The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-08

Nuht ituuNtu ihc BlOppl
of farm products comprised in our
total exports, the increase in our ag-
ricutural exports during the period
covered by the present administration
has nevertheless been most remark
able. An analysis of the figures em-
bodied in the last annual report of the
secretary of the treasury is well
worthy of study.
our total sales of domestic farm
products to foreign countries during
the four fiscal years 1S97-19OO aggre-
gated the enormous sum of $31S6, ,000.-
600. or close to $500, 10000 900 in excess of
the export value for the preceding
received on an average during 1s97-190O
for products of domestic agriculture
marketed abroad nearly 5000 900, 900 a
year above the annual amount paid
us for such products during 1S93-1S96.
The agricultural exports of the
United States for the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1900. amounted in value to
SSi40Oo,OOO, exceeding all other records
except the phenomenal one of 1898.
when a valuation of $3.50 900, 900 was at
tanned During the past four years,
1S91-l9OO. the farm produce exported
had an average annual value of $797,-
| 100000, as compared with only $685.
| 100000 for the prior four-year period.
one of the most striking features of
our foreign trade during the last few
| years has been the rapid growth of ex-
| ports to the Orient. In 1896, five years
ago, our total shipments of domestic
merchandise to Asia and Oceanica
were valued at $43000,00 and these
exports included agricultural products
to the value of SO, 100000. During the
following year, 1897, the total export
value rose to s62, 100000, while the
amount received for products of the
farm increased to $l5,000000. Each
| succeeding year, in like manner, has
witnessed further striking gains, until
in 1900 our export trade with the
Orient exhibited an annual value of
$l07, 100000, including shipments of
farm produce worth $50 100000 The
| growth of our agricultural exports to
that quarter of the globe-from So
100000 in 1896 TO $3O,OO0,OOO in 1900
was especially marked, showing a gain
that amounted in the brief space of
| four years to over 200 per cent.
one Of the most striking examples
of increase among our agricultural ex-
ports to the Orient is afforded by the
great southern staple, cotton. OF this
product we shipped across the Pacific
in 1896 only $4,000 bales, valued at
$l,500,000, whereas our exports to the
same destination in 1900 were nearly
ten times as large, amounting to $685.
900 bales, valued at over sl3,000OOO.
It is interesting to note that, with
the increased shipments of the raw
fiber there was also "A marked growth
in the exports of cotton manufactures
During 1900 our cotton manufacturers
shipped over $4,000, 900 worth of goods
to the Orient. as against only $780,
900 worth during 1896. five years ago.
The cotton fabrics which were mar
keted in the Orient during the past
fiscal year formed in value more than
80 per cent. of our total exports of
these goods to all destinations.
After cotton, the principal article
among our agricultural exports to the
Orient is wheat flour. The trade in
this product has been nearly doubled
since 1896. In that year the shipments
amounted to l,2ll,000 barrels, worth
$3,6OOOO0, whereas in 1900 they reached
as high as 2,37SOOO barrels, worth over
81 900.
During the past fiscal year the new
island dependencies of the United
States-Cuba, Porto Rico, the Ha-
waiian Islands, and the Philippines
furnished a market for more than $45,-
000,0 600 worth of our domestic products
. manufactured and agricultural. Five
years ago these same islands pur-
chased from us only $4,000, ,OOe worth
of goods. In the four years subse-
, Cuent to 1896 our export trade with
the islands mentioned has been more
than trebled in value.
A comparison of our total domestic
2 exports for the years 1896 and l9OC
, shows that the value increased in the
case of Cuba from $4,000 to $4,000,
900, Porto Rico from $2 100000 TO 81,
, 100000, the Hawaiian Islands from
1 SO, 800 600 to l3,OOO,O 900. and the Philip
pines from less than 100000 to ovel
$2,60OOOO. The growth of our agricul
a tural exports to the new dependencies
I during these years was proportionatel,
: as great as that recorded for our tota
exports of domestic merchandise. Dur
ing the fiscal year 1900 we sold to tn
various islands over $4,000 900 wortl
y of farm produce, as compared will
: only $6300,0 900 worth during 1896 Wit
n Cuba our agricultural export trade II
t the period under consideration in
Il creased from $i,OOO,OO0 to sl4 900 OO(
J. with Porto Rico from sl,2OO, 900 to 81,
y 100000, with the Hawaiian Island
= from s1,100,0OO to s2,SO0, 900. and wit
l, the Philippines from less than $3.50
e to 81, 100000.
d This increase In what might be calle
our colonial trade is just beginning
e Ten years hence 1t win be the featur
k of our commerce.
Al Governor Nash's request for author