The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-28
Furnished b. the Philadelphia Com.
mefCial Museum,)

Keeping the Scn6e of Proportion.
1t il always we'll to bear in mimi
the relative position and Importance
OF the many markets for American
goods 1t is peculiarly necessary In
these days OF abnormal trade. With
the many restrictions and barriers in
the way of trading with European
countries, and the insistent demands OF
this market and that in South Amer
lea, in Asia. In Africa and in Oceania,
there Is very real danger that the
sense Of proportion may be lost.
Europe always has been, is today
ana always will be the largest buyer
Of the products of the United States.
The neighboring countries and islands
Of North America have been, are and
will continue to be the next largest
customers. South America and Asia
are Of about equal Importance. Prior
ahead; today their position is reversed,
owing, no doubt. to heavy supplies GO
ing into Russia via Vladivostok ane
Dalny. Which continent will AXE
precedence after the war must remain
a matter for speculation, and with one
guess entitled to as much Considera-
ton as another. Fifth in rank comes
Oceania. Of which Australia, Sew
Zealand and the Philippines are the
principal markets, and finally there Is
Africa
Figures of the worlds trade since
August, 1914. are of only historical in
terest and temporary value In order
to reach a proper understanding of the
relative value of these different mar
kets it Is necessary to go back to the
year which ended with June 80, 1914.
just a month before the sudden and
many declarations of war. In tnat
year IS per cent of the exports from
the United States went to Europe. and
the proportion In the year ending with
June 80 1915, was less than per
cent greater. The United Kingdom
alone was the destination of 25 per
cent of the total exports IN that year:
Germany. of II per cent: France. of
z per cent. and the Netherlanua
per cent. Following in Importance
among the European countries were
Italy, Belgium. Russia. Spain and Aus
tria-Hungary.
Approximately rs per cent of the
total exports of the fiscal year 1914
went to- countries of North America.
principally to Canada. TO Cuba. the six
Central American States and Mexico.
Five and one-half per cent went to
South America, and OF the shipments
to this continent Argentina was the
destination OF a third. Brazil of guar
ter. and Chile OF a seventh. Asia s
share was a tribe under per cent. of
which half went to Japan and the re-
mainder principally TO China and In
dia. Not quite per cent went to
Oceania, over a half being sent to Aus
tralia. nearly a quarter to the Philip
pines. and an eighth 10 New Zealand.
OF the ! IL per cent OF the total
American exports which went to
Africa In 1914. British South Africa
was the destination of approximately
one-half.
Arranging. these figures in another
way there is another story, fully as in
teresting and perhaps even more VAL
liable. In the fiscal year 1914. As per
cent Of the total exports of the United
States went to the United Kingdom and
British colonies and protectorates-
the proportion In the fiscal year 1915
was but little greater: IL per cent went
10 Germany and German possessions;
: per cent to France and French pos
sessions and s per cent TO Holland
and the Dutch possessions. In other
words, these four countries and their