wheat -four there a considerable in.
crease. The quantity of wheat flour sent to
foreign markets during 1899 was SASS, 600
barrels, or 3,135,747 barrels more than I'D
1898.
The meat products exported in 1890 ex-
ceeded by 50, $50, 1914 the value of these ex-
portations in 1898. hog products, especially
pork and lard. showing the largest gains