New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
FOREIGN COMMERCE.
Gratifying Figures for Eleven Months of
the Year.
Ir,:oA THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

IF,oA TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington, Dec. H.-Sratifyng gain in The for
eign commerce Of the United States is evident in
che statistics for the first eleven months OF the
calendar year
The figures for the eleven months would seem 10
indicate that the total commerce OF the United
States during the year about end VIII be greater
than in preceding year, but that the total
ports viii fall few millions below those of 1900 and
be about equal to those Of 1901 though materially
in of those of 1902. while the total imports
VIII exceed those Of any preceding year, and. COM
bined with the exports. viii make the grand total
of commerce more than in any earlier year; also
that the exports OF manufactures will exceed those
OF 1892 by several millions. but be somewhat below
those Of the record year 1892 and perhaps 1901
The figures show increase in practically all OF
the great groups into which the Bureau of Statis-
tics divides the exports and in all Of the groups
into which it divides the imports. Agricultural
products. whole. show increase Of S74,OO0-
600; products Of the forests s10OoO00 products Of
the mines $S,G00,OOO manufactures, 100000 and
miscellaneous articles. s2.OoOOoO. In the single
group fisheries is shown slight decrease Of a lit
tie more than S1000.00O
The figures for the month OF November show
marked growth in exports OF manufactures, the
total for the month being s3 09S 6s against s3053
Oh in November OF last year. Agricultural prod
ucts also show marked increase in the month the
figures for November, 1908. being Sn4l72255.
against sS2.OG5s5o in the month OF last year.
The increase in agricultural exports occurs chiefly
in cotton. OF which the value OF the months
ports is unusually high
The increase iE exports OF manufactures is dis
tributed through many articles. but does not occur
had been expected in iron and steel Discussions
In trade circles and in the press during
weeks have predicted a revival in the export trade
Of iron and steel manufactures, but the November
figures Of exports OF this class of merchandise do
not justify this prediction. The total value of iron
and steel manufactures exported in November. 19O3
was SssS.4l5 against IS 119 924 November of 1902
e1S l9S in November 1901, $40 72i in Novem-
Der, 1900. For the eleven months ended with No
Vember the total exports Of iron and steel manu-
features sSs6 21 in value against $901Ss 124 in
the corresponding months Of 1902 and $9 i12,782 IN
the corresponding months of 1901. Notwithstanding
the slight decrease in exports OF iron and steel the
total Of all manufactures exported during the eleven
months ended with November 1903 is $3S2 76S, l27
against $S7 1853 in the corresponding months of
last year.
Imports for the month show a decrease of over
$4,000 compared with November Of the preceding
year. This decrease is divided between manufact-
mated as articles Of voluntary use luxuries etc.
flV1Is OF paI uaIy manufactured for use in manu-
raStnrlng the reduction in this class being about
OF me preceding year This reduction occurs largely
IN IRON and steel Of which the importations for the
nohn are less than half those of the corresponding
month OF last year, the figures for November 1903
For the eleven months ended with Noyember a ly
cies wholly or partially manufactured for use in
TIE corresponding months Of last year. while arti-
Ses IN a crude condition for use in manufacturing
show increase of 81 600 I'm 1909 as compared
with the corresponding months of 1902.
Summarizing the story told by the figures for the
eleven months ended with November IL NAV
De said that they indicate a growth in
exports OF manufactures, but that the ex-
Peeted increase in exports OF iron and steel manu-
lectures has not developed. Imports Of iron and
steel manufactures. however. show decrease in
November. 1868 compared with November 1902
though for the entire eleven months the figures of
4 IRON ana steel imports slightly in excess OF
those OF last year ImportatiODs Of other manufact
urers materials also show slight decrease in No
! Hember as compared with November of last wear
I but a marked increase when the eleven months
ended with November considered in corparson
with the corresponding months Of last year
The tables which follow present the summarize
ton Of the commerce of the eleven months ended
with November. compared with the corresponding
periods of last year:
IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES
Eleven months ended with
Classification. 1902 1903