The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-13
american Trade
Gains ConfinUe

THE PACIFIC ocean is the only spot on the
statistical map of the world which presents
Il an uniayorablc appearance in the study
ct our commerce in the fiscal year just
closed ro' all other parts of the world the
figures OF our exports show a large increase.
To South America our exports have increased six
million dollars; to Africa, six millions; TO
North America, ten millions, and to Europe,
a hundred million dollars during the eleven
month, ending with May, 1901, as compared
with the corresponding months OF the proceed.
ing fiscal year; while to Asia and Occana
there is an apparent reduction Of over twenty
million dollars.
But this appearance of reduction in our
trade with Asia and OCcdnd is more apparent
than real. In fact, il the exact figures of our
exports 10 the Pacific countries aud islands
could I've given they would show little il any
decrease, despite the fact that the conditions
in China have cut off onc.hali our exports
to that country, and that the oycr-purchases of
cotton in Japan lest year have momentdrily rc.
duccd our total sales to the Yankees Of the
Oricrt. Our total exports tp Asia and Opcdnia
in the eleven months ending with May, 1900,
were, in round terms, lOl million dollars. and
those Of the corresponding months OF the present
fiscal year only 10 million dollars--an apparent
shortage OF . million dollars. This is chiefly
due To the tact that the Treasury Bureau of
statistics has been unable to present any figures
ot our export, TO the Hawaiian islands during
the fiscal year, ewing to the fact that the
tine Hawaiian islands arc now considered Gus.
toms district OF the United States, and that
exporters TO those islands take advantage Of that
TACT and decline to furnish the information for
mcIly supplied under the law, which required
all exports and imports TO be stated when pass.
Ing out OF, or into, the country, but which
does not ,cquirc statement OF movement %
mcrchandiN, between ports and customs d,
rlcts OF IN. United States.
\ careful study Of our exports to the IIa.
wiitn islands, however, iustacs the assertion
that the total for the year will he fully $50.
OOO,00o and this, ii added to the total of our
exports to the other Pacific islands and coun.
tries, would bring the total within 81, 100000 Of
that OF last year. The fact that our exports TO
China haze fallen about 5000 900 below those
Of the preceding year, and that this decrease
/, admittedly luc 10 the temporary conditions
which cX'tcd in that gou'tiv n the nM 7?li
o the fiscal year, Is of itself sufficient 10 explain
the remainder Of the shortage, and to show
that the DauTes Of our exports 10 the Pacific
would, unGc normal conditions, have shown
the same increase which has characterized them
r all 'ihcr Tarts OIL the world TO this, now.
ever, mast hc adGCu the fact that japan truk
from tho Critei states last wear an enormous
ovcr.Supply of cotton, the total for the year
being Sl17l2, coo, against S5,775,00O in the prc.
cCdng year; and the result Of this oyer.pur.
chase Of cotton last year has hcen an sbnormally
small purchase in the present year, the figures
for the clever months ending with NAV, 1901,
being S2,NS1,2il, against Sl2,609,lis in the cor.
rcSp,n ndiug ncnths OF last year. ~ ell Other
articles JaI an has taken from the Uaited States
her usual supply, In China the partial suspcn.
sion OF purchases from the United States has
been merely temporary, and trade is now being
resumed in ITS normal proportions. In the Hs.
waiian islands the apparent reduction is entirely
fictitious due 10 the absence of official satisfies;
while the actual volume Of exports to the islands
has increased, and not decreased, To other parts
OF Asia and Cceania the figures Of the year show
an increase; TO the Philippines, a million and
a halt dollars 10 British Australasia, millions;
to the East Indies, millions to Asiatic Russia,
slight increase over the corresponding months
Of ls99, hut methinG below the he, res o.
1900 in viii N year the total was above the
normal.
t'NT,rsaR of the growth Of our exp,rt
rad, with that of other nations Of the wo.i
shows that the United States in the fiscal wear
Just ended has made the greatest increase. Dur.
ing the available portion OF the fiscal year,
the increase in exports from the United States
has averaged million dollars per month; that
Of the United Kingdom, millions per month;
Russia, 3 millions- France, millions; Canada,
millions Austria Hungary, l million; Mexico,
million, Germany, loss Of millions per
MONTH Spain, a loss Of millions per month,
and Belgium, loss OF l million per month.