Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-12-28

ports, pushing the monthly total up
to more than 200 million dollars for
the first time in the history OF the
country. the record OF January,
1908. being zoe million dollars OF
exports against So million OF i'm
ports. the exports in that month be-
ing thus . 1-2 times as great as the
imports. The extremely large ex-
lowing the financial depression OF
October ana November. 1907, were
continued several months. until .he
surplus stock OF manufactures and
grain were. TO a considerab'e extent
at least. disposed. OF. Then by the
mi ddle OF the calendar year 1908
exports fell until they had made the
lowest record since 1904, amounting
in July TO only 1913 min ion dollars.
but gradually increasing until they
were 172 millions in October and
161 millions in November, and indi-
eating that 7he exports OF the ca
endar year 1905 VIII amount to
about 1850 million dollars. making
the excess CT exports over imports
for the calendar year 1908 approx
mately $50 million OF do lars.
These marked reductions in -he
imports and exports OF the United
States during the calendar year of
1908 are not entirely the result: OF
falling OF in -he quantity OF mer-
chaniise moved into or out OF the
country. Doubtless there has been
"A marked decrease in the quantity
certain materials imported, especi-
al ~ in chose required for use in
manufacturing; but 1t is also doubt
cases a considerable part. OF the re-
duction in value of imports Is due 10
lower prices rather than smaller
quantities OF the articles In Ques-
ton. For example. the value OF raw
SILK imports i'm the zen months end
ing with October, 1908, Is quoted
by the bureau OF statisu cs records
as but $4S, 553,2S1. against $50
571 ,92S in the corresponding months
OF 1907; yet tn, same statement
shows that 7he quantity OF raw silk
imported In the ten months OF 1908
exceeded by more than million
pounds the quantity imported at :he
higher valuation in the same months
of 1907 the quantity Of raw silk
imported IN the ten months ending
with October, 1908, being 14,1IO,-
21S pounds against 12,973.6S9
pounds in the corresponding period
Of 1907, when values were more
than IL millions in excess of those
quoted for the larger quantity I'm
1908. The quantity OF india rub
Der imported in the ten months end
ng with October, 1908, fell but
about l 1-2 millions pounds below
that for the corresponding months
of 1907; yet the value fell 10 IL
million dol ars below that OF -he
corresponding months OF last year.
The quantity OF fibers imported in
the ten months OF 1908 was 249,1S3
IONS, against 263,543 tons in the
same months OF the preceding year:
yet the value fell from SO million
doAars in the ten months of 1907 to
20 millions in thecorresponding
months OF the present year The
10 IA million pounds OF wool i'm
ported in October, 1908, actually
showed a less value than the 10
ga million pounds imported in DC
tober OF the present year were val
ued az but $1,76O,OOO, while $500
900 pounds OF tin imported in Dc
tober, 1907. were valued at $2.-
100000. The 1852, 900 pounds OF
india rubber imported in October.
1908 were valued at practically the
same number of dollars as the g.
$4,000 pounds imported I'm Octo-
Der, 1907; and millions pounds Of
raw silk importel in October, 1908.
were valued at a sum slightly less
than that for / IL million pounds
imported in October, 1907. thus in
dicating that the reduction in the
total value Of the imports due. I'm
some degree, TO lower prices and
not entirely to red JcUon in actual
quantities imported.
An analysis Of the years foreign
commerce by grand divisions shows
that The principal decrease on the
import side occurred in trade with
Europe and on the export side in
the trade with North America. I'm
ports from Europe I'm the ten months
for which detailed figures are avail
able showed a decrease from 625
mi lions I'm ten months OF 1907 to
1876 millions in the same months Of
1908; chose from North America
and Asia show each a decrease of
45 Millions from the totals Of the
COTrcgUOudinp parfod NJ 1oqf yoar.