Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-24
A REMARKABLE CHANGE.

A REMARKABLE CHANGE. n
A remarkable change has come over
the commerce of the United States in
the decade ending with the calendar
year 1900. The figures of the treas
ury board of statistics show that i'm
ports, which in 1890 were $S23,397,726
were in 1900 1929, O52, 116, an increase
of less than one per cent in the de-
cade; while the exports, which in 1890
were 1857 ,502,54S, were in 1900
$1,47S,050,S54, an increase of 72.4 per
cent. In 1890 the excess OF exports
over imports was $5,654,39 in 1900
it was $648,998,73S.
In our trade relations with the var
ious parts of the world the change is
equally striking. From Europe we
have reduced our imports in the de-
cade from 474,000,000 to $439, 900 900,
while in the same time we have in
creased our exports from 1852 100000
to Sill, 100000. From North Amer
lea imports fell from $751; 100000 in
1890 to $131 100000 in 1900, while our
exports to North America increased
during that time from $95, 100000 to
$202,000,000. From South America the
imports increased from SOL 100000
in 1890 to $102,000,000 in 1900, while
to South America our exports inoreas-
ed from $35,000,000 to $41,000, 900.
From Asia the imports into the Unit
ed States increased from $69,000,000
in 1890 to s123, 100000 in 1900, while
to Asia our exports in the same time
increased from $23, 100000 to $61,0OO,-
900. From Oceania the importations
in 1890 were $23,000,000 and in 1900
were $23,000,000, while to Oceania
our exports in 1890 were $4,000, 900
and in 1900 $40,0000O0. From Africa
importations increased from $4,000, 900
in 1890 to $9000,000 in 1900, and ex-
portations to Africa increased from
$4,500,000 in 1890 to S22,000,000 in
1900.
The changes in the movement to
and from the continents are due to
two great causes: First, the increase
in home manufactures which were for
merly drawn chiefly from abroad; and
second the diversification of products
by which markets are made for many
articles which formerly were produc-
cd or exported in but small quantities.
! From Europe, to which we were accus-
Z toned to look for manufactures, our
imports have fallen over $35,000,0 900
while Europe has largely increased
her consumption of our cotton seed
Z oil, oleomargarine. parraffin, manufac-
lures of iron and steel, copper, and ag-
ricultural machinery, as well as food
stuffs and cotton, our exports to that
+ grand division having increased S428,-
{ 100000 since 1890. From North
America the imports have fallen S20.-
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
$27 100000 in 1900 To North Amer
lea the exports have increased mean
time over $1OO,O0O,0O0 dollars, the
& growth being largely manufactures
y ard foodstNffs, a considerable portion
of the latter being presumably re-ex-
ported thence to Europe. From South
America the imports have increased
in quantity, especially in coffee and
rubber, but decreased proportionately
In price, SO that the total increase in
( value in the decade is but million
dollars, while in exports the increase
s is $6,500,000, chiefly in manufactures.
From Asia the importations have in
creased more than $5O,000,000, the in
crease being chiefly in sugar and raw
materials required by our manufac-
. turers, such as silk, hemp, jute and
tin; while to Asia the increase in our
Y exports has been nearly $4,000, 900
principally in manufactures, and raw
cotton. From Oceania the imports
show little increase, tho this is due in
part to the absence of statistics of i'm
portations from Hawaii in the last
half of the year 1900; while to Oc-
eania there is an increase in our ex-
! ports of more than s20,O00,0O0, chiefly
In manufactured articles. From AT
RIGA the increase in imports is $6,0OO,-
600, principally in manufacturers ma
terials of which raw cotton forms the
pnost important item, while our ex-
ports to Africa increased meantime
] SIT 100000, chiefly in manufactures.