Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-05-31
PROSPERITY IS IN THE AIR

Washington, May 80 Specsl
orrespondence) Imports of crude
materials and manufactures fe2
further use in manufacturing COM
prised so per cent Of our total i'm
ports for the. first four months un-
der the Fordney Nice umber tariff
law. This cosreborates the state
ment which is being frequently made
Of late that our large imports are
mainly due to increases in these two
groups of goods.
The Monthly Summary Of i'm
ports for January, just published By
the Department of Commerce, shows
that from October /, 1922, to Janu-
airy 81, 1923, we imported $1,000,
100000 worth Of merchandise of
which the two groups above-named
totaled s755, 100000. In the CORES
ponding period under the Democratic
tariff we imported 1857 100000
worth of merchandise, Of which these
two groups totaled $427, 000, 900, or
so per cent. The increase in imports
of the two groups from $427 900 900
to $755, 100000 indicates the stimuluy
to industry which has been created
by the return to protection. The
mills have been getting their three
square meals day Of domestic
crudes interspersed with course or
two of foreign products and topped
off with dessert Of partly finished
materials.
Comparing the imports Of some Of
the leading crude materials for the
1922 period under the Democratic
tariff law with the 1929 period un-
der the Republican law, we find that
imports of hides increased from 1O7,-
100000 pounds valued at nearly $22,-
100000, to 1900, 900 pounds worth
So, 100000 at points of entry. This
is clear indication Of prosperity in
the boot and shoe and leather goods
industries.
Crude rubber imports increased
from 213,00O,000 pounds, worth $751;
100000 to 100000 pounds WORTH
$44,000,OO0. This is good evidence
Of prosperity in the rubber goods in
sdustries, and reflects the demand for
automobiles, which may now be ta-
ken as the best evidence that the
American people enjoy the highest
living standards on earth since 12,-
100000 of the worlds $4,000, 00G
autos are to be found in the United
States.
A tabulation of raw materials for
textiles shows that of cotton our i'm
ports increased from $4,000 .OO9
pounds worth nearly 100000 to
125,O00,O00 pounds worth $50, OOO,-
Oo0, the bulk Of it long staple from
Egypt, used in auto tires, etc. Wool
increased from 55,0O0,O00 pounds
worth $8,14O, to 154,00O,OOO worth
SAL 100000. Our wool mills are 90
ing strong. Silk, raw, increased from
100000 pounds worth $10l,O0O,-
600 to 100000 pounds worth $16s-
100000. The prosperity Of the silk
mills exceeds anything they have
ever experienced heretofore. They
admit it and their overtaxed capacity
proves it.
Import increases in the metals are
remarkable, but they figure greater
in quantity than in value. Imports
Of bar and pig tin increased from
29, 100000 pounds worth $8.166 900
to 54,O00,0O0 pounds worth $4,000
900 pounds worth $17, 0OO, 900. The
tin plate mills are simply swamped
with orders.
improved purchasing power Of the
farmer is reflected in the fact that
imports Of fertilizers increased from
$4,000 tons worth 81 ,OOO, 900 to 6OO,-
600 tons worth s23 900 900. Evident
" free trade in fertilizers did not
lower the price. But we bought them
anyway
The luxury list is represented BY
an increase in imports of precious
stones from $1s,oo0,o0o to $8o,oOO,-
700, and furs, undressed, from $13,-
100000 to $23,OOO,00O. We don't buy
largely of those imports wbay, xuo are