Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-26
IRON IMPORTS GROWING
Years Importation OF Iron and
Steel Increases as Exports
Decrease.
Volume OF Exports OF All Other
Articles Exceeds All Pre-.
vious Records.
Great Demand in This Country
Oyertaxes Steel Mills-Hard
Times Abroad.
Special to Times-Republican.

! Special to TimeS-Republican.
Washington, June 26.-The eXporta-
ton OF manufactures during the eleven
months ending with May, 1902, is great
or than that of any preceding year, eN-
cept in iron and steel. The total exports
OF manufactures for the eleven months
ending with May amount TO $3I,64i,-
500, against $37S, 533.496 in the eleven
months of 1901, or only $6,SS5,SoI less
than those of last year. The exports
CT iron and steel manufactures for the
eleven months are $90,7S0,511, against
500, 4S3,S27 in the corresponding
months .of last year, a reduction of
| S1S,7O3 ,256. From this it would appear
that the exports of manufactures other
than iron and steel are $11,S17,369
greater than in the corresponding
months of the preceding year. The eX-
PORTS of manufactures other than iron
and steel are, for the eleven months
ending with May, 1902, $2S0,S67,03S. For
the eleven months ending with May,
1901. they We're $269.049,669. For the
eleven months ending with May 1900.
they We're S3o50,T04, but when it is
remembered that these figures in
Guided the exports to Porta Rico and
Hawaii, which are not included in those
OF 1901 and 1902, it becomes apparent
that the exports of manufactures other
than iron and steel in the eleven
months of the present fiscal year are
greater than those for the same period
ir any preceding year in the history Of
our commerce.
While the exports of iron and steel
have been decreasing, importations of
iron and steel have been increasing.
The following table shows the imports
and exports of iron and steel manufac-
lures in eleven months of each of the
fiscal years 1900, 1901 and 1902:
Eleven Imports Imports
Months. Iron & Steel. Iron & Steel
Dollars. Dollars
1900 .......... 1S,6S9,S57 110,0SSS75
1901 .......... 16,40S,996 100. 4S3S2T
1902 ......... 23.544,325 90,7S0571
From this it will be seen that the i'm
portations of iron and steel manufac-
lures have materially increased during
the three years, and the expectations of
cause of this change in the condition of
the foreign commerce in iron and steel
is discussed in the report of the Iron
and Steel Association, just received by
the treasury bureau of statistics, as
follows:
"A marked change has taken place in
our foreign trade in iron and steel since
this subject was prominently referred
to in our annual reports in 1899 and
1900. In 1899 and Immediately preced
ing years the iron and steel industries
of Europe We're exceptionally prosper
Gus: there was an active demand and
prices We're high. In the years just
prior to 1899 the prices of iron and
steel in the United States We're lower
than they had ever been. Under these
conditions we naturally found opportu-
mites to dispose of our surplus iron and
steel products in neutral markets and
even in the home markets of our Eu-
ropean competitors. But these cond-
lions have materially changed; the
European demand and European prices
have declined and the home demand
upon our own iron and steel works has
greatly increased, While our prices have
advanced: hence sharper competition
IN neutral and all foreign markets and
increased foreign competition in our
own markets.
THE figures of increased imports and
decreased exports o f iron and steel
should not be hastily dismissed by our
iron and steel manufacturers. We hope
that they will lead them instead to
dismiss the thought that the worlds
markets for iron and steel are to be
easily captured and held. The activity
In our export trade in iron and steel in
the last few years was exceptional and
abnormal. Not only is Europe adopt
ing our improved methods of manufac-
ture, but it will always have cheap la
tor, and by these agencies 1t can hold
It's own markets and actively and ag-
excessively contend for the possession of
neutral markets. For our iron and steel
Industries, as well as for all other do
nestle manufacturing industries, our
home market must always be our bestI
market"