Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-18
YEAR'SCOMMERCIAL RECORD
FAVORABLE BALANCE OF TRADE
LARGER THAN EVER.
Slight Falling On I'm the Imports. but
Great increase Shown
i'm the Exports.

The commercial record of the United
States in the calendar year of 1900 will
surpass that of any preceding year, both IN
exports and IN the excess OF exports over
imports, or Favorable balance of trade as
this excess is usually termed. The imports
will be slightly below those of one or two
preceding years, and when considered in
their relation to population show a smaller
importation for each individual than at al
most any other period in many years. Bias
ing the estimate for the year upon the elev
Ell months actual figures already received
by the treasury bureau OF statistics, 1t
seems probable that the exports Of the cal
eEdar year 1900 will reach about 81 40 O0O,
600, and th, imports $685., 100000 making
the excess of exports over imports, or IA
vorable balance of trade, S645. coz, 600 a sum
greater by s25,oo0Ooo than that of any pre-
ceding year. X is only since 1878 that the
exports have with any regularity exceeded
the imports Or produced the favorable bal
ance of trade which has almost continuous
ly characterized our commerce during the
last quarter of a century. Yet 1t re-
manned for the closing year of the century
tn present not only the highest figures of
exports, but the highest record of excess of
exports over imports, or favorable balance
of trade, in the history of our commerce.
Great Increase in Exports.
said that for the calendar year 1900 they
will be double those of the calendar year
1888, three times those of 1872, four times
those Of 1869, ard five times as much as in
1862. On the import side the figures
less imposing. They will aggregate for the
year about $500, 100000, against $S400Oo,Oo0
IN the calendar year 1892, when they
reached the high-water mark of the CEN
tury's imports.
Considering the commerce from the per
capita standpoint, the contrast between the
import and export figures is even more
phenomenal. Following the records Of our
commerce back to 1870, it is found that the
imports, when considered in the light Of
the actual population, have decreased rath-
er than increased, while the per capita Of
exports has enormously increased In 1870
the population was 3s,55s,371 and the i'm
ports 1851 49,. 05S, average per capita of
$11.96 In 1880 and 1890 the per capita was
little above $13; in 1895 it had fallen to
$11.47, and in 1900 will be about $1,000. This
shows a slight decrease per capita COM
pairing 1900 with 1870, and material de-
crease comparing 1900 with 1850 or 1890.
On the export side the increase Is even
more striking. In 1870 the exports per
capita amounted to s1O.46; in 1885 to s1226:
In 1880 to $500. and in 1900 will be about
$500. Thus the imports show since 1870
slight reduction per capita. while the
exports have almost doubled per capita
during the same period
balance of Trade
Considering the question of excess of ex-
pcrts over imports, or favorable balance
Of trade, from the per capita standpoint,
the development is startling. In 1870 i'm
ports exceeded exports by $57, 546 O4S, and
the excess Of imports over exports amount
ed to $15O per capita. By 1876 the balance
had turned in our favor, but amounted to
only II cents per capita. BY 1885 1t
amounted to s1.79 per capita, and in 1890
will amount to about $3.50 per capita. Thus
in the thirty years the balance of trade
has gone from minus quantity of $50
per capita to a plus quantity Of $3.50 per
capita.
The following table shows the imports,
exports and population Of the United States
at quinquennial periods from 1870 to 1900,
basing the 1900 figures upon the eleven
months already received and the per cap
ita. amount for each individual. import
ed and exported and the excess Of i'm
ports or exports in the Years named: