Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-08
Growth of American Commerce Since
1900.
EXPORTS INCREASED 1861 Per CENT
Frequency Shown Of Favorable
Balance of Trade.
NOTABLE COMPILATION

A statistical abstract of the world which
will show the imports and exports of every
country in the world having statistical re-
ports Is the ambition of the bureau of stat
stics of the Treasury Department. Tt
present in single volume picture of the
worlds commerce not only Of today bu
extending back over a long term of years
and to show that commerce in detail as tC
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 to the commercial
interests of the country that 1t is being
resolutely undertaken by the bureau OF
statistics. The details Of this work. which
will be carried on under the personal SUI
pervision of the chief of the bureau, have
been entrusted to Mr.. Benjamin I. WEIGH
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 Stats
teal records, from the earliest date for
which the figures are attainable down to
the present time. In the case of the united
kingdom the report begins with the year
$500, and shows the total imports. total ex-
ports, and excess of imports or exports
in each year from that date to the present
time.
In the case of Austria Hungary, the rec
ord begins with the year 1850; Belgium,
1891 France. 1881: Germany, 1872; Italy.
1861 Netherlands, 1860: Russia. 1851: Spain.
1860; Norway, 1850; Sweden, 1850; Canada.
1850: China. 1865: Japan, 1874; India, 1851
Australia. 1851; Egypt, 1874, and Cape
of Good Hope and Natal, 1851 in each case
the figures covering the entire period from
the earliest date named to the present
time.
The subsequent chapters will give the
details of the commerce of each of these
countries, the principal articles imported
and exported during a term of years down
to the latest attainabe date, and the prin-
cipal countries from which It's exports are
obtained and to which its exports are dis
tributed.
Comparison With United Kingdom.
The figures on the total commerce, coun-
try by country, which have already been
completed, afford material for some inter-
esting comparisons with our own growth
meantime. The imports for home consump-
ton Of the United Kingdom, for instance
which in the year $500 amounted to SSH
10000. amounted in 1899 to S2O43 S96 400
an increase of 2.400 per cent, while in the
case of the United States the imports for
home consumption in 1900 were So III ,S91
and in 1889 $685.. AL $50, an increase of L.
20 per 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 King
dom in 1900 We're Sill, 107 900, and in 1899
S1.2SI .l5l, $40, an increase of l .O59 per cent;
in the case of the United States the ex-
ports of home products in 1900 were SOL
SAG. COB and in 1899 81 ,2U3 931 a:.2 an increase
of 1851 per cent.
In the case Of France the comparison Is
equally interesting. The imports for con-
sumption into France in 1881 We're ST., 49,
600 and in 1899 SSH, O32 OOO an increase of
Los per cent, while the exports of articles
of home production were in 1881 $SS, 0Ss 900
and i'll 1899 1901 .45200O, increase of SO
per cent. In the case Of the United States
the imports for home consumption in 1881
We're $500 40 and in 1899 $685. AL $50 an
increase of 734 per cent. and the exports Of
articles of home production were in 1881
500. 21S,5S3 and in 1899 81 ,203, 931 ,222 an in
crease of 1893 per cent
The official data covering the commerce
of the German empire in its present form
begin with the year 1872. in which year the
imports for home consumption were $I93,-
I26,0oU and in 1899 81 3O4, 977, 900, an in
crease during that period of "a per cent
The exports of home products were in 1872
S564, lG5 600 and in 1899 Ss01 4J2. 600 an in
crease of ~ per cent. A comparison of the
hgureS of the commerce of the United
States covering the same period shows the
imports for home consumption in 1872 to be
$500, 419,034 and in 1899 $685. AL S92 an in
crease of 24 per cent, and the exports of
home products in 1872 $42S 49,, 131 and in
1879 $l,03, 931, Up, increase of 1S1 per
cent.
Favorable balance of Trade.
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 Il favorable balance of trade. -
excess of exports over imports In the
united kingdom. Germany France, Bel
GUM. Italy. Netherlands, Sweden and Nor
way, and practically all European coun-
tries. except Russia, Austria II ungary and
Spain, the imports exceed the exports, in
some cases by large sums and this Is true
also of China ard Japan. In the newer and
great producing countries Canada, Mexico
Argentine. Australia and India. the exports
exceed the imports in nearly every case
though in sums which are insignificant
when compared with the enormous balance
Of trade in favor Of the United States in
recent years.
Comparison With Other Countries.
The commerce Of forty-seven countries
other than the United States Is pictured in
the opening tables Of the proposed volume.
OF this number. eighteen countries show an
excess of exports over imports and twenty
nine show an excess OF imports over eX-
ports. The principal countries which show
an excess Of exports over imports are Can
ada Mexico. Argentina, Chile, Australasia,
India, Egypt, Spain. Austria-Hungary and
Russia. study OF the detailed figures in
this group OF favored countries whose ex-
ports exceed their imports. and a compari-
son OF their exports Of exports with that OF
the United States alone furnishes striking
evidence Of the phenomenal prosperity Of
our own country. No one of the eighteen
countries whose exports exceed imports
shows a favorable balance Of trade ap-
preaching that enjoyed by the United
States. and compilation OF the excess Of
exports In the entire group Of sixteen coun-
tries having such excess gives a grand total
Of only $414. S45 900. In the latest attainable
year, az against an excess OF 1914, $40, 131 In
favor of the United States alone In the
fiscal year 1900.
What Americana Learn When Abroad,
From the Westminster Review.
1t is estimated that not less than 100 900
Americans visit the old world In the course
Of every twelve months. This body Of
people is drawn, as a rule. from the most
influential class in the United States. So
general Is the habit Of making the foreign
tour that it IL the exception to dnd among
Americans of even moderate means one