Arizona republican., 1909-07-23
'CUR|OS|T|ES
 IN IMPORTS Recent Tariff Discussion Has
 Been Educational STRANGE THINGS WE USE But for Revision" the Importations Would Nev- CT Have Been Known by Their Names by Country at Large.
STRANGE THINGS WE USE

Washington, July 22.-Recent tariff discussions which include the rates of duty on articles almost unknown by name to the general public have illus trated the breath of scope of the com merce of the United States. The fact that the world is ransacked for artl- cles to contribute to the wants of the American public, and that the Amer ican producers and manufacturers in turn supply to all parts of the world articles which are in many instances not considered by the general public as entering international trade is sharply pointed out by these dissions and, the inquiries which grow out of them.
 The great variety of articles forming the trade of the United States with other countries is illustrated more clearly by the bureau of statistics figures of imports than those of ex- ports. due to the fact that its import record is necessarily stated in terms of the tariff law The fact that the tariff places varying rates O duty upon diff ferent articles. and that the bureau of statistics must state the quantity II possible and the value in all cases Of each of the articles or class of articles upon which a separate rate of duty is named requires that bureau to differ entiate much more closely in it's state ment of imports than that of exports. As result it's statement of articles and grades of articles imported con tains many thousand items.
 A study of this statement, Imports for consumption" as issued by the bu- reau of statistics and constantly con suited by statesmen in preparing and discussing and acting upon the pend ing tariff bill, shows many curious facts regarding articles included in the import trade of the United States.
 Wild animals, for example. imported for geological exhibitions and scientific and educational purposes, which are permitted to enter free of duty be- cause of their prospective use for edu- cational and scientific purposes, amounted in 1908 to between S6OO0 and s700O: while those imported for other purposes evidently exceeded this sum by far. since the group. ';All other ami mals," aside from cattle, horses. mules, sheep, swine, animals for breeding purposes. and teams of immigrants, still shows a value of over S1OO,O00.
 Birds imported in 1908 amounted to over $300,0OO in value, and while they are not specifically enumerated as to varieties, it is presumed that this group is largely composed of canaries and parrots.
 Leeches are also enumerated by the ,f efo ;tg head of animals imported. the total value of imports of this species in 1908 having been s5341, in 1907 SG992, in 1906 SABA, in 1905 $3SG2, in 1904 $35S9. in 1903 s3240, and in 1902 S2412-the commerce in leeches being thus of growing character. The total value of the leeohes imported into the Unit ed States in the decade ending with 1908 is about $40,O0O Leeches, it may be added, are imported free of duty. Snails were at one time enumerated as an article of importation, the rec ords from 1894 to 1898 showing snails imported to the extent of about $5000; but the snail trade so dwindled. show ing only S24 of imports in 1908. the that bureau discontinued its state ments of the article
 Divi-divi'' as an article of importa- tion has been the subject of many tests during the tariff discussions of congress. though in fact it is an arti- cle of no inconsiderable importance in the tanning industry, the product of a leguminous tree in the West Indies and South America, entering in the form of a pod. and amounting in quantity in 1908 to 134,000 pounds, valued at between S2000 and S3000. The value of the imports of the last decade has aggregated about $S5,O00. Divi- divi, which does not compete with oth- CT grades of material usedi in tanning, and which is required in the develop ment of certain lines of this industry, is imported free of duty.
 Rose leaves are also imported free of duty when brought in in a crude state, the value of the imports of 1908 being but $1O5, in 1907 S2137. and in 1906 $5S79, the value of rose leaves inn ported in the decade ending with 1908 amounting to over $20,000.
 The extension of the chewing gum industry and the use of that product among the people of the United States is illustrated by the fact that the i'm portation of "chicle" in 1908, chiefly for use in the manufacture of chewing gum, amounted to more than 4,000,OOO pounds This article. "chicle," is ob- tained in southern Mexico from the trunks of the sapodilla plum. tree, and the importation of this gum during the last decade has amounted to about