New-York tribune., 1900-12-08
THE TRADE OF THE WORLD.
FIGURES GATHERED BY THE TREASURY
BUREAU OF STATISTICS PROVE THE
PHENOMENAL PROSPERITY OF
THE UNITED STATES.


Washington. Dec. (speciaD.-A statistical alb
stract Of the world. which will show the imports
and exports Of every country ha wing statistical
ports is the ambition OF the Bureau of Statistics
OF the Treasury Department. To present in a sin
gle volume picture of the worlds commerce. not
only Of to-day, but extending back long
term Of years. and TO show that commerce IN de-
tail as 10 principal articles country by country
with quantities and values stated in United States
currency and measures Of quantity. Is a work of
no small magnitude. but of such great Importance
10 the commercial interests Of the country that II
is being resolutely undertaken by the Bureau of
Statistics. The details of this work which will be
carried under the personal supervision Of the
chief Of the Bureau. have been intrusted 10 Benja-
min r Welch, whose long service in the Bureau
especially fits him for this duty.
The opening chapter of the proposed volume has
already heen completed It shows the total i'm
ports and exports Of each country OF the world
having statistical records from the earliest date
for which the figures are obtainable down 10 the
present time. In the case OF the United kingdom
the report begins with the year 1900 and shows the
total imports. total exports and excess Of imports
or exports in each year from that date 10 the
present time. In the case Of Austria Hungary the
record begins with the year 1850; Belgium 1881:
France. 1851: Germany 1872; Italy. 1861; Neither
lands 1850; Russia. 1851; Spain 1880 Norway. 1885,
Sweden 1850; Canada 1851; Mexico 1873: Argentina
7SO' Chilli 1850 China 1865; Japan 1874; India IS5l
Australia 1881; Egypt, 1874 and Cape Of Good Hope
anu Natal 1911 eaCn case Ine ugureS covering
the entire period from the earliest date named 10
the present time. The subsequent chapters will
give the details OF the commerce OF each OF these
countries
The figures the total commerce country by
country, which have already been COMPLETED af-
ford material for some interesting COMPARISONS
with our own growth. The imports for home con-
sumption OF the United Kingdom, for instance
which in the year 1900 aggregated Ssl $4,000
amounted IN 1899 10 sos sss 45n an increase Of o1
uhfI in .bz
imports for home consumption in 1860 were So 121
Ssl and in 1899 1855 Al Se2 an increase of 12l5 Der
cent Taking the export side the contrast is much
more clearly in favor OF the United States The
exports OF articles Of home production from the
United Kingdom in 1900 were s1IIl07 600 and in 1893
S,26 267,l5l,S45 increase OF 1o59 per cent IN the
case Of the United States the exports OF home
products in 1900 were s3 $40 9O3 and in 1899 81 23
s3l.2 increase Of 6s1 per cent.
In the case OF France the comparison is equally
interesting The imports for consumption into
France in 1881 were So 1S 600 and in 1893 ss72 Os m
increase of 1,lOS per cent while the exporrs ~
articles OF home production were in 1881 SSS0SS OO0
and IN 1893 SS1 $1,000 increase Of $40 per cent
In the case OF the United States the in,oorts for
home consumption in 1881 were $50 OOs,1IO and in
1883 $685. al ss9 an increase of 74 per cent and the
exports OF articles OF home production were in 1881
S5S2lS5Ss and in 1899 ST. sS 222 an increase OF
=. The ofieial data covering the commerce OF the
year 1872. in which year the imports FOR hor1e con-
Sumption 9iSS lzo-OG, and 1893 eT7
exports Of home products were in fS72 s5s4 isz co
and in 1899 SS .000 increase of a. nar ca1S'
"A comparison OF The figures of the Commerce Of
@ the United states covering the same period shows
tne iinPoFls Ior nome consumption in 1872 10 be
500 4SO3i and in 1899 S6S5 Al 500 an increase ~ %
per cent and the exports OF home producTs in 1s75
$4s4sll5l and in 1885 81 2O3 s3l 222 an increase Of
One especially interesting fact developed bv a
sIu1y OF tnese ngures is that in the case Of the
Cnlteo states they show, with much greater fire.
quency than IN other countries a favorable hal
ance OF trade" or excess OF exports over fnporrs
In the United Kingdom, Germany. France Bel
gil m. Italy, Netherlands. Sweden and Norway
ana practically all European countries except Rus
sla, Austrla-Hungary and Spain. the imports ex-
ceed the exports, IN cases bv large sums
and this is true also Of China and Japan In the
newer and great producing coun ntries-Cauada
ports exceed the imports in nearly every case
though in sums which are insignificant when COM
pared with the enormous balance OF trade in favor
or the United states in recent year,.
The commerce Of forty-seven countries other
than the United States is detailed in the Opening
tables Of the proposed volume Of this mum Der
eighteen countries show an excess OF exports over
imports. and twenty-nine show an excess OF i'm
ports over exports The principal countries which
show an excess or exports imports are Cam
ada, Mexico, Argentina, Chill. Australasia India
study Of the detailed figures IN this group OF IA
vored countries whose exports exceed their i'm
ports, and comparison Of their exports with those
OF the United States alone furnish a striking evil
dence OF the phenomenal prosperity OF our
country. No one OF the eighteen countries whose
exports exceed imports shows a balance OF trade
approaching that enjoyed by the United States.
and a compilation OF the excess Of exports in the
entire group OF eighteen countries having such
gives grand total Of only S4l4 s45 O00 IN the
latest obtainable year against an excess or
i3l In favor Of the United States alone IN
the nscal year 1900