The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-03-23
UNITED STATES CAN MEET All
NEEDS WITH ITS OWN PRODUCTS

I NJ III VaS al tIlc use o1 lTODl- l
cal products by the United States,
IS we'll as European countries, was
discussed by O. +. Austin, former
chief OF the Bureau Of Statistics, in |
an address delivered at the West
Side Young Mems Christian Associa- ,
don in its foreign course. |
MIR. Austin urged that the production
# these imports be foStered in our
own possessions and predicted that
we should soon be making at home
The high grade manufactures we now
import. such as cotton, fiberS, silk,
and chemicals, says an article in the
New York Times.
When these two things shall have
been ACCOMPLISHED" he said, when
the American manufacturer shall
supply the high grade manufactures
now imported. but which he will soon
he able to produce. and when our
new islands shall supply the trOpi-
cal products which we must have,
the United States will occupy the
unique distinction of producing with
ing her WI boundaries all OF the
requirements OF her own people, and
sill continue to supply other nations
from her growing surplus the natur-
II demand, and which they will con-
tinue to demand in increasing guam
titles"
In taking up this phase Of his SUBJ
Iect. Mr.. Austin said:
While it is true that we are the
worlds greatest producer Of bread
and meat and coal and iron and steel
manufactures, we lave been in the
past entirely dependent upon others
parts of the world for tropical pro-
ducts. And it is in these articles
that the chief growth in our impor-
tttions has occurred.
Year by year the people consume
increased quantities of tropical pro-
auctions for food and drink. Our
imports of sugar have grown from
= little more than 1000, 900, 900
pounds in 1870 to $500, 10000 at
the present time, if we include that
from our own tropical islands; those
II coffee from $4,000. 600 pounds to
over 1000, 00O.0 tea from $1,000
600 pounds to 1900. 900. and cocoa
irom less than 100000 pounds to
$4,000, 900.
But more important than this is
che fact that the great manufacture
'ns interests Of the country are max
ing greater and greater demands up
on the tropics for their supplies of
~aw materials. The imports of fibres,
chiefly tropical, which in 1870 am
ounted to less thar $4,000 tons, were
last year 41S.0O0 tons: those of rub
her have in the same time increas-
" IA 1893 llLi 4D,OOV,VOO pooIlNS
go over 10000. 900 pounds: tobacco.
from 100000 to 1000, 0O0 pounds;
silk. from 100000 pounds to over
$4,000, 600 pounds, n cotton, from
less than 1000. 900 pounds to over
100000. 900 pounds.
The result is that the value OF
tropical and sub-tropical products
imported has grown from $143.000,-
600 in 1870 to about 375O,0O0. 900
including hat from our w islands
The value Of our imports classified
as manufacturers raw materials II
1890 was $3.50. 900. 900 and amounted
TO 90 per cent Of the total: in the
year just ended the value OF manu-
facturers' materials imported wa:
bou S635.O00, 900 and formed abou'
33 per cent OF the grand total.
Dependence On Tropics.
What does this mean? Clearl.
that We are increasing our Deepen
dence upon the tropics.
What does it mean to the pro
iucers m manufacturers and ex
porters of the country? Clearly tina
hey should seek to pay in the pro
ducts of the field and factory for tn
increasing millions OF tropical pro
ducts which they import and mus
continue to import, Ind that in tn
great undeveloped markets of SOut'
America and Africa and Asia an
oceania, which supply these tropics
products, We should seek to enlarg
our sales and mutual in
~terchange of commodities.
What does 1t mean to this nation
which has recently extended its col
trOl over three great groups of trC
pical islands, with an area of $50, 00
square miles, q population of 10000
900 people, and an unmeasured pOss
bility for the production OF n vel
articles which we are now importir
In increased quantities and must COZ
tinue to import in greater quantities
clearly hat much Of this great ma
Of the necessities of life and MANI
facture which W. are now irnportiI
can be produced under the America