The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-30
DIAMOND IMPORTS
ARE INCREASING
Thirty-fve Million Dollars
Worth Received in 1906
GREAT FLUCTUATIONS
Importation of Diamonds in Uncut
State for Treatment In United
States is Development of
Recent Years.

Washington July -(special)-Thirty-
FIVE million dollars worth of diamonds
were imported into the United States in
the fiscal year 1905, against q millions in
1905, 10 millions in 1904, and % millions
in 1903. These figures. just announced
by the bureau of statistics of the depart
ment of commerce and labor, show that
the importation of diamonds In 1906 was
of greater value than in any earlier year
IN the history Of our import trade
No article shows greater fluctuation in
the imports than diamonds. In 1906 the
total, as indicated. was a5 millions; in 1904,
two years earlier. only 10 millions; in 1908,
90 millions; in 1900 but L millions; in 1897
less than millions. and in 1898 about 10
millions dollars.
This total OF 35 millions dollars worth
of diamonds imported in 1906 exceeds ma
terially the figures of any earlier year.
The largest total prior to 1906 was that
of 1908, about 81 million dollars, while the
total for 1903 fell but slightly below
that of 1905
About 1Oia million dollars worth Of
diamonds imported in 1906 were uncut, to
ting establishments of the United States,
while over "a million dollars worth were
cut but not set. There has been a slqN
but steady growth in the mportations of
uncut diamonds, while cut diamonds have
shown a greater fiuctuation than those
not cut. The total value of uncut dia-
monds imported in 1900 was a little less
than million dollars, In 1902 a little
more than Millions in 1903 nearly II mil
lions and since that period has continued
at about this figure, while cut diamonds,
which, in 1900, were a little less than s
million dollars, were over Is millions in
1903, and "a millions in 1906.
Uncut Diamonds.
This importation of diamonds in the un-
cut state is a development of recent
years. The census reports gave the num-
Der of wage-earners engaged in lapidary
work in the United States in 1890 at only
o., and in 1900 at 49S, and the value of
the products in 1890 al S315604, and in
1900 at 5.7S6,2s1. Prior to 1896 the value of
diamonds imported in the uncut state
was less than million dollars annually.
In 1897 II passed the million-dollar line,
and has gradually increased until, as
above, indicated. 1t has ranged about 10
million dollars a year during the last
three or four years.
Practically all the diamonds import ed
into the United States while the product
of the African mines, are imported direct
from European countries. OF the l0h
million dollars worth of uncut diamonds
imported in 1906 nearly Z millions came
from the United Kingdom and about
millions from Belgium, while of the 241z
million dollars worth of cut diamonds
imported in that year 10 million dollars
worth were from the Netherlands, the
great diamond-cutting country Of the
world; million dollars worth from
France. AZ million dollars worth from
Belgium, and AZ million dollars worth
from the United Kingdom.
In addition TO the 30 million dollars
worth of diamonds imported in 1906 there
were brought into the United States over
stones, cut but not set. including natural
stones. cut but no set. including natural
pearls, thus making the total value N
precious stones brought into the United
States in the year just ended over 4C
million dollars, against about 90 million
dollars worth in 1905 and 81 millions
I'm 1903.