The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-20
Henry CIews & Co.

trade is on an exceedingly satisfactory
basis, not only showing a steady ex-
pansion but running on lines that
serve to strengthen our credit abroad
and help settle foreign Indebtedness.
In July our merchandise exports
amounted to $111 ,550000 which was
$4,000 600 ahead of the same month
! last year and probably the largest
| July on record The packing house
agitation had no adverse effect except
upon the shipments of caned beef,
which will probably prove only tenn
porary. The importations for July
were also a record breaker, the total
being 100000, 900 an increase of $23,-
! 100000 over the same month last year.
/ But a better test of our foreign trade
! is found in the returns for the last
seven months ending July 81. During
| this period our imports reached 1863
| 100000, an increase of 1920, 500 900,
| This beats the record. Our importa-
tons for the same period were $744,-
I
and an increase of $70,500 600 over
last year. These returns give us an
excess of exports amounting to 1924
100000, compared with $4,000 900 a
year ago OF course there are many
unrecorded items which go toward ad
justing this balance, such as security
shipments, freights, remittances, com
missions etc; but it is very plain we
are in much better position than us
ua TO draw gold from Europe or ex-
tend our internal credit. During the
seven months our net imports of gold
amounted TO $50. 600 600, while in 1905
and 1904 we exported gold to the
amounts, net. of $4,000 900 and $f3.-
100000, respectively SO far as the
gold movement is concerned. we are
nearly SEQ, 600 900 better off than in
the last two years. With an assured
large demand for cotton, wheat and
other products. to say nothing of our
growing shipments abroad of manu-
featured goods, we are in an eminently
good position as regards foreign trade
Nothing can prevent gold coming his
way later with considerable freedom
except high rates of interest: AMI
these the United States can better af
ford to pay than England, France or
Germany.
Let us take a brief glance at our ag-
ricultural situation. the chief basis Of
present hopefulness. We are practic-
ally sure of large wheat, corn and cot.
ton crops The two former are prom
ised bumper yields, and the cotton
crop may pass the record if the re
mainder of the season proves favor
able. Last year the value of these
three crops on the farm were wheat
$5lS,000, 900, corn S111G,000 600, cotton
S575000, 600. a total of $4,000 600,
or nearly one-third of all the products
of agriculture in the country, which
amounted to SG,415,000, 900. This year
the yield of wheat is calculated at
1922 100000 bushels. or 80 000, 900 more
than last year; the yield of corn 3
713,0000 600 bushels or G,000 GOO in ex-
cess of last years bumper crop; while
the cotton crop is estimated at not
less than 100000 bales, or ] 1000
bales more than last year; the oat
crop will also show a material in
crease. Some estimates have, in con
sequence been made that this years
crops will reach an aggregate value
of $1,000, 600 600 Such figures are
probably excessive; for while the
yield of 1906 is very large. prices to
the farmer will average less than a
year ago, and the hay and fruit crops
have not been satisfactory. Never
the loss, the accrction Of wealth by
our farmers this year win undoubtcd.
ly bc unprecedented. and considerably
greater than in 1908. There must al.
so have been large addition 10 our
production of mineral wealth, which
last year was valued at st.2S9. 900. 600
If Ia this VIC add the increased pIo,
ducts of our mills and factories. which
have been extraordinarily active, al
fair idea of the growth of wealth dur
ing the wear can be had The total
wealth of our farms, mines and man
ufactures produced in zoos was esti-
as follows:
Agricultural products S GALS 100000