The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-27
u. S. TRADE WITH RUSSIA.
In Spite of Unsettled Conditions II
Amounted to S43s,ooo,ooo in 1917.

/ In spite Of the unsettled conditions
the total American trade with Russia
amounted to S43S, 100000 in 1917, de-
crease of only $39,O00,000, as compared
with 1915, according to an announce
ment issued to-day by the bureau OF
| foreign and domestic commerce, depart
ment of commerce. This decrease was
! in the trade with Asiatic Russia and is
attributed TO congestion and import re-
strictions at Vladivostok
| Trade with Russia in Europe, on the
other hand, increased in spite of all OBJ
stacles. Imports from European Russia
were larger than for any other war year,
amounting to Sl2,000000. over half of
the normal imports of 1913 1922 1923 900
and IT'S per cent more than the figures
for 1915 ($4,479,000l. Exports to Eu
ropean Russia showed slight increase,
from 5000, 100000 in 1915 to S3l5,000, 900
in 1917. The 1916 total represents little
more than the first IL months of the
year; trade was practically suspended
i'm December, the exports amounting to
only S8l6,000 as compared with $23,000,-
600 in December, 1916. The exports for
the year 1913 were only S26,000000, but
most of the sudden and abnormal expan-
sion has been due to shipments Of war
supplies; explosives, firearms, and copper
together accounted for 1928 100000 in
1917.
The articles imported from European
Russia in 1917 showed wide fluctuations
from the pre-war list. Calfskins, which
were imported to the value of 81 100000
in 1918, were put on the embargo list
after the war started and failed to APP
pear in the 1915 and 1915 returns. In
1917, however. American firms succeeded
in obtaining 81 ,034 900 worth by special
license. Since other hides and skins, i'm
ports of which in 1918 amounted to
about $S,00O,000, have ceased to figure in
the trade, the total decrease in this class
of goods alone was about Sl4.000000. |
Another item that was lost to the 1917 !
trade was carpet wool, of which about |
50 500 900 worth was sent to this coun.
try in 1913. On the other hand, several |
articles showed remarkable increases, |
which indicate not necessarily that larg |
or quantities of these Russian goods are
coming into the United States but that |
purchases are being made direct from
Russia instead of through other coun
tries. Flax, furs, bristles and sugar beet
seed were formerly handled through
Germany and England. The direct i'm
ports into the United States from Rus
ia were comparatively small, amounting
n 1913 to SS66000 for flax, 1902, 900 for
'urs, $4,000 for bristles. and $4,000
or sugar beet seed; the 1917 figures were
q. 05s, 900 for flax, S2,370,000 for furs.
;i07 900 for bristles and S2,442 900 for
ugar beet seed. Potassium carbonate
vas an insignificant item before the war
S3,724 in 1879 and did not appear in
he returns for 1915 and 1915, but in
OH American imports of this article
rom European Russia amounted to
800 600
In trade with Russia in Asia, manga
ese is the principal pre.war import that
as dropped out of sight during the war
eriod. Sausage castings, however, rose
rom 500 in 1913 to s996,O00 in 1917,
ugar beet seed from 81 ,423 to S242 900.
urs from 1927 900 in Slss. 900 and car
cts and rugs from Sl07 900 to $4,000;
lille purchases of grass seeds, which
Tere not imported in 1918, were valued
t Sl3S.000 in 1917. The decrease of
early S2.000.000 in the 1917 total for
static Russia from the figures for the
year represented greatly di-
finished shipments of sugar beet seed,
corice root and grass seeds. which were
/ their maximum in 1916 with the fol
wing values; Sugar beet seed, II .0js,-
10; licorice root. sl,I75.0O0; and grass
eds, s334O00
In the sales to European Russia. other
ian war supplies. IL Is interesting to
tie that the value Of exports of now
: and reapers alone rs. 403 600 sur
,ssed in 1919 the 1918 exports Of all
TicJltursl implements Sg5.Sl2l000l and
ports Of binder Irvine were almost
nee the normal figures gs945 600 in
IL and 81 SOS 600 in 1917 and almost
ne. times the 1915 figures Cs2l20OOi
ports 70 Asistic Russia Of both these
ms were less than in 1915 Loocmo- -.