Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-16
Export Trade of the United States

ances. IS: chemicals, drugs and medi-
cines, %: naval stores, %; vegetable
oils, 81; paper and manufactures there
of, 21; india rubber manufactures. IA;
and fertilizers. - million dollars,
about 80 per cent of the aggregate ex-
portation of the year has been &C
counted for
Raw cotton easily maintained its
leading position in the list of Ameri-
can exports. On the other hand, bread
stuffs fell from second position in 1908
to third in 1918; and meat and dairy
products, from third position to fourth,
each OF these groups having been pass
ed meantime by iron and steel. which
advanced from fourth to second place
during the decade.
Comparing the figures of 1913 with
those of 1909. raw cotton exports gain
ed 1896, 000.0 900, or 80 per cent, this
being a natural result OF the worlds
increasing consumption of cotton
goods. for the manufacture OF which
the United States supplies over two
thirds of the raw material. Iron and
steel manufacturers gained $195.OOO,-
OOO or about 200 per cent, machinery
and engines being the largest factors.
Mineral oils made an advance of &c.,
100000. or over 100 per cent; copper
manufactures. s101, 100000, or 200 per
cent: and wood manufactures thereof.
$50. 100000. or about 80 per cent.
Breadstuffs barely held their own in
value of exports during the decade,
with a gain of $4,000. 600, and hut for
the marked advance in barley, oats
and rice would have actually declined,
since the exports of corn fell from $685.
900. 900 to 81, 200, 900 and those of
wheat from 160.00O,O00 to 155,000,000
bushels during the decade. Meat and
dairy products fell in value of exports
from $1S1.O00, 900 TO S161 10000 dur
ing the period under review, and cat
tie from s3S.000,000 TO s1,000.0G0
There was no corresponding decrease
in production OF breadstuffs and food
animals. and the smaller expectations
are therefore due, in large measure,
to the increasing proportion of the
population engaged in manufacture,
transportation and the non-productive
industries. thus leaving a smaller pro-
portion available for agricultural pur-
suits.
Increased exports are common to all
branches of American manufactures
One OF the largests gains occurred in
cars and carriages which quintupled
during the decade, chiefly due to the
rapid development of the automobile
industry during the last ten years.
Electrical machinery trebled, cotton
goods doubled. leather and manufac-
lures thereof practically doubled and
agricultural Implements, paper manu-
features, and naval stores each increas-
ed about 50 per cent. India.r.ibber
manufactures are two and half times
as great as in 1903; fruits and nuts,
about 20 per cent more than a decade
ago: and proprietary medicines are
being exported in constantly increas-
ing quantaties.
Europe is the primary destination OF
about three-fifths of our total exports.
The total to that grand division in
1918 was $500, 900, 900. and to all
other parts OF the world, about 81 .000,-
0O0. 900. To North America the exports
aggregated s6O1 GOO 600. of which two
thirds went TO Canada to South Amer
let 3147 600. 900, chiefly to Argentina
and Brazil: to Asia, $126, 900 900, of
which one-half went to Japan and ono
NTH to China; to Oceanic, So, 900, 900.
chiefly to Australia and the Philip
pines and to Africa 500 900 900