The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-26
COMMERCE OF j. S.
GROWING STEADILY
Increases Year by Year Not
withstanding No Sub
sidy of Ships.
By JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Senators Frye. Gallingher, Root and
others, as well as a number of repre-
sentatives in congress, are continually
demanding ship subsidy to build up
our trade with foreign countries. the
foreign commerce of the United States
still shows increases year by year.
Though every foreign nation subsi-
dies it's ships, and its commerce is
carried In vessels under its own flag,
statistics compiled by this government
show that our commerce is not mater
tally affected, notwithstanding the
fact that the bulk of trade is carried in
ships of foreign register.
During the calendar year of 1910,
our commerce totaled the enormous
sum of s3,427 .415,S95. or an increase
over the previous year of 1923, ,526.
Imports for the year just closed
amounted TO s1,o62 .924,251, as against
$1,475, 520,724 in 1909.
From a review of the trade rela-
tions of the United States with foreign
countries for the year 1910, the Bureau
of Statistics, in its report just issued
| shows that our exports to Europe were
| 81 S93.O00.0O0, an increase of $23,OOO,-
900 for 1909: to Canada and Mexico,
the sum totals $426, 0OO. 900, an increase
of ISL 100000 to South America our
exports increased $17,O00,000, reach
ing over the 100000, 600 mark for the
first time; to Asia and Oceania, the eX-
ports summed up to $124.O0O. 900, and
to Africa they were $21 100000
mn m 10
expected to be shown should the Can
adam government and congress accept
the pending Canadian reciprocity
agreement, now under consideration
by both governments. 1t has been es-
timated by men engaged in large ex-
port trade. that our commerce with
Canada will run up to the $500, 1000, 900
mark within the next few years.
Primarily, Canada, is not manufac-
| turing country. and needs almost ev-
erything that in produced by Ameri-
can factories. On the other hand. the
industries of the United States needs
Canadian raw materials. such as tim
Der and agricultural products. Should
the Canadian reciprocity agreement
be passed by both governments. it
does not necessarily mean that there
will be fall in the prices of goods.
Farmers Of the United States it is
pointed out. should not be alarmed be-
cause the price of wheat. corn or 9th
err staples will not bring top notches
in the markets. The prices of these
commodities are fixed by the markets
at London. Liverpool and New York,
according to the law of supply and de-
mand. rather than upon outside" in
fluences that may be brought to bear.
In other words the result is based up
on averages. If there is tremendous
bumper crop of wheat or corn, the
market becomes glutted and the price
accordingly is lowered, but if on the
other hand there happens to be a
shortage in the world crop, the prices
soar. notwithstanding manipulations
of stock brokers.
Should this agreement pass. Canada
will in all probability develop into our
best customer. At present. the United
Kingdom consumes more of our pro,
ducts than any of the other foreign ma
tions. During the year just closed
manufacturers and producers in this
country shipped over $55O.0O0.O0O
worth of raw products to the United
Kingdom. chiefly cotton and food pro-
ducts. Next in line is Germany. to
900 of the same class of merchandise
shipped to Great Britain.
France is our next best customer al
though during 1910 our trade with that
country fell off about $10OO0,000. We
buy more goods from the French than
we sell. The trade is chiefly in manu-
featured goods on their side. and agri
cultural products on our side.
Mexico bought sic. zoo, 900 more man
ufactured goods during this year just
closed than in 1909, and similar in
crease was noticed with Cuba, but the
enormous import trade with Cuba il
Tobacco and sugar places the III -
States balance of trade with that ma
ton.
With Italy. our trade fell off about
SS.000,000, due to a greet part of the
; fact that this country year by year is
consuming more and more of their raw
products and exporting less.
The countries that have not felt thu
full tide of development are the rich
est fields for the activities of the man
ufacturers and exporters of this coun
try. The healthiest and most profita
BILE commerce in 1910 was that done
with China. Japan. Brazil. the Argen
; tine Republic, and our other Soutl
American neighbors. In these coun
tries too, our trade conditions will in
crease year by year. as they afford thu
richest grounds for American com
mercial invasion.
During the past ten years, American
export trade in the neighboring coun
tries has grown wonderfully. Export
to Canada during this period increase,
from Sl00,000000 to S242 100000 I,
Mexico from SIS. Oo0. 900, to $64 200, OO0
to Cuba from s27 500. 900 to SOS, 000. OO
to Brazil from s11 ,275.O0 to $4,000
600, and to the Argentine Republic
from 100000 to $45.00O,00
According TO enumerated statistics
cotton leads in the value of product
: exported. Copper and refined petrol
cum are next in value. Wheat flou
: comes next. and then follow i'm orde
| of quantity. lard. tobacco, lumber, coal