The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-03
'O.P. AUSTIN 5 REPORT
Gives Interesting Data on
Commerce for the Year.
EXPORTS SHOW BIG LOSS
Explains the Fact in Favor of
United States.

Washington. D. c., Jan. S--Mr. Q. P.
Austin, chief of the bureau of treasury
! statistics, in review OF the commerce of
1902. said to-day:
The commerce of the calendar year
1909 will show a reduction of about $125.-
coo,Oeo in exports and an increase of
about $4,000. 10 in imports. This rather
| unique record in the recent history OF our
commerce need not prove particularly dis
couraging to the people of the United
States, either from the standpoint of ex-
ports of imports. The reduction in ex-
ports is SO evidently due to natural and
| temporary causes and the increase in i'm
ports is so gratifying an evidence of in
! creased manufacturing activity that in
neither case is the change IN figures an
occasion for anxiety as TO the healthful
condition of our commerce. The reduc-
/ ton in the corn crop of last year by
drought not only reduced actual eXporta-
ton of corn to almost nothing, but also
affected the expectation of oats and other
cereals which were substituted for corn
! in the expectation OF provisions. which
are to such large degree the product OF
/ the corn crop.
"On the other hand the increase in i'm
portation is to a great degree an evidence
of increased activity in manufacturing,
since a large share of the increase of i'm
ports is in manufacturers materials, OF
which the years importations are far be-
yond those of any preceding year in our
history, and the percentage which manu-
facturers materials form is also larger
than in any preceding year
THE total imports of the year. basing
the estimate on the actual figures Of
eleven months. will probably reach $780,,
OO0O 900. the largest in any preceding calen-
OAR year being those of 1901. $3.50 900.
and the next largest those of 1900. $3.50 COO
900. There has been a steady and marked
increase in importations since 1898. and
the figures of the calendar year 1902. will
be nearly or quite 50 per cent higher than
those of 1898 and probably $4,000 600
greater than in any preceding year. The
chief cause of this increase is the excep-
tional demand of manufacturers for raw
material to be used In manufacturing.
The impertations of raw material for use
! in manufacturing in the eleven months
ending with November. 1902 are S31S, ooo.-
! COO and of partially manufactured ma
terial for use in manufacturing ss9o00,00o,
making the tota importation of manu-
facturers' materials in the eleven months
I s4O7, 100000. against 100000 in the cor
responding months OF last year. and in
GLIDING that the total importations of
manufacturers materials for the fun
year will be nearly $4,000 coo.
This large figure of importations Of
manufacturers materials is especially
striking whe ncompared with the impor-
! tations of this class in earlier years.
Manufacturers materials imported have
ranged in value from 1898 900 900 in 1880 to
S27S 900 900 in 1899. never passing the $780,
| 100000 line except in 1891, when they were
/ $500 600 600. and in 1898. when they We're
: S3l2. 600, 900. In the year 1900. however. the
/ imports of manufacturers materials in
creased :l0o. 00e.0 600 in value over the pre-
ceding year. being 1919 600 against
s27s co., 900 In 1899. In the fiscal year 1902.
they We're s415. 100000 and in the calendar
| year 1902 are likely. already indicated.
! to be nearly or quite $3.50. 0o0o 900, and form
nearly AZ per cent of the total imports.
! There is also a considerable increase in
! the importation of fully manufactured
| goods and luxuries. the total OF these two
! classes for the eleven months of 1902,
being S275, 600 against S24s 600. 900 in the
corresponding months of last year. The
most important items in this group OF
manufactures and luxuries are silks.
/ laces dress goods. diamonds and manu-
! features of tobacco. the importations of
/ diamonds alone having doubled since 1900
The reduction in exports is due in part
! to the increased activity and consequent
consumption in the United States and in
part to the reduction in the crop of last
year. The great shortage In the corn crop.
due to the drouth OF last year, has result
/ ed IN a reduction of exports of corn from
! 101. 600 600 bushels in eleven months Of the
I present year. the value of the corn ex-
( ports having fallen from s50.0oo.oo9 In
eleven months of last year to ss.50oo0o IN
/ the eleven months OF the present year.
/ Wheat exports also showed a marked
/ reduction due in some degree to the in
creased home consumption by reason of
that last year exports Of wheat were ex-
! ceptionally large. the largest indeed. in
/ any year in the history of our commerce.
''One gratifying feature Of the export
| record Is that manufactures. which form
the second largest group in the exporta-
/ tions. show a marked increase. the figures
/ of exports of manufactures for eleven
months of 1892 being 77s.ooo.oe. against
$50. o.l 900 in the corresponding months OF
last yesr-an increase of sl5.oee.6oo This
| is especially gratifying in view OF the
| fact that the enormous home demand for
manufactures Of iron ard steel has caused
n still further reduction IN the exporta-
| ton OF iron and steel manufactures.
which for the eleven months OF ls2. are
SCI oeo ooe. against ss4.ocecco In the cor
responding eleven months Of last year.
The total expectations of iron and steel
manufactures for the year win be sboCt
sloa e.o.sao and in total manufactures
little more than s4oe CO.'S
REFORM IN SPELLING