Evening star., 1903-08-21
FOREST PRODUCTS
IMPORTATION EXCEEDS EXPOR-
TATIoN AT PRESENT.
The Trend Of Trade, However, in Re-
cent Years Indicates Change
in Situation.


States than is generally appreciated. the
imports during the fiscal year 1902 amount
ing to nearly s6O.OOO.O 600 worth and the ex-
ports reaching almost $4,000. 600. While at
present importation exceeds expectation,
the trend of trade during recent years
seems to Indicate that the situation may
soon be reserved. Ten years ago the i'm
ports were valued at $5OOOO.OOO and the
exports at only 5000. 600. the imports in
the decade increasing less than S10,0OO,OO
while the exports gained more than $20,0 ,0OO,-
600
The forest products imported into the
United States come largely from tropical
countries and differ strikingly in charac-
ter from those exported. The principal item
among the imports is the several gums
from which rubber is made. Lumber also
ranks high in this branch of the import
trade coming particularly from Canaoa.
Tropical countries are depended upon al
most exclusively for cabinet woods. espe-
cially mahogany. and they also supply the
dyewoods. Wood pulp and cork are nota-
BILE forest products derived from temperate
sources
Our imports during 1902 of the gums used
for rubber making amount In the aggre-
gate to 81, 100 600 pounds. valued at sZoooo'-
600 OF india rubber. which was the prln-
cipal item 90, Alb, 600 pounds. worth S24
CO., were imported. Most of the INDIA rup-
ber came from Brazil. Gutta-1oolatong, OF
East India gum, was imported to the eX-
tent of 1851 900 pounds. the value being
SJO1 600 Our supply of gutta-percha,
amounting to $4,000 pounds, with vaiue
of s252 600. was purchased largely In the
markets of the united kingdom and Ger
many.
OF wood in its various forms, not 1ncluo-
ing dye woods. there were imports last
wear worth 9.621 900. Lumber formed the
principal item under this head, the import
inty tn During
boards deals planks and other sawed lum-
ber were imported to the extent of 665 6oS.-
600 feet. valued at 1927 600. Practically all
of this sawed lumber was OF Canadian ori-
gin There was also a heavy Importation
of shingles from Canada. the number re-
ceived being 707 ,614 600 and the value
81 363, 900. Shingles were not imported from
any other source
Various kinds of lumber other than those
specified were also imported, forming to-
gether an Item of $1,3S1 900, chiefly from
Canada.
Timber From Foreign Countries.
In addition to lumber s925. 600 worth Of
timber was received from foreign coun-
tries. chiefly from Canada. The principal
part of this timber was imported round or
in the form of logs. Our imports of tim
Der In that form amounted in quantity TO
1O6 III 600 feet and had value of 1907 900.
OF timber that had been hewn, squared or
sided we imported $4,000 cubic feet, the
value being $4,000.
The cabinet woods imported during 1902
were valued at 1861 900. OF mahogany,
which was by far the most important item,
a 795, 600 feet were received, the value
amounting to &, 361 900. Nicaragua, Mex
leo and Cuba were the countries that pro
duced most of the mahogany imported.
Large quantities of this wood. however,
were received indirectly through the mar
kets Of the united kingdom. The various
other cabinet woods imported in 1902 had
an aggregate value Of about Sl,oOOOo.
They came from many tropical countries.
but in largest quantities from Cupa ana
Mexico.
Several gums other than those used in
rubber making were imported quite ex-,
tensively during 1902, their combined value
amounting to N,744, 600. Copal, kaur1 and
damar had combined value OF y aol oO ~
the quantity received amounting to 20,o23,-
600 pounds. These gums came chiefly from
British Oceanica and from the British and
the Dutch East Indies.
OF shellac we imported 9O65, 600 pounds.
worth 81 Coz, goo. The British East Indies
were the principal source of supply.
Gambler or terra japonica. was imported
to the extent of 2S 454 900 pounds, the value
being s1162 600 This gum came largely
from the British East Indies.
The imports of chicle were recorded at
A. 575 600 pounds, with value Of $936,OOO
Mexico was the leading country of origin.
Of crude camphor there were imports
amounting to 1881 600 pounds, worth $516,-
OOO They came, in the main, from Japan
Gum arabic was received to the extent OF
4 $50 OcO pounds, the value being $842OOO
Egypt supplied the principal part. Our i'm
ports of wood pulp in 1902 amounted to g.
coo tons worth 50 059, 900, Canada being the
leading source of supply, although large
quantities came from sweden ana norway
and from Germany. Portugal and Spain
furnished cork wood and cork bark valued
at S1,S16,OO0. OF the S1,159,OOO worth OF
dye woods, 5000 tons of logwood, worth
S774OOO came mostly from Haiti and the
British West Indies.
The Netherlands, the United Kingdom
and Germany contributed to our markets
g. 723 900 pounds of cinchona bark, worth
$3.50 600; Ecuador and Colombia sent us
IA 500 600 pounds of vegetable Ivory worth
S165,0O0. and Italy was the principal source
of supply of ground sumac, which was i'm
ported to the extent of 9,1s3O0O pounds,
valued at $4,000
Forest Products Exported.
Wood Is decidedly the most important
factor in our forest products export trade.
having amounted last year to S26, ,OOO, 900
approximately for lumber and s1O,OoO,OOo
for timber Under the head of lumber, the
principal export items were boards. deals
and planks aggregating $40 S14 600 feet.
worth S16 97s, 600, the united kingdom. Can
ada Mexico the Netherlands and Argen-
tina furnishing the chief markets, while
Belgium, Cuba, British Australasia, Ger
many and British Africa were large buyers
During the year 46, co slaves, worth
s.. $50 coo, were sold to France. the united
kingdom. Spain. Portugal. Holland, Ger
many and Italy. Shocks formed an export
item of 81 400, go.
Exports of joists and scantling amounted
to 81, $50 O0D feet, value, S4T2 COO. Argen-
tina, Cuba, the British West Indies, MeXi
CO and Canada were the principal markets.
During last year 33 224 900 shingles, val
ued at $4,000. were shipped from the
United States, going chiefly to the British
West Indies, Canada and Mexico. I'm
enumerated lumber articles were exported
to the value of S3,572. 900. The united king
dom. Mexico, Canada and Germany were
the principal countries of destination for
these unclass fled exports.
Our shipments of round timber. or tim
Der In the log, in 1902, were valued at
So 344, 600 the leading markets being found
in the united kingdom. Germany, Canada,
the Netherlands. Mexico and France.
Hewn timber exported to the extent of
8, 3SS COO cubic feet. worth 81 .031 600 went
chiefly to the united kingdom, Canada,
Mexico and Cuba.
OF sawed timber, which was the principal
variety exported, there were shipments
amounting in value to So. 225, 600, the guam
tity being 412. 10000 feet. The united
kingdom proved to be the leading market.
sales we're also made the Nether-