The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-09
BIG INCREASES
IN IMPORTS FOR
The PAST Year

The 1917 activity of the manufac-
hrers of the United States IS evil
denced by the fact that the value OF
manufacturing material imported in
1917 was double that of 1915. The
value of manufacturing material i'm
ported, as shown by q compilation by
the National City Bank Of New York,
in the calendar year 1917, was in
round terms $1,000, 00O,0 900 against
$957OOO,OO0 in 1915 and 1914 100000
in 1914. Manufacturing material
formed in 1917 81 per cent. of the
total merchandise imported against
81 per cent in 1915 and 40 per cent.
in 1914.
Another evidence of the activity of
the manufacturers of the United
States in the year just ended, is
found in the fact that the value of
manufactures exported in the calen-
dar year 1917 aggregated nearly $4,-
100000 against $1,791, 100000 in
1915 and $974.OC0 900 in 1914.
Thus manufac turing material i'm
ported in 1917 was nearly double that
of 1915 and more than double that Of
1914, and manufactures exported were
more than double ose of 1915 and
four times as much as in 1914, the
year in which the war began
These large increases in manufac-
turing material imported occurred IN
nearly all of the important articles of
foreign production required in our
industries. India rubber imports OF
1917, for example, aggregate over
400, 100000 pounds against 270,OOo,-
600 pounds against 100000 600
pounds in 1916 and 100000 in
1915, and the value in 1917 was ap-
proximately $240, 100000 against
$3.50, 900, 600 in 1916 and $111, Oe0,-
600 in 1915. Hides imported in 1917
show slight increase in quantity
when compared with 1915 but large
advance in total value. aggregaung
for 1917 over 5000, 900 in value
against $173, 600 in 1916, $127,-
100000 in 1915, and $112, 100000 IN
1914. Raw silk imports of 1917 show
a total value of nearly 5000 100000
against $3.50, 900, 600 in 1916, $95,0o0,-
90 in 1915 and $4,000, 900 in 1914.
Wool imports Of 1917 aggregate in
value over $15O,o0o,e0O against $685.
900 600 in 1915. $95, 600, 600 in 1915,
and s5S,OOO,O0o in 1914. Tin imports
of 1917 show a total value of approx
nately 100000 against $55, 00o,-
600 in 1916, $39,GOO,OO0 in 1915, and
S33 OO0. 900 in 1914. Fibres show an
aggregate value in 1917 of about
$10O,OOO.0O0 compared with $685.
100000 in 1916 and sac, 100000 in
1915. Raw cotton shows total
value of 1917 of approximately $46,-
100000 against SIC, 900, 600 in 1916
and $23 100000 in 1914.
While some parts of these large in
creases for 1916 are due to higher
prices, the quantities imported are in
most cases much larger. especially
when compared with 1915. Rubber
imports for 1917 are nearly double
those for 1915; silk about Is pei
cent. more than in 1915; WOOL des-
pite the scarcity and extreme high
prices, slightly more than in 1915 but
less than in 1916, and hides slightly
in excess Of 1915 but below the tota.
of 1916.
The share which the manufacturers
of the country have in the foreign
trade shows a marked growth as z
result Of the war. Raw material i'm
ported for manufacturing formed IL
1917 40 per cent of the total i'm
ports against 33 per cent. in 1914
manufactures for use in mapufactur
ing IS per cent. compared with II
per cent. in 1914, and total manufac
turing material 81 per cent. of the
total imports of 1917 against 4S PEI
cent. in 1914. Manufactures export
ed formed in 1917 sc per cent. of tn.
total exports against 81 per cent. il
1915 and At per cent. in 1914.