New Britain herald., 1919-04-30
Foreign TRADE IS
NEARING 10 Billion
American Commerce Is Steadily
Climbing, Records Show

The foreign trade OF the CHiCeo
States is nearing the $1O,0oo,ooV
line. In the fiscal year 1900 1t aS-
gregated s2244, 100000, in 1910 So
100000. 600, in 1913 $4,279, 100000, III
1916 with the stimulus OF the war
it jumped 20 $6.531, 100000, in 1917
IS 949,OOO,000. and in 1919 will ap-
parently approximate $9,S75, 100000,
and if the trade with Hawaii and
Porto Rico were included would ex-
ceed $4,000, 100000, this estimate by
the National City bank of New York
being based upon official figures for
the months ending with March.
The changes in. our foreign trade
during the war have been kaieidOs-
copic. Imports of the fiscal year 1919
seem likely to approximate $780,
900, 900, an increase of about Sc per
cent over those Of the year imm
ately preceding the war, and exports
will approximate $3.50, 100000, an
increase of about 1876 per cent, these
estimates for the import and export
trade of 1919 being based upon Of
fetal figures for the months end
ing with March.
Still more startling are the changes
In the trade with the various sec
tons of the world. Imports from Eu-
rope show q fall of about so per cent
while exports to Europe show an in
crease of nearly 200 per cent. Mer-
chandise from Europe prior to the
war formed about so per cent of the
total imports of the country and thus
far in 1919 form but about II per
Of i'm E'ynoltS
to Europe which in the year before
the war formed IS per cent OF the
total are thus far in 1919 also about
63 per cent of the total, indicating
that despite the great increase in our
sales to Europe the percentage of
gain in exports to other parts of the
world has been equally great. To
Europe in the fiscal year 1919 the
exports will show an increase of about
200 per cent over those of 1914,
North America about $50 per cent,
South America about 225 per cent,
and to Asia about $50 per cent. I'M
ports from Europe show a fall of
about so per cent, those from North
America an increase of about $50,
from South America q gain of about
$50 per cent, and from Asia and
Ocean1a an increase of nearly 200
per cent. Total trade with South
America, including both imports and
exports, which amounted to $685.
600, 900 in 1914 will apparently total
nearly $1,o90,0O0.0o0 in 1919 and that
with Asia and Oceania which was
little more than $500, 100000 in 1914
will approximate S1,750. 100000 in
1919.
Equally striking are the changes
exports. Manufacturers exported Gin
Guiding in this term both those for
further use in manufacturing, and
those ready for use) jumped from ST.
09e,000,000 in the fiscal year 1914, all
of which preceded the war to $4,134,-
10000 in 1917, then dropped to So
395, 900 in 1918 and will approx
mate $3.50, 100000 in 1919. Food
stuffs, of which the total exports in
1914 amounted to $430,713,000 adj
vanced to 1851, $50. 900 in 1915. ST.
269.691, 900 in 1917, s1,52S, 100000 in
1913, and seems likely to approximate
$4,000, 900, 900 in the fiscal year 1919,
Or practically five times as much in
stated value in 1919 as in 1914 while
manufactures exported in 1919 will be
Slightly more than three times in val
ne those Of the year preceding tho
, war Manufacturing material export
ed shows a less change, having been
In 1914 s792.716, 1000, in 1918 sS97,-
10000 and in 1919 will apparently
approximate $1,12O,OO0, 1000.
Imports show a less striking
change, In the various groups of arti-
2les, than do exports. Manufacturing
material imported advances from
S6S3,0o0,000 in 1917 to s1,227, 100000
,lnu 1918. and seems likely to be about
$1,000, 100000 in 1919. Manufactures
Imported which amounted to $685.
$4,000 in 1914 were $94S.73o,OOO in
1918, and will probably exceed ST.
300, 100000 in 1919. while foodstuffs
imported which aggregated $47s, 5e2-
300 in 1914 seem likely to be about
100000 in 1919.
All of the figures above quoted are
bthose Of values only, AMI In no case
relate to quantities, in which the in
crease is proportionately less than
That of the values based upon the
higher mark ar r1-icSS now 1,reua;Iipo