The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-10
AMERICAS VAST EXCHANGE

ROM the full returns at hand
- concerning the volume of the COM
merce of the United States fop
the year 1906. 1t is interesting to learn
that while the imports of automobiles
during the year 1906 amounted to nearly
s., 100000 in value this figure was prac-
tically offset by the exports of automo-
bies, which amounted in value to $4,4Os,-
1885, Curiousiy too, of this S4,500,000 worth
of automobiles exported, over A,OOo,ooO
worth went to that great manufacturing
country, the United Kingdom, and prac-
teally another 100000 worth to other
manufacturing countries of Europe.
The tropical sections of the world,
where horses cannot satisfactorily per-
form the service of local transportation,
are already large purchasers of Ameri-
can automobiles.
1t is interesting, also, to note that al
though the United States produces one
half of the worlds copper and exports
far more than any other country, it is
also one of the largest importers of that
commodity. The value of copper imported
into the United States in 1906 was over
sS7 100000, including in this total $780,
600 worth of copper ore, while we were at
the same time exporting over 800, VOO00C
worth of that metal, including in this
sum little less than 100000 worth of
copper ore, of copper insots nearly $751;
0000o0, and of other copper manufactures
between 100000 and 100000,
This anomaly of the greatest copper
producing country of the world import
ing such large quantities of copper
grows, apparently, out of the fact that
the United States has superior smelling
and refining facilities and that the cop
per from its immediate neighbors at the
north and south-Canada and Mexico
flows to its smelling establishments and
refineries.
AS regards cotton, 1t is surprising to
find from the statistics that the United
States, which produces three-fourths of
the worlds cotton. actually imported last
year from other countries nearly $1,000
COO worth of raw cotton, to say nothing
OF cotton waste valued at over s1,GJ0,-
900, making the average importation of
country in the world about 81 600 900 worth
per month"; The cotton imported is
chiefly Egyptian cotton, of which the
long and silky fiber is utilized in the man
ufacturc of highgrade cottons and in
some cases for mixing with silk in man
ufacturing.
Equally remarkable in the line of cot
ton imports is the fact that the impor-
tation of cotton manufactures in 1906 ag-
grcgated in round terms $s9O0o,000 in
value, being more than so per cent in
| excess of the value of cotton manufac-
lures exported. This Importation Of cot
ton manufactures was largely the high
grade articles produced by hand labor,
such as laces. embroiderics, edgngs, in
sertions, etc,
Another eccentricity of the import
trade is illustrated by the figures OF the
importations of champagne, which show
that both the quantity and value of
champagne imported in 1906 were less
than those OF 1895 and practically no
greater than they were more than
dozen years ago. The records show an
importation In 1905 of 1874, 72I dozen quarts
of champasnes and other sparkling wines,
valued at $3.50, 1925, while in the immed-
lately preceding year the number of dozen
quarts was 40l,5 1a valued at s5,y.S,651;
and an examination of the records of
earlier years shows that the quantity i'm
ported in 1892 was 1885, 495 dozen quarts,
valued at s5,325.613.
During the fourteen years from 1892 to
1905 the importation of diamonds and
other precious stones has grown from
less than sl4.OO0,00o to s44,o0o,C00; of laces
and embroideries from s16o0o,000 to s44,
O00. 600 while of champagne the total inn
portaton has increased but a half mil
| lion dollars in value.
Such facts. showing the degree to which
the United States calls on other coun-
tries for many articli IS needed in Ameri-