The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-28
EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURERS
FIGURES EXCEED THOSE FOR ANY
SIMILAR PERIOD.

A Falling on of Exports in Iron md
steel Goods of SIS, 703.256, But n
Large Gain in other Ma manufactures.
Imports of Iron md Steel Have
Decline of European Demand ON
the One Hand and Heavy Dcmnnd
in This County on the other.
Washington. June 27.-The exporta-
ton of manufactures during the
eleven months ending with May, 1902,
is greater than that of any preceding
year, except in iron and steel. The
total exports of manufactures for the
eleven months ending with May
amount to 1911, 647 500, against $685.
or only s6,SS5,SS7 less than those of
last year. The exports of iron and
steel manufactures for the eleven
months are $9O.7SO571, against $780,
4S3, S21 in the corresponding months of
last year, a reduction of $1S, 703,2 56.
From this it would appear that the
exports of manufactures other than
iron and steel are $11,S17, 1853 greater
than in the corresponding months of
the preceding year. The exports of
manufa ctures other than iron and steel
are, for the eleven months ending with
May. 1902, $280,S67 ,038. For the eleven
months ending with May, 1901, they
were 1859, O49, $50. For the eleven
months ending with May, 1900, they
We're $685. $50, 704, but when 1t is remem-
a ed "a
exports to Porto 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
in any preceding year in this history
of our commerce.
While the exports of iron and steel
have been decreasing, importations of
iron and steel have been increasing.
ports and exports of iron and steel
manufactures in eleven months of
each of the fiscal years 1900, 1901 and
1902:
Eleven Imports iron Exports iron
months. and steel and steel.
1900 .............$1S,6S ,S57 s110,03S,875
1901 .............. 16, 40S,9 96 109, 4SS,S27
1902 ............. 23,544,325 90,7S0,571
From this it will be seen that the
importations of iron and steel manu-
lectures have materially increased
during the three years, and the ex-
portations of iron and steel materially
decreased. The cause of this change
in the condition of the foreign COM
merce in iron and steel is discussed in
the report of the Iron and Steel Asso-
citation, 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 re-
ferred to in our annual reports in 1899
and 1900. In 1899 and Immediately pre-
ceding years the iron and steel indus
tries of Europe We're exceptionally
prosperous; there was an active de-
mand and prices were high. In the
years just prior to 1899 the prices of
iron and steel in the United States
were lower than they had ever been.
Under these conditions we naturally
found opportunities to dispose of our
surplus iron and steel products in neu-
t"al markets and even in the home
markets of our European competitors.
Eut these conditions have materially
changed; the European demand and
European prices have declined and the
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 of iron and steel
should not be hastily dismissed by our
iron and steel manufacturers. We hope
that they will lead them instead to dis
miss the thought that the worlds mar
kets 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 alb
normal. Not only is Europe adopting
our improved methods of manufacture.
but it will always have cheap labor,
and by these agencies it can hold its
own markets and actively and ag-
gressively contend for the possession
of neutral markets. For our iron and
steel industries, as well as for all other
domestic manufacturing industries. our
home market must always be our best
market"
The following table shows the ex-
ports by principal classes during the
eleven months ending with May, 1901,
and 1902, respectively:
1901. 1902
Pr'dcts of agri$ SS4 ,424,916 S05. 1922. 656