The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-13

Importation of luxuries into the
United States is now running at the
rate of d million dollars q day. or
course the term 'luxuries'' is an elias
tic one and it's applicability determin.
ed, to some extent, by the viewpoint
from which used: but it is at least u
fact that during the month Of octo-.
Der, 1912. the imports included four
teen million dollars worth Of art
works; five million dollars worth of
tobacco, cigars. and other smokers
materials; four million dollars worth
Of diamonds and other precious
stones; four million dollars worth OF
laces and ernbroideries: over q mill
al and artiicial: more than a million
dollars worth Of decorated china:
over a million dollars worth of toys:
nearly a million dollars worth OF
champagne, cordials. liquors. and 9TH
or articles of this class; nearly n mill
lion dollars worth Of cabinet woods.
of which mahogany formed the prin-
usually considered as luxuries. bring
ing h total imports of this class Of
materials for the month of October uu
to thirty-two million dollars.
While the heavy importation Of ar
ticles of this character naturally oc-
ours during h closing months Of the
year. the figures Of October arc en-
%ceptionally high. probably the highest
on record as regards importations Of
luxurics. this being due in a consid-
cradle degree to the unprecedented
importation Of art works. this single
item having amounted to practically
fourteen million dollars III the month
or october. against four and one-half
million dollars in October Of last year;
while for the ten months ended with
October the total importation Of art
works was fOrty.nine million dollars.
against eighteen and one-half million
i'll the corresponding months of 1911
and fourteen million in the corrc-
spending months of 1910.
These high figures for October and
the accumulated months ended with
October suggest that the imports Of
articles which may fairly be ciassed as
luxuries will probably aggregate ESQ
million dollars in the calendar year
1912: OF this sum art works will, ac-
cording to the latest estimate Of the
foreign and domestic commerce. ap-
proximate seventy million dollars;
precious stones. between forty ami
nifty million dollars: laces and en-.
~broiderics. between forty and nifty mil.
lion; cigars. cigarettes. and other ar.
ttc!es Tor use Of smokers. between for
other articles of less value. includinr
toys. Approximately nine million dol
lars; champagne. about five million
dollars; feathers. natural and artificial
(ciliefiy ostrich feathers). about ten
million dollars; beads and bead orna-
,nents. q couple Ut million dollars:
lars. and perfumeries and cosemetics.
nearly two million dollars.
All tho world profits hy this distril,.
ution. for luxuries of $50 million dol.
lars u year of American money. Of
the art works imported. OF course. the
bulk come from Europe, most of them
the product Of labor performed MANI
years ago.. since a very large pronor.
ton OF the art works now being i'm.
poted arc twenty years old or over ana
q considerable share 100 years old and
over. The forty odd million doll,r.s
worth of diamonds and other Drecin,,.
stones imported. though chiefly drawn
from Europe. are in most cases thr
product Of South Africa; and this ia
true also OF the several million dol
lars worth Of ostrich feathers import.
ed. OF the forty odd million dollars
worth OF tobAcco. cigars and cicareffes
imported: the largest single contrihu-
tor u Cuba. though probably ten NIL
lion dollarS' worth Of the total oripi.
mates In the Dutch East Indies. half
way round h globe. and considerable
quantities In ~ neal Orient, chief,
Turkey In Europe. Asia and Africa
or the forty odd million dollars worth
u laces and cmbrOideries imported q
very large proportion Is from E,rone