Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-27
FIGURES INDICATE PROSPERITY
Activity In Every Line Gives Promise
of a Continuance of the Commercial
Supremacy That We Have Attained
Statistics Cited to Show the Ten
dency of Trade.

Of our for twenty years, and
| have never known the time in which
they indicated greater prosperity,
greater activity in agriculture and man
ufacturing or in any OF the producing
industries of the country than at the
present. The exports for h twelve
months ending with March amounted to
$1.414, 600, 900, and, While this falls
slightly below the figures of the two
preceding years, the reduction is due to
conditions existing in the early part of
the year, and not to those of the pres
ent time. For these our months end
was ever known.
Cotton exports in the month of
March last were over $36, 000, 900,
against $40, 600, 900 in March of last
year, $26, 000, 900 in March of 1901 and
S33, 5000 0 in March, 1900. Grain ex-
ports in March amounted to 15,500.000
bushels, against 1850. 900 in March of
last year, the low figures of last year
being due, of course, to the loss of the
grain crop thru the drought of 1901.
For the nine months ending with March
the exports of grain we're 52,0OO,00O
bushels, against $4,000, 600 bushels dur
ing the corresponding months of he
preceding year..
THE expectation of agricultural
products as a whole in the mont of
March amounted to $4,000, 900, against
$780, 900, 900 in March of the preceding
year. AS to manufactures, the figures
of the fiscal year exceed those of the
preceding year by several million dol
lars despite the unusual demand for
manufactures in the active markets at
home. Iron and steel, to be sure. show
a falling off, but this is generally on
ceded to be due to the usual demand
for manufactures of iron and steel at
home and to no other cause.
"The total value of exports OF iron
and steel for the eight months ending
with February amounts to $685. 00, 900.
against $64, 500. 900 in the same months
of 1902 and sS1, 900, 900 in the CORE
spending months of 1901. but this, as I
have already said, is stated by experts
in iron and steel lines to be solely luz
to the extraordinary demand of the
home market, and IL the outward move
inent in other lines of manufactures
continues satisfactory and in excess OF
that of the preceding year there seems
to be no reason to doubt the prosperity
OF the export trade.
An equally striking evidence of pros
perity Is found in the figures of the im-
port trade. The imports for the twelve
months ending with March exceed ST.
600, 000, 900 in value. and this is the first
time imports ever crossed the $1,000,-
600, 900 in a twelve months term. There
is a difference of opinion among the
economists us to whether large imports
are evidence of prosperity. but IN anal
ysis OF this particular case of a large
import trade. will l think, assure the
most skeptical that 1t is an evidence
of prosperity. My reason for thinking
so is that the increase in importation
is chiefly In manufacturers materials.
The bureau of statistics divides i'm
ports Into five groups:
II. Articles OF food.
'2. Articles in crude condition, 70.
use in manufacturing.
"3. Articles wholly or partly manu-
featured for use in manufacturing.
Il. Articles manufactured ready for
consumption.
"b. Articles of voluntary use, luxur-
les. etc.
THE fact that the largest growth in
importations is found in h articles re-
quired for use in manufacturing justi-
fies the assertion that the growth of
imports. in this particular case at least.
is an evidence of prosperity. Articles
in a crude condition for use in manu-
featuring were imported during the
eight months ending with February to
the value of $246, 900. 900 against s20S,-
900, 900 in the corresponding months of
the preceding year, while articles who'll
~ or partially manufactured, but for
use in manufacturing. amounted to
$T3. 900. 900. against $61,000,00 In the
preceding year.
Here is an increase of $4,000. 600
In manufacturers materials in a sin
gle year. a growth of nearly 20 per cent
in the Importation of material required
by the manufacturers of the country
for use in their daily business activities.
The total increase in importations in
the same period was $50, 100000 and the
fact that of this $50. 600, 600, 50,00O,-
900 was manufacturers materials. is an
evidence of prosperity n of the fact
that the kind of importations which we
are now having evince in themselves
prosperity.
Another evidence of the prosperous
condition among the people is the fact
that the importations designated, ar
ticles of voluntary use, ~luXuries, etc.
have increased S11, O00, 900 in the eight
months ending with February, 1903.
compared With the corresponding
months, of the preceding year, and that
articles manufactured ready for con-
sumption have also increased about
$15,0 900, 900. This increase In manufac-
tured goods is chiefly in silks, high
grade cotton goods, such as laces, IN
broideries etc, and diamonds. The inn
p~ortation of diamonds and other prec-
ious stones amounted to $20.00O,0 900 dur
ing the eight months ending with Feb
ruary, 1903, against $14,OoO.0o0 in the
eight months of the preceding year."
Iowa at Washington.
| Washington, d. c., April 27.-The
following pensions have been granted
to Iowans:
Original-George Is. Frazier, Creston,
IS; William IA. Davis, Wapello, s6.
ncroaca-Samue w. Maine, North