Evening star., 1901-12-28
By Means of International Money
Orders.
THRIFTY FOREIGN BORN RESIDENTS
Balance is Heavily Against the
United States.
W HERE MON EY GOE S

the different states and territories in size,
outranked in money orders issued and paid
fifteen states and territories, and did an
approximate money order business with
three additional large states and two ter
ritories. calls to mind one or two points re-
garding this important branch of Uncle
Sans money transactions which are of
public interest" said postal official to
Star man this morning.
Each year flows an uncea sing golden
stream backward and forward between the
United States and foreign countries by
means of international money orders. The
balance however, is heavily against the
United States, and 1t is instructive to see
where this money goes.
American Gold Scattered Abroad.
''The United States does a direct money
order exchange with forty-two foreign
countries and colonies, and an indirect ex-
change with many others Last year we
did an aggregate money order business with
orders issued and paid with these coun-
tries Of $2S,G92400. We issued $40, ,023, 700
worth of orders payable abroad as against
$S,0O6,7O0 of orders issued abroad and pay
able in this country. We sent abroad,
therefore, through this medium of financial
interchange $12023,7O0 In excess of what
received, and during the ensuing year
this amount will be greatly increased,
owing to the good times here
This affords an illustration of one means
by which the people of the United States
collectively aid in the maintenance of the
people of other countries. The greatest
golden river flowing from the United States
abroad is from the pockets of American
tourists, and it's volume has been variously
estimated 1t is generally agreed that It
reaches annually flood tide of sIOO 900, 900,
but there is no means of determining &C
curately the amount, as 1t largely goes
abroad in the form of drafts upon private
banks. The channel of international money
orders, however. affords an accurate guide,
so $20,0000O0 may with certainty be added
to the 500, 900 600
This large amount which we contribute
is made up of countless small sums as will
be observed when it is remembered that
1t took 1,24l $50 international money orders
to get the money into the hands of the peo-
pie abroad. In fact, this is one feature of
the international money order business, as
500 is the limit of one order to most coun-
tries, and hundreds of thousands Of orders
are annually drawn at the approximate
maximum of So and $40 for each order
"A very large percentage Of the money
comes from residents of this country who
were born abroad, and who periodically
remit various sums to their families and
friends at their former homes. Russia af-
fords an interesting instance. The money
order convention between Russia and this
country has been in operation less than
two years, yet last year we sent to her 81
100, 100, and of this sum practically the
entire amount came from former emigrants
from the Muscovite empire, and there was
an increase of 1915, 700 in single year
Our Thrifty FOreign-Born Residents.
''The figures for the empire of japan are
equally interesting as to the thrift of the
japanese In this country most of whom re-
side on the Pacific coast and in Hawaii.
Though territorially small and her people
fey u-i<L
nationalities, the diminutive representatives
OF the land of the chrysanthemum trans
mltted thereto last year S737 800 an in
crease of S2o1,5o0 over the preceding year,
While Japan returned to us but $32 800 and
Russia only $50, 800
1T is with Great Britain that we do our
largest money order business sending her
last year $5,453,300 as against 81 23O, 800
which she returned to us. Much of this
money went to Ireland, a small proportion
to Wales and Scotland and the bulk to
England.
Germany follows Great Britain in taking
s2,Gso, 200 and returning s1,55s, 500. The
thrifty Swedes sent 81, 72S, 900 and the Nor
wegians $701, 700 to their friends among the
fjords and ice of the north seas To sunny
Italy went 81 800 Of American nickeIs
and coppers and surplus profits from fruit
and chestnut stands. To the dual empire
or Emperor Francis Joseph we contributed
$l,32o,sO0 to Austria and $9S2, 500 to Hun
gary, and these sums combined exceeded
the preceding years remittances by the
heavy increase Of $4,000.
These few figures, with their large, in
crease over the preceding year, are strong
testimonials of the good times this country
Is enjoying, and indicate that our foreign
porn residents are making money, with a
Dig surplus to be sent to their former
homes, Italy alone showing an increase Of
$373, 400
Where We Make Gains.
1T Is a fact worthy Of attention that the
Increase Of remittances to Great Britain
was but s2S7 coo, or nearly 100000 less than
to Italy, $4,000 less than to Austria and
Hungary and s6S2, 600 less than to Russia
on much less aggregate money order bust
ness with the latter countries. This may be
accounted for in many ways, the principal
oil which may be found In the fact that the
countries last named have sent us very
heavy increase in immigrants, who are now
sending home their savings, or money to
their fellow countrymen to enable them to
come over to the land of the free and par
ticipate in the gathering of American gold,
while the emigration from England Is less,
proportonately.
There is heavy transfer Of money from
this country to Canada, and vice versa, and
now that the domestic system, with its
smaller fees. has been substituted for the
the facilities of money ex-
change will be greatly increased. Last
year we sent Canada 81 800 500 and received
we sent. which sum, as small as 1t is is
comforting when the heavy excess of out
going European orders, as shown above, Is
remembered.
I'VE are also profiting by establishing
money order relations with Mexico, which
have been in operation only about a year.
We sent her $74, ,45O and got back 500 7S3
an excess of $146, 800, or nearly as much as
with Canada with a business thirteen times
as large with that country. Mexico will
prove profitable addition.
With Cuba We received $915, 800 and sent
her $161 800. giving us a balance of $753, 400
to the good. AS most of the United States
soldiers have been recalled from the island
these figures may be accepted as reason
ably indicative of future years Of normal
money order exchange. When large bodies
Of troops were in Cuba we received several
millions in excess.
Business With the Latin Republics.
"These and other facts concerning the
money order business with our southern re-
pubics lead to the conclusion that when
money order relations are established with
them that the balance will be largely in
favor Of the United States. A convention
has recently been concluded with Chile and
Bolivia. and negotiations are pending for
one with Peru. With the transatlantic
countries, however, the balance is always
ha,, to ho or locc 1or