Evening star., 1902-03-21
REDUCTION IN EXPORTS
NOT AN INDICATION OF DECLINE
IN FOREIGN TRADE.
Reasons for the Decreased Shipment Of
Corn, Copper and Iron and
Steel Manufactures.

The reduction of $41 600 900 in the exports
of the United States for the. eight months
ending with February Is not CONSIDERED at
all discouraging by those interested IN the
growth Of our export trade, nor ls II an III
dication of a decline in the general grown OF
that trade. On the contrary, In all important
articles except three, in which cond1tlons
are abnormal, there has been an increase.
The decrease is solely or practically SO IN
corn due to the great crop shortage caused
by the drouth of last summer; In copper, In
which prices have greatly fallen, and In
iron and steel manufactures, due TO the
unusual demand of the home market upon
our manufacturers and the reduced demand
in foreign markets In corn ana cornmeal
alone the exports fall more than S47 7,OoO,oOo
below those of the corresponding period or
last year, while the total decrease In all
exports is but $41, ,O12, ,5s4, showing that If
corn exports were normal the totai ngures
would show an increase of more than $6,-
GOO 600 over last year and over the corre-
spending period Of any preceding year.
Iron and Steel.
In iron and steel manufactures the figures
of the seven months ending with January
February figures being not yet availaoie)
| show a reduction of about $16,OOO,OOO In ex-
ports, this, as has already been explained,
| being due to the excessive demand OF the
| home market upon our manufacturers and
| the lower prices and reduced demand
abroad In wheat the exports Tor the eisnt
| months show an increase of nearly $3O.OOO,-
600 compared with those of the same months
| of the preceding year, and IN provisions
| there Is an increase of $5,OOO,OOO
| In cotton the month of February shows
| an increase of over 81 600 600 compared with
FEBRUARY, 1901, though the six months OF
the cotton year ending with Eepruary snow
a decrease Of about $10,0OO,OOJ. due to
| lower prices and not to any reduction IN
| ouantity, the number of pounds exported
during the period being . 2,Sss.'a.ol s A. ~
against 23OS, 244. .326 POUNDS ias. year. ah III
| crease of over 330,OOO,OOO pounds.
Mineral Oils.
Tn mineral oils the preliminary figures Of
! the treasury bureau of statistics for the
| eight months ending with February show
an increase of nearly 100000 over those
| of the corresponding months OF the pre-
vious year measured oy values WINE ~.
| quantity the increase is in much greater
| proportion. The total number OF gallons
| shown by the preliminary statement OF the
| bureau of statistics for the eight months Is
/ 73O 1562U1 against 67S.9S1. I65 last year, an
| increase of ID per cent: while the value, as
shown by the same statement, is for the
| eight months ending with February 1N2,
S48155415 against SAG 495,S54, an increase
| Of 30 per cent. Thus this feature OF our
| export trade, mineral oils, which a feW
| months ago was showing decline, has
| fully recovered. and its exports now exceed
| those of any preceding year. both in guam
/ tity and value. In copper, the only other
important artioO which showed a decline.
OF nearly SO per cent in quantity and a
/ slight decrease In. value compared with
/ those Of January, 1871 tFs bruary figures
being not vet availabie). though for the