New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
RECORD EXPORT BUSINESS.

The year 1906 has seen the greatest activity IN
the imports and exports OF the United States
that the countrys history records Especially
was this so in the exports. the figures showing
constantly widening field for American goods in
the foreign markets of the world.
The billion dollar mark in exports first
touched in 1892. The total exceeded one and a
half billions IN 1905. The figures for the year
just ended reach nearly two billions. or an in
crease of more than three hundred millions over
1893
Imports. which first reached a billion dollars
in 1908. amounted last year TO about 81. 500
100000. am average OF over one hundred
millions a month
on nearly all the records Of trade there appears
Il marked increase with the non-contiguous ter
ritores of the United States. Shipments of mer-
chanGise to Porto Rico Increased over 5000. 900
over the preceding year. and the receipts from
that island show an increase OF S3.5OO.OO0.
There are several reasons for this steady and
prodigieus expansion In the commerce Of the
United States. Although the law of supply and
demand plays its part, there also other
causes that contribute TO the extending OF the
commercial relations of the United States One
of these and an important one in the extension
of American foreign markets. is the inventive
and creative genius of the American. who is ever
putting the market goods that meet with
Considerable of the increase in the export bust
ness for 1906 can be traced. also. TO the grow
South and Central America The republics in
this part of the Western Hemisphere, with their
aggregate population of over SO,OOO.O0o. were for
a Ions, time overlooked by American manufaCt-
urers as Il field for their products, The business
that done with them was in desultory man
ner. Germany. England and France. however,
found Latin-America profitable market. BY
studying the wants OF the merchants OF these
sister republics, however. and developing more
intiSate relations. the United States has
ceeded in diverting much of this trade
Official statistics show an increase in United
States exports for 1906 over those OF 1905 OF
SIS 10000 with the Central American countries.
while the increase with South America for the
same period was S1S.O00.00O. The West Indian
countries bought from the United States S1O.-
900 600 more in the last year than in the year
before.
With Japan the volume OF business was some
purchases for 1901 and 1905 were increased by
the Russo-Japanese war. which created I'M
usually large demand from Japan.
The Chinese boycott of American merchan-
disc. which for time affected the trade with
the Far East and tied up the merchandise In
the warehouses In China, not Of sufficient
, duration to hurt seriously American interests IN
that part OF the world.
The United Kingdom. which is the best United
States customer, bought in the American mar
kets S5S3 1O3322 in 1906. as against S523. 49,
800 in 1905. or an increase of 600 for tho
year. On the other hand the increase in the i'm
ports from the United Kingdom 10 the United
States only s500o.ooo. the balance of trade
being greatly in favor of the United States.
Unmanufactured cotton heads the list OF
American commodities exported. With S4o1 Ooo.-
e21, with provisions, comprising meat and dairy
| products. next with S21oa90.o65.