The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-22
AMERICAN EXPORT
TRADE RECOVERING
VOLUME OF EXPORTS EXPANDING
WHILE IMPORTS ARE
STATIONARY.
---~----
DISTRICT GAINS MADE
DEMAND IN EUROPE FOR AMERf~
CAN FooDsrUFFs Is JUST
BEGINNING--So REASON
FOR WORRY. 8.
GAINS MADE

II becomes more and more evil
dent that the export trade OF the
United States is gradually recovering
from the shock caused by the out
break OF hosti.ities In Europe, accord
Ing to a bulletin issued by the Phila-
delphia Commercial Museum, in which
Me situation Is sized up as follows:
1t Is estimated that the exports for
the month Of October reached $780,
coo. coo. This was less than the $685.
coo. 900 recorded in October. 1913. and
the $4,000. 600 in October. 1912. but
il marked a distinct gain over the low
water mark of s1iQ. zoos 00 in August
and si56. 600, geo in September.
This estimate of $500, 900, 600 worth
of exports In October IS based on the
reports Of ten leading ports Wfaich
handle approximately so per cent or
the outward shipments-New York,
Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore, CAL
weston. New Dreams. San Francisco,
Seattle. Detroit and Buffalo.
In the absence Of detailed figures It
may he assumed that this increase. In
exports has been due largely II not en-
t.rely TO the European demand for our
grain--for our wheat and flour War
munitions and army supplies also
helped to swell the total. There has
been as yet no decided upward trend
in exports Of manufactured goods
generally. but this is not at all IN
expected and should not discourage
manufa cturers as to the outlook.
For American Foodstuffs.
The demand for American food
stuffs and army supplies is perhaps
oEly heginning--large shipments OF
these articles must swell the export
total - long as the war continues.
However. we must look ahead and be
prepared for the time w.leu the Euro
pean demand for these classes of
goods will shrink. But We may be as
surec that when that time does CONF.
the demand for our manufactures will
begin 10 make itself Increasingly felt.
The stocks In the neutral and nom
manufacturing countries will be we'll
nigh exhausted. and these countries
Will be in better position to buy
~ normal quantities than they are to-
day
Must Work for Every Sale.
In the near future, and temporarily
at least, the struggle for foreign mar
kets as far as the United States -
concerned promises TO become. In
large measure, a struggle between
try rather than with English. German,
French and other European manufac-
turers. But as we have repeatedly
pointed out II would be dangerous to
assume that European competition 10
to he eliminated. Tylough Il NAV he
restricted, there will still be enough
life left In II to make the American
manufacturer work for every sale ne
makes.
A study Of the foreign trade returns
sor October from the balance view
point affords another reason for cour-
age. For returns OF the ten ports
toned which handle SIS per cent OF
~ lrrnorts shov~ "'st while exn"rts
have been expanding. imports hive
remained practically stationary. The
value Of the inbound shipments In
October has been estimated at f140.-
600 600. practically the same as in
September and hut $40 0ao,00 less
than in August So marked haze been
these two tendencies in the last t,ree
months that instead OF the upfavor-
able trade balance OF $4,000 900 Of
August. We had favorable balance OF
SIS 900. 600 IN September and $780,
0o0. geo In October.