The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-27

Is much larger than for any correspon-
ding period in earlier years. Statis-
tics recently compiled by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor through
its Bureau OF Statistics show that Inn
ports from Africa in the ten years
ending with 1905 aggregated 105 mil
lion dollars, as compared with So mil
lions in the preceding decade; and that
exports to Africa in the last ten years
amounted to 226 millions, against less
than so millions in the preceding de-
cade.
OF the total of 80 million dollars
representing the trade of the United
States with Africa in the fiscal year
1905, over 12A millions was with
British South Africa. ~ millions with
British West Africa, l " millions with
British East Africa, a little over
millions with Egypt, IL millions with
Portuguese Africa, about 1h millions
with French Africa, and the remain
der, aggregating less than 1k mil
lions, with other section sol Africa.
The imports from British South
Africa in 1905 were valued at $685.
249, of which $316,292, or over one
half, represented feathers and downs,
and $259,O00 hides and skins. A note
worthy feature of our imports is the
absence of diamonds, despite the fact
that South Africa is the worlds great
est diamond producer and the United
States Is a large importer of diamonds.
This anomaly is accounted for by the
fact that practically the entire dia-
mond output is shipped direct to Great
Britain or to the Netherlands, the chief
center of the diamond-cutting indus
try. and re-shipped thence to various
countries.
The exports to British South Africa
in 1905 were valued at $11 1856, 1893. The
principal items were builders hard
ware, machinery, and other manufac-
lures of iron and steel, $2,907 1876; re-
fined mineraltoils, 81 ,2S2,145; flour and
other breadstuffs. $1,O61 SOS; provi-
sions, $1,O26.134; agricultural imple-
ments. $420,O34; cars, carriages, and
other vehicles, $326,3SS; boards, deals,
ETC.. $520,29O; furniture, doors, sash,
and blinds, $513,655; other lumber and
manufactures Of wood, $412,717: cot
ton manufacturers, $24S,OOO, and
chemicals, drugs, etc, S258,891.
From British West Africa imports
are inconsiderable, but $16,396 in 1905
and $202,647 in 1903, the largest total
in any recent year. The exports to
that section in 1905 amounted to 3d.
223.481, of which rum contributed over
half, with $1,127, 1S1, and leaf tobacco
$664,367.
Our imports from British East
Africa are more than double in value
our exports thereto. OF the total i'm
ports from this section of Africa, ag-
gregating $953,71S in 1905, $41O,974
was spices, $3.50 800 animal ivory, and
$22O,006 hides and skins. OF the ex-
ports to British East Africa, valued at
$469,731 in 1905, the only important
item was cotton cloths, $27S,92O, the
remainder of the trade being distri-
buted among large numebr of artic-
les ranging in value from $4,000
downward. Considerable quantities of
the American cottons exported to the
British colony of Alden, on the coast
of Arabia, go thence to East Africa,
where they are verv popular with the
natives who designate them as Am
ericanOs."
The Importance of Egypt in our i'm
port trade rests largely in its va.ue
as a source of a certain grade of fine,
long-shaped cotton not produced in the
United States. OF the total importa-
tons from Egypt in 1905, valued at
$S.5S0,751, cotton is credited with
$S,19S,OS1; gum arabic, $159,59s, is the