The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-17
LUxURlEs MADE AT HOME.

EUhUktES WfDE Al NO"Ls
The occupation of the home market
by American manufactures 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 luxuries 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 137 million dollars in
less than millions over the importa-
tons of 1890. Importations under the
group Manufactures ready for con-
sumption amounted in 1904 to 15S mil
lions, as against 80 millions in 1890. an
increase of but million dollars, while
manufacturers materials, including
both raw and partially manufactured,
Increased from 2sS millions in 1890 to
AIS millions in 1904, a growth of praci-
caIly 200 million dollars. Foodstuffs
show no substantial change IN the value
of importations at the two periods
named, being PSI IL million dollars in
1880 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 increase
during the past fifteen years. 4
Diamonds from a notable exception to
the general rule that importations of
Iuxuries into the United States have
remained practically stationary since
1890. During the past decade over 129
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 SO, 189, POP in 1896
to s., 54S, pa 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
reduction in home demand for such
lx~ ic CHI Nv fn ia
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 81 ga millions in 1890
and 46 r1-2 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
s41, 0S5, $50, while in the calendar year
which ended with December last their
value was but S31, 030, 522. Though France
still leads in the share which she sup
plies of this total, having contributed
IS 1-2 million dollars value in 1904, it
is interesting to observe that Japan
now holds practically equal rank with
Germany. Each of these countries sup
piled about 5.4 million dollars worth
of silk manufactures for the markets
Of the United States; but Germanys
share fell off IA million dollars as COM
pared with 1903, while Japan made a
gain of 1.S million dollars in the same
period. American silk manufacturers
are principally enga ged in supplying the
home market, as their expectations but
slightly exceed a half million dollars
annually. That their industry is
growing one is evidenced. however. by
the fact that in 1870 there were but Sc
establishments devoted to the manu-
facture of silk. their product was valu-
ed at but II million dollars and the
amount paid for wages was less than
z million dollars. In 1880 the number
OF establishments was 1872, the value of