The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-04-18
LUXURIES MADE AT HOME.

The occupation of the home market
by American manufacturers is illustrat-
ed by some figures recently issued by
the Department of Commerce and La
Dor through its Bureau of Statistics,
showing the importations into the
United States of Injuries and other
articles of voluntary use during the
past fifteen years. Statistics Just com
piled show that the importations of
luxuries and other articles of voluntary
use amounted to 1877 million dollars in
the calendar year 1904, an increase of
less than s millions over the importa-
tons of 1890. Importations under the
group Manufactures ready for con-
sumption" amounted in 1904 to 1853 mil
lions. as against $50 millions i'm 1890, an
Increase of but s million dollars, while
manufacturers materials, including
both raw and partially manufactured
increased from 2S3 millions in 1890 to
AIS millions in 1904, a growth of practi-
cally 200 million dollars. Foodstuffs
show no substantial change in the value
of importations at the two periods
named, being POI 1-2 million dollars in
1890 and 262 ga millions in 1904. From
the above figures it will be seen that
the class of goods required by Amer
lean manufacturers is the only group
which has shown any marked increa e
during the past fifteen years.
Diamonds from notable exception to
the general rule that importations of
luXuries into the United States have
remained practically stationary since
1890. During the past decade over 1873
million dollars worth of diamonds have
been imported into the country, hav-
ing increased from 1-2 million dollars
in value in 1896, the earliest year for
which figures are available, to % ga
millions in 1904. OF the latter sum 10
million dollars value was imported in
the uncut state, indicating that dia-
mond cutting Is becoming an important
industry in our country. Jewelry and
precious. stones, other than diamonds,
on the other hand, have fallen off from
a total importation Of SIC, 1S9, 202 in 1896
TO S5,54S, 224 in 1904 That this decrease
In the importation of foreign manufac-
lures of jewelry and other forms of
gold and silver does not represent any
luXuries is shown by reference to the
census figures. The capital employed
in the United States in the manufac-
ture of jewelry has increased from IL
million dollars in 1880 to % millions in
1890 and rs millions In 1900; and the
value of the product from % million
dollars In 1850 to "a ga millions in 1890
and 46 1-2 millions in 1900, practically
all of which is consumed in the home
market.
| Silk manufactures form another class
of luxuries whose importations have
decreased during the last fifteen years
In 1890 the value of silk manufactures
| imported into the United States was
I S4l, 0S5,s9O. while in the calendar year
which ended with December last theil
value was but SSl ,O3O, 522, Though Franc,
still leads in the share which she sup
plies of this total, having contributed
Is 1-2 million dollars value in 1904. Il
is interesting to observe that Japar
now holds practically equal rank Will
Germany. Each of these countries sup
piled about ga million dollars wortl
of silk manufactures for the market
OF the United States; but Germany
share fell Off IA million dollars as com
pared with 1903. while Japan made
gain OF 10 million dollars in the sam
period. American silk manufacturer
are principally engaged in supplying tn
home market, as their expectations bu
slightly exceed a half million dollar
annually. That their industry is
growing one is evidenced. however, b
? the fact that in 1870 there were but
? establishments devoted to the manu-
t facture of silk, their product was valr
ed at but - million dollars, and tn