New-York tribune., 1901-03-05
FACTS ABOUT FOREIGN COMMERCE.

Examination Of the official returns for Janu-
airy, just issued in detail. brings TO light some
Interesting points. Total exports were Sl3b.3ZZ'-
0i5. against Silt 597 14S in January. 1900. an in
crease of S1S,724 .s97, but there was a greater
gain than this in the products OF agriculture
alone of which shipments were valued at s5Z'-
561 SAT against S71, ,731 316. difference of $40
$50 531. Search for explanation discloses
loss of So 932 905 in exports Of manufactures
which comprised only 24.4S per cent Of the
months total, against 30S7 per cent in the pre-
vious year. AS the principal cause for rejoicing
has been the remarkable growth in foreign de-
mand for manufactured articles, it IS important
to find Just where this loss occurred.
Foreign concerns have made heavy reductions
in prices of iron and steel products, and the
effect is seen in loss of S163.392 in builders
hardware, S103309 In pipes and fittings. S32a.-
$40 in metal working machinery and S415.094 in
miscellaneous machinery. Owing TO large gains
in exports Of bars and structural shapes, the net
loss amounts to only S60S,O For seven months
Of the fiscal year. however. there still appears
an increase of Sill S56 in exports OF iron and
steel manufactures. Bicycles are separately
classified, and show loss Of $3.50 compared
with the previous January. which is more than
offset by a gain of $371 $50 in instruments.
Notwithstanding a moderate increase in boots
and shoes, there was loss OF $3.50 466 in the
leather class. mainly due TO smaller shipments
Of sole and upper leather in the United King
dom. The decrease of $637. COG in cotton cloth
exported is not alarming, since the Joss to China
alone was seas 094 and Of late there has been
n better movement in that direction. crafty
ing gain Of $131 $50 occurred in paper, but
loss Of S20S. .S64 in manufactured tobacco. mainly
to the United Kingdom and Australia While
still Insignificant in the aggregate. exports of
manufactured silk steadily growing, for
seven months the total reaching S1l2.l9l,
against $132 OBS in the previous fiscal year. A
loss Of S30S 153 in January exports Of timber
was balanced by increase in manufactures
of wood gain of $3.50 1888 in value OF coal ex-
ported was on account of higher prices, since
only 1923 more tons We're shipped Canada is
still the principal customer for this product.
Imports for the month decreased S6.661,252, OF
which the principal losses were: Hides, 5000
222; rubber, $1,172, ,S3S; coffee, $1,I03S02 re-
ceipts from Brazil falling off twenty million
pounds, and raw WOOL $1.113,619, although inn
ports of manufactured wool gained S516,411. In
raw silk there a loss Of S635l2 and in
manufactured silk SS36,677, while fbres de-
creased $439, ,47O; cocoa. 1872 2S5S and
features of cotton. $340033 The largest in
creases for the month We're $3,0l9,21S in sugar
and 81 245 800 in jewelry but there still appears
a decrease IN InlS item IOr tne HScaI year A
good gain Of $643,O is noticed in lead but tin
plates from the United Kingdom fell off S134.-
261 and chemicals lost $175960
Judging by the returns OF foreign commerce
at the port of New-York for the last four weeks.
and by the restricted movement and lower
prices of cotton at the South it is probable that
the February record will he less satisfactory than
those Of recent months. There is no reason to
fear unfavorable trade balance. however, for
imports have also shown signs of decrease. In
February 1900. there an increase of nearly
50, 900 900 over the preceding month in the value
of merchandise exported. but imports decreased
81, 900 600, making the increase in foreign credits
$50, 93,O44. So far as last months business
may be estimated by returns now available. there
is no reason expect better showing, and the
excess of exports over imports. amounting TO
S67, ,217. 100 in January. will probably not be
eoualled