Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-02-13
RECORD OF A DECADE.
Marked Changes in the Commerce .
the United States

The remarkable change which has
come over the commerce of the United
States in the decade ending with the
calendar year 1900 illustrates as moth
ing else could the practical benefits the
country has experienced through the
operations OF the Dindley tariff law.
The figures of the Treasury Bureau of
Statistics show that imports. which in
1890 were $S23, 1897, 726, Were in 1900
$S29, 052. 116, an increase of less than
/ per cent in the decade; while the ex-
ports, which, in 1890 were 1851. 502, JAS,
were in 1900 81, 0,S54, an increase
of TIA per cent. In 1890 the excess of
exports over imports was $5,654, 800: in
1900 1t was S64S, 99S, 73S. Figures like
these make foreign manufacturers very
unhappy, and they produce n feeling
closely akin to misery in the breasts of
domestic free-traders.
In our trade relations with the yari-
Gus parts of the world the change is
equally striking. From Europe we have
reduced our imports in the decade from
S4T4, 100000 TO $4,000 900, while in
the same time We have increased our
exports from $dS2, 600, 900 10 81, III, 900,
600 From North America imports fell
from $151, 100000 in 1890 to S131, oo0,-
600 in 1900, while our exports TO North
America increased during that time
from $4,000, 900 to s202, 900, 600. From
South America the imports increased
from SOL 100000 in 1890 to $l02, 000,-
600 in 1900, while to South America
our exports increased from $4,000 600
to $41,000,000. From Asia the imports
into the United States increased from
500, 100000 In 1890 to $123000,000 in
1900, while 10 Asia our experts in the
same time increased fIecc. S23,000,o 600
to SCI 100000. From Oceania the i'm
portations in 1890 We're $23, 100000, and
in 1900 were S23000,000, while to Gee
ania our exports in 1890 were $1,000
600, and In 1900 $40000.000. From At
a'ica importations increased from 49,
100000 in 1890 10 100000 in 1900. and
expectations to Africa increased from
$4,5o0,000 in 1890 to So, 100000 in 1900.
The changes in the movements to and
from the continents are due To two
great causes, both arising directly from
effective tariff protection: First, the in
crease in home manufactures, which
were formerly drawn chiefly from
abroad, and, second, the diversification
of products by which markets are made
for many articles which formerly We're
produced or exported in but small guam
titles From Europe. to which, under
partial or total free trade conditions,
we were accustomed to look for manu-
features. our impoi IS have fallen over
$35.O00,o00, while Europe has largely
increased her consumption OF our cot
ton seed oil, oleomargarine, paraffin.
manufactures Of iron and steel, copper
and agricultural machinery, as well as
food stuffs aud cotton, our exports to
that grand division having increased
S42S, 100000 since 1890. From North
America the imports have fallen 500.
100000, due chiefly to the falling off OF
sugar production in the West Indies
the imports from Cuba alone having
decreased from $54 100000 in 1890 to
100000 in 1900. To North America
the exports have increased meantime
over $100,0000o0, the growth being
largely manufactures and food stuffs, a
considerable portion of the latter being
presumably Te-exported thence to Eu-
rope. From South America the imports
have increased in quantity, especially
in coffee and rubber, but decreased pro-
portionately in price, so that the total
increase In value in the decade is but q
'nlllion dollars. while in exports the in
crease is $6,5o0,00O, chiefly In manu-
features. From Asia the importations
have increased more than SGT. 000, 900,
the increase being chiefly in sugar and
raw materials required by our manu-
features, such as silk. hemp, jute and
tin; while to Asia the increase IN our
principally in manufactures and raw
cotton. From Oceania the imports show
little increase. though this Is due in
part to the absence of statistics of i'm
portation from Hawaii in the last half
of the year 1900: while to Oceania there
Is an lItEtdsE III buA tAlbot8S VI more
than $50, GOO, 600. chiefly IL manufactured
articles. From Africa the increase in
imports is $G,OG0000 principally in
manufacturers materials, of which ra w
cotton forms the most important item,
while our exports TO Africa increased
meantime $4,000 600. chiefly In manu-
features. Economist.
a Solved Probicm.
In an extended consideration of the
oa,,so - Ar,,origau ctlf1rntuaor s., st,n