The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-28
WORLD TRADE IN 1916.

ia International commerce mdue ieS
highest record in the year 1915.
compilation Of the trade returns OF
the principal commercial countries OF
the world made by the Natlonal CITY
Bank Of New York indicates that the
total international commerce OF the
world in 1915 aggregated approx
mately 45 billion dollars against ~
billions in 1913, the former high rec
ord year The total commerce OF the
United States alone was in 1916 ST.
$50, 5000 against $4.277.000.0Oo In
1919: that of Great Britain $7,080,-
100000 against $5,764.o00. 900 in 1913;
France $3,913,O0O,O00 against $2,953,-
1000. 900 in 1913; Canada $1,S58,0OO,-
900 against $1,095, 100000 in 1913;
Japan 1897, 100000 against $67S,000,-
900 in 1918; while in many of the less
important countries the 1916 figures
are materially in excess of those or the
former high record year of world
commerce in 1918. Even these high
record figures for the countries at war
are approximately $4,000, 100000 be-
low the real total because of the fact
that the merchandise imported by the
government for war purposes are not
included in the official trade returns
In the United Kingdom alone the i'm
ports of merchandise for the govern
n1ents of other countries at war prob
ably aggregated more than one bill
lion dollars.
In a few Of the important CONNER
cial countries. the trade of 1915 was
less than that of the record year
1913, this being especially true Of GER
tain or the South American countries
which made their highest import and
export record in 1913. Even the Cen
trail Powers. which have been cut off
from general trade, have purchased
largely from the Immediately adja-
cent countries, and the exchanges be-
tween Germany, Austria-Hungary and
Turkey have been very large, though
the fact that most of this was on gov
eminent account suggests that accur-
ate records Of these exchanges are not
available at the present time, and
may never be a matter Of public rec
ord.
This increase in the total value of
i world International commerce does
not necessarily mean an increase in
(. the quantity Of merchandise moved,
since 1915 prices were far in excess
i3of those by which the trade Of 1913,
the former high record year, was
measured. The raw sugar imported
into the United States, for example,
cost in the country of production an
| average of Nj cents per Id. in 1915
against &c in the same countries in
1914. Clothing wool imported in 1915
| cost iii the countries OF production an
! average Of 28.9 cents per Id. against
! 1913 cents in 1915 and carpet wool
PRE- per lib. against 1 5 cents in 1913.
! Cotton OF which we imported in 1915
/ $37, 900, 600 worth from abroad, chief
! " from Egypt, averaged 1873 cents
per lb. in 1916 against 1875 cents in
1918. Flax in 1916 cost in the coun-
try of production $652 per ton against
/. 1915 per ton in 1918; and hides Of
cattle in 1915 21.6 cents per lib.
| against 1873 cents in 1913.
This advance i'm prices Of the mer-
chandise entering International trade
is also illustrated by figures Of our
own exports, the average value per
1 bushel OF wheat exported in 1915
was STAT against $.99 in 1913; cop
/, per in pigs. fngots, ETC.. rs cents per
ID. In 1916 against 1916 cents in
1913; pig iron $25 per ton in 1915
against $14.50 per ton in 1918; steel
bi1lets $59.75; per ton iii 1916 against
s21.74 per ton in 1918: and sole leath-
err in 1916 1877 cents per lib. against
24.9 cents in 1913.
International commerce of the
i world amounted one hundred wears
ago, In 1916 to $1,000, 000, 900, in 1880,
81, 1000, 200, 600; in 1850, $4,000, 000, 900;
] 1879, s1C.5oo,0O0, GOO; 1900, $4,000
100000; 1910, $4,000, 00O, 900; 1913,
$40, 900, 900. 900, and in 1916 approx
nately $4,000, 0O0, 900.