New Britain herald., 1917-08-31
FEWER LUXURIES
Being IMPORTED
importation Of Articles in This
Glass Drops Since 1914

New York, Aug. 31.-Importation
of luxuries into the United States has
been materially reduced by the war.
compilation by The National City
Bank of New York shows that the
quantities now being imported Of the
articles usually classed as 'lu0uries''
are materially below those Of the
corresponding dates preceding the
war. The values of the total of
luxuries imported in the fiscal year
1917 is somewhat less than In the
fiscal year 1914, and as prices have
been greatly advanced 1t is quite ap-
parent that the quantity being i'm
ported Is much below that of the pre-
war period. Measured by values
alone the articles usually classed as
"luxuries" fell below $300,000,0O0 in
the fiscal year 1917, while in 1914 the
value Of the same articles imported
aggregated 1913, 100000, and as in
many cases the prices are now from
33 per cent. to so per cent. higher
than in 1914 it will be seen that the
quantities have been materially re.
duced.
The imported articles which may
be properly classed as ''luxuries" are
extremely numerous, scores of impor-
tant classes or groups which are read
lily recognized. Laces and embroid-
cries, for example, imported in 1917
are but about one-half in value of
those imported in 1914. In cotton
laces alone the value imported in
1914 was $33,S66,0O0 and in 1917
SIS, 297, 900, while in laces Of silk and
fbers the 1917 value Is also below
that of 1914. Art works, as another
example, which amounted to over
$35,O0O,000 in 1914 imports were in
1911 below $23,O00,000. Tobacco in
it's various forms totaled $4,000, 900
| in 1914, and but $30,000.O00 in 1917.
| In many others Of smaller totals the
| proportionate decrease Is equally ap-
| parent
These decreases have occurred in
| spite of the fact that prices per unit
| of quantity are much higher than be-
| fore the war. Diamonds, for instance,
! have advanced approximately 80 per
cent. in value per carat Of CORE
| spending quality; pearls, which are
| especially popular at this moment
show an even greater advance. Laces
which we are no longer able to OBJ
| tain from Germany and which France
has now little time to manufacture,
! are much higher than in the pre-war
period; leaf tobacco for wrappers of
| cigars has advanced from $1.32 per
| lb. in May 1914 to $1.75 in May 1917.
| Mating, perhaps not considered
| luxury but not an absolute necessity
| in time such as this, shows in off,
cial reports an average value in May
| 1917 imports of lac per 50. yd.,
| against sc per yd. in May 1914
Macaroni imports Of February and
| March 1917 were valued at 6 &c per
lb. against 4kc in the corresponding
months of 1914. Currants imported
| in May 1915 came at 1880 per h.
| against $50 per Id. in May 1914;
! figs 7.6c per Id. against SAC in the
| same month Of 1914; still wine in
casks S5.Sc per gal. against 557c
| three years ago. Carpets and rugs
woven whole, imported in May 1917
averaged $3.50 per 50. I'd. against
| 1921 in August 1915, the first month
| in which they were separately stated
| by the department of commerce re-
! ports. Wooden dress goods imported
! in March 1917 averaged $152 per Id.
against S5c in May 1914, and wooden
| cloths in April 1917 s146 per h.
| against 90c in May 1914
| 1t is thus apparent from the above
| figures, which indicate a marked a.