Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-04
BANNER YEAR IN 1918
| FOR TRADE ACTIVITIES
Statistics for First Half Are
Far Ahead of Those for Same
Period in 1912.

The banner year in the industrial and
commercial activity Of the United
States seems to be destined for the year
1919. Statistics just published by the
Department Of Commerce for the first
half Of the calendar year show figures
far in advance of those for the cor
responding period OF 1912. record
year. in every line Of Industrial and
commercial activity.
Judging from hard, cold figures COM
piled by Uncle Sans department which
tries to keep an eagle eve on the COM
merce Of the country the industries OF
the nation have taken a sudden squirt
in an attempt almost to Guido them
selves in increasing the commercial
prestige OF the United States
In the imports of raw materials for
use in the manufacturing industries the
year preceding by $77,00O.00O and I'M
ports of manufactures for further use
in manufacturing exceed those OF last
the products of the factories exceed
those of 1912 by S167.0O0,000. Cotton
silk, fibers, tobacco, hides. lumber. cop
fhs r1n and shem
the quantity imported in 1913. compared
with 1912: while in the other principal
manufacturers materials, such as WOOL
1919 differ but little from those of 1912
Value of Imports and Exports.
The total value of all imports for the
year was s1.S12. 0S234. against s1,G53,
264, a:4 in 1912, and OF exports. s., 46l
SSH against $2.:aaO4 :; I'D 400 in 1912.
The general increase i'm industrial in
terests seems also. judging from the de-
partment's figures. to be backed up by
statistics on the domestic movements Of
! manufacturers materials. The WESTWARD
movement OF iron ore through the Soc
canal, from the opening of navigation or
the great lakes to July j, 1913 as shown
by the monthly reports OF the genera
superintendent of the canal, aggregated
1870 OOO TONS against 100000 in the
same period of 1912. The wheat move
ments through the canal were 80. so, O0(
bushels, against AZ 10000 In the same
period of last year; other grain ID, Coz, ON
bushels, against Is, 100000; flour, 2,jOOOOt
barrels. against 100000, and all freights
In the same period OF last year; while
westbound frcights through the cana
We're 100000 tons against 100000 in the
same period Of last year.
Railway Figures Show Increase.
Many Of the great railway systems OF
the country, according to a statement OF
the department, show in their May state
ments larger gross receipts than in the
corresponding period last year. The net
surplus of idle freight cars in the United
States and Canada June &c. 1913, was re-
ported as 63,104, against 6,11S at the
corresponding date last year.
Anthracite coal shipments in the first
half of 1913 were "a, $50 go tons, against
%, O97,0OO tons in the first half of 1912
Lake Superior iron ore shipments in the
first half of 1918 are reported as over
100000 tons, against 13,JO0,OOO in the
same period of last year. and the produc'
ton of pig iron in the six months ended
with June, 1913 is reported at IL, $50, OOt
tons, against about 14,0C0,OOO in the cor.
responding six months of last year.
The exports of iron and steel manufac-
lures in the fiscal year 1913 approximated
S3O4, 100000, against S26S,00O,O0O in 1912
and the total exports of manufactures
other than foodstuffs are 81 ,1S7, 100000
against 81, U20,W0,OU0 in 1912. The copper
production in the first six months Of 19l:
is reported at 500, 1874 900 pounds, against
735, $50. 00A pounds in the same period Of
1917, and the exports of copper and manu-
features thereof exclusive Of ore) APP
proximate $14OOO0,ONO in the fiscal veal
1919 against S114.OD0OO in 1872