New-York tribune., 1902-12-31

numbers Of 1903. 100000; France in the same
period brought from abroad merchandise OF Inc
value Of S9100O0o0o; Germany purchased from
r.,reisu nations merchandise Of the value OF
81 :35I 100000 and Great Britain purchased
rom other countries merchandise OF the enor-
nous value of S2,540o00o0o-
The percentage of increase of imports is also
interesting. showing that in the last decade the
increase OF this item in the United States was
a little over per cent that of France a little
over 1e15 per cent. Germany more than Al per
cent and England a little 23 per cent.
Thus while sent more goods In value to our
.ua-ign ne:ghbors than any other world power
,,re bought less than any other Of such powers
Our percentage of increase to exports was
greater than theirs and our percentage OF IN
crease as to imports less than theirs
STEEL, IRON AND COAL PRODUCTION.
In turning from these general figures Of world
trade 10 few specific articles and confining the
consideration TO the most important article IN
the commerce OF the world. it is easy to find
further reason for self-congratulation This is
truly called the Age of Steel" and so it is nat
ural TO scan the figures to the production or
steel and see how the United States stands as
30 that item From the best figures which can
he discovered il is found that in the year 1902
VIII produce probably more than 15,eo.oco
ions of steel. in the same time the production
OF France will probably be less than 2.0o1.eoo
tons Germany about 6000e00 tons and Great
Britain 100000 tons. The production Of pig
iron in the same period will amount in the
United States TO about 100000 tons. in
France something 100000 tons, In
Germany to less than 100000 tons and in
Great Britain to about Soo0Ga0 tons.
The production of coal in 1902 will be- approx
smately. for Great Britain about 2190e0o0o
ions; Germany. l5oooooa0 tons: France. 81.
100000 tons. and the United States. about $50
$4,000 tons.
From these suggestive figures as 70 the pro
,1uction of steel. iron and COAL the pre-ennnence
OF the United States as to the industry which
commands the most attention from the world at
the present time is easily demonstrated
FOOD PRODUCTS.
In the matter Of the production of food prod
,1ots. such as cattle, sheer. swine. wheat and
corn, the figures of the United States are so
much greater than those Of any Other country
mentioned that there IS scarcely any comparison
between them
For example the number of cattle produced,
as nearly as can he determined from the figures
of the last year available. was as follows:
United States. 6soo0o1o: France, 14.50o0pO;
Germany. 19.o1000o. and Great Britain, 1looa-
600. Sheep: United States. 62.0ooooo: France.
20o0ooo0. Germany, 100000, and Great Brit
ain. 100000. Swine: United States. 630oo-
Great Britain. 100000 Wheat: United States.
,27oNoooo bushels: France. 304 100000 bushels;
Germany. 100000 bushels and Great Britain.
100000 bushels. Corn: United States, 25'45,-
100000 bushels; France 100000 bushels
DECREASE OF EXPORTS IN 1902
While these figures are enormous, and indi-
cate an increase of exports in the last decade, II
is true that those for the fiscal year Of 1902
show decrease in the value Of exports over
those for 1901 of about S95000oo0. This fact
has been seriously commented upon. and some
of the most prominent men in the financial and
commercial world have declared that in their
opinion America has reached high water mark
3n the matter of exports. and that the tide
would gradually recede from now on. There
have been those IF equal prominence however.
who have honestly disputed the correctness of
this conclusion. and urged that the falling off
was only temporary. and that the tide would
again turn in the other direction. A special ]
article this subject will be found in another
portion of this paper discussing the question
rom the standpoint of experienced observer.
There is one small item, however. which may
perhaps be only a straw. indicating a partial
reason for the falling off in exports This item
relates particularly to machine tools. It is well |
known that the manufacturers of this particu- !
lar branch Of industry in the United States have
led the world for many years. Recently there /
has been agitation and threats of protective !
tariffs by other countries against American
products. particularly manufactured articles .
TO meet the condition of affairs which /
might be brought about by such a tariff at least
one large concern engaged in manufacturing I
machine tools has established works in Ger /
anany, investing not less than 100000 in such /
Establishment. In the foreign establishment /
this concern has duplicates of all its leading |
lines Of machinery carried at the home works. |
ana by manufacturing its products abroad to |
supply foreign markets it avoids the additional !
cost Of freight and the foreign protective tariff
in this way it is able to compete with the for /
eign manufacturers who have largely adopted !
American methods, In spite of the protective
tariff in these countries. The sight has become /
familiar to Americans of seeing foreign manu-
facturers move their plants to this country in !
order to be able TO compete successfully with
home products, but the reverse conditions have |
not yet become common enough to be uninter- I
esting.
INSULAR TRADE.
The insular trade of the United States, par |
ticularly that with the the Philippine Islands.
naturally arouses great deal Of interest in |
American minds. From the report of the Secre-
1aTy Of War. made in June 1902 it is found /
that the total cost of the war in the Philippines
up TO that time had been S170326 $50. Prior to /
the Spanish war, in the year 1897 our exports |
10 the Philippine Islands had been of the value
OF S94597 and our imports from those islands |
S4.3S3,l40- In table in another part of this |
paper viii be found the increase of our trade |
with the Philippines since 1897. From this il |
VIII be seen that in the fiscal year of 1902 the |
value Of exports was 1921 1856 or more |
Than nifty times what it had been at or prior to |
the time the United States acquired the islands /
ShO