The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-10
IMMENSE IMPORTATION
Of PRECIOUS STONES
Thirty Million Dollars Worth Brought
in Year.

More than $40. 100000 worth OF dia-
monds and other precious stones were
brought into the United States In the
fiscal year Just ended. The Department
Of Commerce and Labor through its 3u-
reau OF Statistics statements shows
that the total importations of diamonds
and other precious stones IN the eleven
months ending with May. amounted to
ever SOS. OC0. 900 in value. and as thu
figures for the month OF May alone were
about S. 900 coo. II is evident that the
June figures will bring the grand total
OF diamonds and other precious stones
up to a full $50. 1000. 900 for the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1903.
Enormous Increase in 20 Years.
This is the largest importation Of Gia-
monds and other precious stones ever
shown in a single year OF our commerce.
Prior to 1887 the total had seldom. IL
ever. reached $40. O0O. 600 per snnum; from
1887 to 1898 the total gradually moved
upward until It reached SIC. O0O. 900. then
IL rapidly fell to IS 500 900 in 1884,
s., 500 600 in 1895. $3.50. 900 in 1896, and
81. 500. 600 in the fiscal year 1897.
In 1898 the total increased TO nearly
50. OOO. 900. in 1899 to over s14 eco 600. in
1901 to s2O, Oe0. 600. in 1902 to S23. 0O0. 900.
and in 1908 will be fully $50, 000. 900, max
ing the total for the year just ended not
only more than in any preceding year.
but so per cent in excess OF 1901. double
the figures OF 1893. and more than six
times the average during the period
1s94-'s7
New Industry Developing.
This rapid growth in the importation
of diamonds. while IL suggests general
prosperity. also seems TO indicate the
development OF comparatively new in
dustry in the United States, the cutting
of diamonds. The total importations OF
diamonds alone in the eleven months
ending with May amounted to $4,000, 900
and of other precious stones S4,50O,eOo. OK
the $4,000. GOO worth OF diamonds i'm
ported. SIC. 600 900 were uncut diamonds;
this total of SIC, coo, O0o Of uncut diamonds
is a large increase compared with the
importations of uncut diamonds in pre-
ceding years, the figures for eleven
mopths Of the year 1902 being s5,5oo,ooo,
while for the corresponding period Of
1901 they were $500. O00i for the CORE
spending months of 1900 50. SOC. 900 and
for the corresponding months OF 1895
but little over 81 600. 600.
Cut and Uncut Stones.
The diamonds imported are divided by
the Bureau OF Statistics statements into
two groups: Diamonds uncut. including
miners, GLACIERS, and engravers', not
set" and diamonds cut but not set"
The value of diamonds uncut. including
miners, glaciers. etc, imported in
eleven months ending with, May, has
grown from 81. 500, coo in 1898 to S10,000.-
COO in 1908, while tina. Of diamonds cut
but not set has grown from 100000 in
1895 70 Sl4, OOO, 900 in 1903, these figures
being in each case for the period OF
eleven months.
This inference. that the cutting of
diamonds is becoming an important in
dustry in the United States. which is
suggested by the rapid increase in the
Importation OF uncut diamonds, is
strengthened by the fact that the census
statistics OF 'lapidary work. show that
the total value Of production OF lapidary
work in 1900 was over $. 500 900. against
! less than $500, 600 in 1880. and that the
value of the materials used in this work
in 1900 was over S4.5oo,000 against less
than $3.50. 900 IN 1890.