The Washington herald., 1909-07-25

the rates OF duty on articles almost I'M
known by name to the public have Illus
trated the scope Of the commerce Of the
United States.
The fact that the world is ransacked
for articles to contribute to the wants
Of the American. and tina American
producers and manufacturers in turn sup
ply TO all parts OF the world articles
which are IN many instances not thought
OF as entering international trade, IS
sharply pointed out by these discussions
and the inquiries which grow out Of them.
The variety Of articles forming the trade
OF the United States with other coun-
tries Is illustrated more clearly by the
Bureau OF Statistics figures OF imports
than those of exports. due to the fact that
its import record Is necessarily stated in
terms Of the tariff law The fact that
TIE tariff places varying rates Of duty
upon different articles, and that the Blu
reau OF Statistics must state the guam
tity. II possible. and the value In all cases
OF each Of the articles or class OF artl-
cles upon which a separate rate OF duty
Is named requires that bureau 20 differ
entiate much more closely in its state
ment OF imports than that OF exports
A study Of the statement, Imports for
consumption" as issued by the Bureau
or Statistics. shows many curious facts
regarding articles included in the import
trade Of the United States.
Many Wild Animals Imported.
Wild animals, for example, imported
for geological exhibitions and scientific
and educational purposes, which are per
mitted to enter free Of duty because OF
their prospective use for educational and
scientific purposes amounted in 1908 TO
between 5000 and 5000. while those i'm
ported for other purposes evidently ex-
ceeded this sum by far. since the group,
All other animals" aside from cattle.
horses, mules. sheep. swine. animals FOR
breeding purposes, and teams OF immi-
grants, stiH shows a value of over 500 00O
BirdS imported in 1908 amounted 70 over
100000 in value. and while they are not
specifically enumerated as to varieties.
IL Is presumed that this group Is largely
composed OF canaries and parrots.
Leeches are also enumerated under the
general head OF animals imported. the
total value OF the imports OF this spe-
cies In 1908 having been S.3n; in 1907.
s6&2; in 1906, A4si; in 1905, 1852; in 1904.
SS5S9; In 1903, S,2lO, and in 1902, S2A2-
the commerce in leeches being thus OF
a growing character. The total value
OF the leeches imported into the United
States in the decade ended with 1905 is
about $4,000.
Leeches. It may be added, are imported
free Of duty. Snalls were at one time
enumerated as an article of importatlo
the records from 1894 TO 1898 showing
snails imported to the extent of about
5000; bat the snail trade so dwindled
showing only S2l OF Imports in 1893. that
the bureau discontinued its statements
OF this article
Divf-divi Treated ms n Joke.
,"Divi-divi'' as an article OF importation
has been the subject OF many tests by
the humorists during the tariff discus
slons Of Congress, though in fact 4 Is
an article OF no inconsiderabIe Importance
in the tanning industry, the product OF
a leguminous tree in the West Indies
and south America, entering IN the form
or pod and amounting In quantity IN
1908 20 $4,000 pounds. valued at between
5000 and $1,000 The value of the imports
Of the past decade has aggregated about
$4,000.
Divi-divi, which does not compete with
other grades Of material used In tanning.
and which Is required In the develop
ment Of certain lines OF this industry il
imported free OF duty
Rose ieayes are imported free Of duty
when brought in IN a crude state. the
value OF the imports of 1905 being but Si0j.
IN 1907 S2,l37, and IN 1906 S5.S7g, the value
OF rose leaves imported IN the decade
ended with 1908 amounting to over 500. 900.
The extension OF the chewing gum in
dustry and the use OF that product among
the people Of the United States is illus
trated by the fact that the importation
OF "chice" IN 1905, chiefly for use IN the
manufacture Of chewing gum, amounted
10 more than 100000 pounds. This artI-
Gle "chicle," is obtained in Southern
Mexico from the trunks OF the sapodilia
plum tree, and the importation of this
gum during the last decade has amounted
10 about 30,000,000 pounds. or over 1900
tons. valued az over $S,000,O00.
Dragons Blood Is Not Blood.
Dragons blood" imported. amounting
on the face Of the returns to 1900 pounds
in 1905 and to over 100000 pounds IN the
last decade is Of course not IN fact drag
on's blood at all, but a mere name for a
deep reddish resinous substance obtained
from variety Of trees In the orient.
especially the east coast OF Sumatra. and
used as an ingredient in varnishes. stains.
and dentifrices. The value OF the i'm
portation Of 1908 was about 5000 and
during the decade about $4,000
Infants foods also form a considerable
item Of importation. 1900 worth in 1905.
and during the decade have amounted to
nearly $4,000. on which the duty collected
amounted 70 nearly S50OO0
NIX vomica" forms g more important
feature Of the import trade than would
probably be realized by the average fndl-
vidual unacquainted with this particular
trade. The Bureau Of Statistics figures
show that the importation Of nux vorn-
ica amounted. in round numbers. in 1905
60 100000 pounds. valued at $4,000 while
the quantity imported in the decade ended
with lsS amounted to about .. 000 900
pounds. valued at over 100000.
This article comes in in the form OF
large round seeds OF tree grown chiefly
in Southern Asia. and IS used In the man
.ufacture OF gtrychnine and certain tine
lures and tonics prescribed as medicines.
and since Il does net compete with any
product OF the United States. enters free
OF duty.
Musk importatlons IN 1908 amounted to
over $4,000 The musk OF commerce IS a
secretion of a special gland of the musk
deer. and comes chiefly from China, Ton
kin. and other Oriental countries, being
thus exported in most cases In the gland
as cut from the slaughtered animal and
when imported in this form is described
as musk, crude. IN the natural pods. %
and when entering in this form is free
OF duty.
Palladium Is also an article OF com
merce. though in extremely small guam
titles. since the quantity OF palladium i'm
ported in 1908 was but 3-l00ths OF one
pound. This small quantity, 9-1OOths OF