Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-20
IMPORTANT BULLETINS
RECENTLY ISSUED BY THE AGRI-
CULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Sources Of Agricultural Imports and
the Foreign Trade in Forest
Products Given.

Two bulletins Of more than ordinary i'm
portance have been issued by the Depart
ment of Agriculture during the past few
weeks dealing with the sources Of the agrf-
cultural imports Of the United States during
the years 1923 and the foreign trade in
forest products during the year 1902. The
matter contained in the bulletins has been
prepared by Mr. Frank H. Hitchcock, chief
of the division Of foreign markets Of the
Department of Agriculture. With regard
to the agricultural imports Mr.. Hitchcock
makes the following general statements in
the introduction to the various statistical
tables which accompany his work:
''As in previous years, nearly a third OF
the agricultural produce imported into the
United States was purchased from Euro
pean nations. 1t IS probable. however, that
a considerable portion OF this produce orig
mated in countries remote from Europe,
some of the European ports being extern
derived from other quarters Of the globe.
The value Of the agricultural produce.
whether of European origin or not, that
came to the United States from the ports
Of Europe during 1902 was $132 $50 900.
After Europe, South. America was the
continent that contributed most in 1902 to
the agricultural import trade Of the United
States. South American countries and is
lands furnished products of agriculture hav-
ing an aggregate value of $93 190,OOO and
forming % per cent Of the total amount I'M
ported.
Large shipments were also received from
distant Asia, the agricultural produce sup
piled by that continent forming 20 per cent
OF OF, the total, and amovptins in value to
THE adjacent countries OF North America
sold us agricultural produce to about the
same extent as Asia, the value being 49,
O25OOO. or 20 per cent Of the total.
africa and Oceania together contributed
less than 9 per cent OF the agricultural
produce received from abroad. The i'm
ports from Africa were valued at S12.441.-
CO., and those from Oceania at 81, 6O4 600.
Agricultural Produce.
Nearly s414, 600 600 worth Of agricultural
produce was imported into the United
States during the fiscal year 1902 Brazil,
the united kingdom, Cuba. Japan, France,
Italy and Mexico stood foremost in the long
list of countries from which this produce
came. OF the remaining sources of supply
the most important were Germany, the
British East Indies, the Chinese empire,
the Dutch East Indies, Egypt, the British
West Indies and Argentina
Brazil far outranked all other countries
as factor in the trade, furnishing agri-
cultural products valued at $62. 900 O00
Aside from coffee, which was decidedly the
largest Item, the principal articles received
from Brazil were sugar. hides and skins.
cocoa and fruits and nuts
Next to Brazil the united kingdom was
the leading source Of supply. In the mar
kets OF that country we made purchases
amounting to $36,OOO.0O0. These purchases
embraced large variety of articles. some
of the most important being wool. hides
and skins, manila hemp. alcoholic liquors,
vegetable oils. vegetables, cotton and
feathers. From the nature of the items
- L.
from the united kingdom consisted to a
considerable extent of products originating
in other countries.
During 1901 Cuba stood second only to
Brazil as source of Importation. but ow-
ing to the exceptionally small shipments of
sugar last year the island dropped into
third place. supplying only 500, 900 900 worth
of agricultural produce, or nearly 0,O0O,-
600 less than in the year before Sugar
was. of course, the principal item among
the imports from Cuba. Other products
received from that source In considerable
quantities were tobacco, fruits and nuts,
molasses and cocoa.
"Our imports of agricultural produce from
Japan during 1902 were exceptionally large,
having a value of $26 600, 900. Silk was by
far the most important item. with tea rank
ing second. Rice was another product i'm
ported quite extensively from Japan
Forest Products.
In the second volume relating to foreign
trade in forest products Mr.. Hitchcock
makes the following observations under the
head of trade OF the year:
Forest products enter quite extensively
into the foreign commerce of the United
States. During the fiscal year 1902 we i'm
ported $59,0Oo,OO0 worth Of such products
and exported $40. 0O0.oe6 worth.
while at present importation exceeds
expectation, the trend Of. trade during re-
cent years seems to Indicate that the sit
uation may soon be reversed. Ten years
ago the imports we're valued at $4,000, 900
and the exports at only SOS. 100000. Since
the beginning of the decade the value of
the imports has inereAaed less than $1O.-
100000. whereas the exports show a gain
Of more than 20.O00 co.,