The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-26
RECORD is HIGHEST
Year Ending in June Will Set
( a New Pace
EXPORTS ARE EVERGAINING
Trouble in Orient Has Caused
Temporary Diminution


ufactures from the United States seem
likely to make their highest record in the
fiscal year which ends with the month of
June, 1904 In the eight months ending
with February, for which the depart
ment of commerce and labor, through its
bureau of statistics announces the fig
ures of exports of manufactures, the total
Is 20 million dollars larger than in the
corresponding eight months of the fiscal
year 1900, which was the record year in
exports of manufactures. For the eight
months ending with February, 1904, the
total expectation of manufactures was
$2Ss, 1905 against s26S, 537 972 in the cor
responding months of 1900
While conditions in the far east are
causing considerable dirninution in the
exports Of cotton manufactures from the
United States. practically all of the other
important exports show a marked in
crease, and it seems not improbable that
the grand total for the year will exceed
that of the banner year 1900, and certainly
that the total for 1904 will compare fav-
ofably with that greatest year in our
exports of manufactures and surpass that
of any other year. An analysis of the
"details of exports just made by the de-
partment of commerce and labor, through
. its bureau of statistics, shows an increase
In nearly all of the important articles
other than cotton goods as compared
with last year or earlier years.
In connection with the large production
1t is interesting to note the increase in
the shipments of the small sizes of coal
during 1903 over thise of previous years.
This is especially noteworthy on ac-
count of the opinion generally expressed
at the close of the anthracite strike that
bitumipous coal haG largely supplanted
anthracite for steam purposes, and would
continue to hold this trade to the exclu-
sion of the small sizes Of the latter pro-
duct. On the contrary, hiwever, the con-
sumption of these smaller sizes of coal
increased 2.46SG9i tons in 1893 over 1901.
1t would seem that the only cause which
would seriously affect the prosperity of
the anthracite business is the general
condition of the entire country. AS long
IS the people at large are able to buy
anthracite, ii will not want a market.
1t is also of interest to note an in
crease of Is cents in the average value
Per ton for coal at the mines. The total
production was 66.351, 713 tons. valued at
$l52 03e. AS. The average price per ton
was $3.50: the number of men employed
was 15o4s3; and the average number of
days that each man worked was 206.
Tables are given in the report which
show the production by counties for the
years 1902 and 1903; also the shipments of
anthracite and the proportion of sizes
shipped. A tabular arrangement of the !
various sections of the anthracite fields is
given, with a list of the ten railroads that |
enter the territory
Iron and steel exports show an increase
Of nearly million dollars for tse single |
month of February and of about mil |
lions for the eight months ending with !
February. Mineral oils show an increase /
Of 4 million dollars in the month of Feb |
ru;ary an6 of over millions in the eight
month period under consideration. Cop
per manufacturers show Tor the month of
February an increase of nearly million
dollars, and for the eight months an in
Grease of nearly Il millions; leather and
its manufacturers show for the eight
months a slight increase in agricultural
implements an increase for the eight
months Of 212 millions; chemicals show a
slight increase in the month of February
also slight increase in the eight months |
ending with February; and this is also
true of paper manufacturers. scientific in
struments, fiber manufacturers. cars and
carriages. India rubber manufactures, !
clocks and watches
On the import side conditions are also |
satisfactory. The check in importations
of manufacturers materials seems to |
have been but temporary, the total i'm
portation of raw material for use in man |
ufacturing was, in February. 1904. equaled /
in total value by that of February, 1903 /
while in many cases prices were consid-
erably less. indicating an actual increase /
in quantity imported For the eight /
months ending with February. 1901. the /
total value of raw material imported for |
manufacturing fell but 10 million dallars I
below the extraordinary high figure for /
the corresponding months of the preced- |
ing fiscal year, and this is probably ac-
counted for. in part at least, by the re-
duction In prices
Hemp. manila. and sisal all show a
lower price per ton in February. 1904. than
in February. 1903. according TO the re-
ports of the bureau of statistics: and this 4
is also true of sheet plate, and taggers'
iron. rubber. and numerous other articles
utilized in manufacturing. The average
price per ton of hemp imported in Feb
ruary, 1884, was $l446, against sl72.S5 In
February. 1893: Of manila. si7993, against
s192.eS in February. 1908; Of India rubber,
50. $50 per pound as against So. in Feb
ruary of last year.
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