Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-03
BIG |MP0RTSFOR
THEF|SCAL YEAR
(By National City Bank. }

With imports into the United States
aggregating $4,000. 100000 in the fisca
year just ended, as against $1,s94,0O0,-
600 in the year Immediately preceding
the war, a question naturally arises as
to the class of materials in which this
increase occurs One answer could be
stated in a single word, '1uxuries, but
happily another answer can be given IN
two words of more satisfactory cnar-
acter, manufacturing materials" which
aggregate over $4,000 100000 in 1920,
against $685.. 100000 in 1914.
Luxuries do, however, says a state
ment by the National City Bank of New
York, show tremendous increases in the
fiscal year 1920, as compared with the
fiscal year 1914, which ended just be
fore the outbreak Of the war. These in
creases are, in many cases, very strlk-
ing. Take the single group, diamonds
and other precious stones" The total
of the entire group for the year 1920 is
in round terms, s120.000.000. against
$34, 100000 in 1914. Diamonds alone
total $95,O00,000 as against $4,000. 900
in 1914, pearls about $4,000. 900, as
against 100000 in 1914.
Laces and embroideries are another
item in which the 1920 total shows a
tremendous gain over that OF 1914, the
grand total of laces and embroideries,
including those of silk, f1bers. and cot
ton, having aggregated in 1920 $780,
900 900. against about $30.000.000 in
1914, the bulk Of this increase occurring
in cotton laces. Furs show even a
greater gain. the total for 1920 being
$3.50, O0o, 900 against S14,000,000 in 1914.
Silk Not n LUXURY.
Silk, no longer considered luxury,
f0
manufacture and raw silk to be used
by our own manufacturers. The total
value of raw silk imported in the
fiscal year 1920 is, in round terms,
$3.50, 900, 900, silk manufactures. $780,
0OO, 600. and artificial silk, $10,000.000
manufactured silks imported in the
fiscal year 1920, against $135. 900. 0o0
worth imported in 1914. OF raw silk
the imports of 1890 were, as above
Indicated, $450,O00,000 as against
500. 0o0. 900 in 1914; of silk manufac.
in 1914, and of artificial silk. &c.,
600, 600, against 100000 in 1914.
Tobacco imports in all forms show
for 1920 about $s0,000.000. as against
sac. 600, 900 in 1914. Goatskins. used
chiefly in. the manufacture OF shoes
value Of approximately $125, 900 900. as
against s22,00O.o00 in 1914; fruits and
nuts, s125, 900. 900. as against $4,000
900 in 1914; olive oil, $15,000.00
against $4,000, 900 in 1914. Our coffee
tea and cocoa bill for 1920 aggregates
Sac, 200, 900 in the countries of pro.
duction, against $150.000,00o in 1914
Big Increase in Sugar.
Sugar, while not Of course to be
classed as luxury, is another of the
articles showing the enormous in
crease in the imports of 1920, with g
total Of about $780, 900, including
that brought from our own islands
against $150,00O,000 in 1914.
while it is not claimed, says the
banks statement, that all Of the above
named articles are properly included
in the 'luxuries" class, it is remark
able to what extent these big in
creases do occur in actual luxuries
On the other hand. the increase ir
manufacturing material also shows
tremendous gain. since the grand
total of raw material for use in manu-
featuring shows for 1920 over $4,000.
00O, 900, against 633.000,00O in 1914
OF course. considerable share OF
the above increase is due to the
higher price of the articles enumer,
ated. but in large part to actual in
creases in quantity.