The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-08
Comparative Study
Of Worlds Commerce
Special Correspondence.

A STATISTICAL abstract of the world which
"a will show the imports and exports OF every
"A country in the world having statistical re
ports is the ambition of the bureau Of sta
tistics OF the treasury department. To present
in a single volume picture of the worlds
commerce not only OF today, bat extending back
over long term OF years. and to show that
commerce in detail as to principal articles. coun-
try by country with quantities and values stated
in United States currency and measures OF
quantity, is work of small magnitude, but
of such great Importance to the commercial in-
tcrests of the country that it is being resolutcly
undertaken by TIL. bureau OF statistics. The
details of this work. which will he carried on
under tho personal supervision of the chief of
the bureau, have been entrusted to Mr.. Benia-
min T. Welch, whose long service in the bureau
especially fits him for this duty.
The opening chapter of the proposed volume
has already been completed. 1t shows the total
imports and exports OF each country of the
world having statistical records from the car
lest date for which the figures are attainablc
down to the present time In the case of tho
United Kingdom the report begins with the
year 1890, and shows the total imports, total
exports, and excess of imports or exports in
each year from that date to the present time.
In the case Of Austra"1Iungary the record begins
WITH the year ieoo' heieiu'h' 1901 rrance' 1901
Germany, ls'2' Naiy, 1901; Netherlands, leoo'
Russia 1861; Spain, 1860; Norway, 1860; Sweden,
1860; Canada 1851; Mexico, 1873; Argentina,
1870; Chile, 1860; China, 1868; Japan, 1874; In
dia, 1851; Australia, 1851; Egypt. 1874; and
cape OF HOOD ftorc ana Natal' leoi' IN cach
case the figures covering the entire period from
the earnest date named 10 tne present time. Inc
subsequent chapters VIII give the details OF
the commerce OF each OF these countries, the
principal articles imported and exported during
term OF years down TO INC latest attaiiaple
date and the principal countries from winch Its
exports are OBTAINED ana TO which It's exports are
distributed
0
The figures on the total commerce, country ny
country, whlch nave already pecn cohipieted a.
iord material ior some interesting comparisons
with our own growth meantime. Inc imports
for home consumption OF the united Kingdom
Tor instance, which III the year lsoo amounted TO
Ssl,3lo'ooo' amounted III lo' TO S2'oi3' e''' i"'
an increase OF a,loo per cent; wllle IN the case
OF the United states the imports Tor nome con-
sumption IN lsoo were S52,i2l'S'I' ana IN lsh',
S6S3,4ils92, an increase OF liza per cent TAX
ing the export si'lc the contrast is much more
clearly in favor OF the United states The On
ports OF articles OF home production from the
United Kingdom in $500 were Slll,lo'VD, and
in 1899 Sl'2s',lol,3i1, an increase "t l'O'0 per
cent; III thc case ot the tnllcu STATES the EN-
ports OF home products in lsco were S31Slo,0oS.
and in ls'o, Sl,2U',o3l,22 an increase OF 3,0ol
per cent.
o
In the case OF France the comparison is equal
ly interesting. The imports for consumption
into France in 1871 were S12, ls2,oo and in 1890,
$s72 600, an increase OF l,lOa per cent. ;
while the exports OF articles OF home production
were in 1881, SSs,osS,oOo, aud IN le'H, %sol
000 an increase Of $40 per cent. In the case
OF the United States the imports for home con-
sumption in 1881 were Ss2,oOS,llo and in 1s".
SGs5, $50, an increase OF ia per cent, and
the exports OF articles OF home production were
in 1881, S592ls,5s3, and in 1899, Sl,2O393l ,222,
an increase of 1,033 per cent.
The official data covering the commerce OF the
German Empire in its present form begin with
the year 1872, In which the imports ior home
consumption were SI8S, ,726,o0O, and in 1880,
,30 077 900, an increase during that period OF
SGi per cent. The exports OF home products
were, in 1872 SjGi, ,OOO and in 1880, SsOl i52
600, an increase of 42 per cent, compare
son of the figures of the commerce OF the United
States covering the same period shows the I'M
ports for home consumption in 1872 to he
$3.50, ,ilO, ,034, and in lSo0 S6s5,4i ,s02, an in
crease of "a FER cent, and the exports OF home
products in 1S72, Si2S, l3l, and in 1890,
81, ,2O3, ,931, ,222, an increase OF Isl per cent
o.
One especially interesting fact developed by
a study Of these figures is that in the case
of the United States they show with much
greater frequency than in any other countries
a favorable "balance OF trade or excess of en-
ports over imports, In the United Kingdom,
Germany France, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands,