Evening star., 1924-11-30

rival OF Alaskan IuTS. herman
i frecrackers and Italian paint
ings, the smashing of the
rearhy Potomac River, and the Amer
lean flag flying over all-thats Wash
iugton's cuStonlhouse.
To this haven come all things i'm
ported from foreign lands to the Dis
trict of Columbia, and that, accord
ing to John n. c. KoogIe, customs
collector. includes everything from
n toothpick to a French limousine
Once this white granite building
with its grassy yard and high iron
fence, located at 1921 Thirty first
street northwest, was Georgetowns
city hall. the place in which were
passed corporation ordinances grant =
ing to Georgetown new lantern posts
or other nineteenth century adyan-
lagos.
Now the same building is the place
through which passes a beautiful and
precious assortment of luxuries for
the National Capitals homes and
people.
"Washington this year is import
Ing more goods than ever BEFORE"
Collector koogle declared. During
The year ended June 80 1924, foreign
goods worth three-quarterS of a mil
lion dollars We're received here and
duties amounting to $4,000 were
paid. But from July | to November
Is of this year, only four and a half
months. we already have collected
$3.50, 900 in duties. which indicates
that this year the total value of the
Districts imports will exceed one and
half million dollars, twice last
years total"
The sight of great ocean, going
steamer coming up the Potomac River
to the port of Washington is a. rare
one, although only few years ago
a sailboat did bring a cargo of paw
ing bricks all the way from England
10 the Washington wharves. The
usual way foreign goods reach here
IS by boat to New York, Baltimore
or Pacific Coast port, and then by
train from that port to this city.
Thus Union Station has become a
part of the Port of Washington" and
Collector koogIe has placed port in
spectors there.
They arrest foreign shipments upon
arrival, convey them to the custom
mouse and collect duties for them
1or If consignment is addressed to
Washington. no duty is collected at
the port where it actually enters the
country.
nNE difference between Washing
collector koogle points out, is that
the Nations Capital uses all of its
imports within its own limits. where
rs New York. Baltimore and Seattle
distribute the greater portion of
their foreign merchandise to other
cities.
What articles do Washingtonians
import chiefly?" Collector koogle
was asked.
aff 70
constitute about half of Washing
tons imports he replied. 'In fact
THIS city receives more personal eff
tects Of persons coming here from
abroad than any other port in the ma
ton, except, New York This is be-
cause this Diplomatic Corps Is loca ted
here Since personal effects are ad-
mftted free and they constitute a
third of this ports receipts, great
part of our work yields no cash re-
turn
What becomes of the money which
"sed to be spent for liquor?" an often
asked question, is answered to some
extent by the customs collectors rec
ords. In 1912, $4,000 worth of liquors
and no diamonds were imported into
Washington. Last year, however.
100000 worth of diamonds and no
liquor came into the customhouse
in this city are not imported to Wash
ington. but to agencies in Baltimore,
from which they are delivered to the
purchaser
Maids and mothers of the Capital
require each Year a stock of foreign
perfumery which has a wholesale
value of S400. Brothers and fathers
receive $500 worth of foreign pipes
and $4,000 worth of imported tobacco
every Il months.
Children get a good share of for
eign luxuries, too. for the value of
dolls and toys which are imported for
them is greater than that of fathers
tobacco and mothers perfunery COM
bined.
Tulip. hyacinth and other bulbs
from Holland form one of the most
important classes of imports received
here. They come in at the rate of
$50 a day. This is because Congress
requires that practically all bulbs i'm
ported into the United States shall be
brought here for examination by the
horticultural board of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. A
Another class of imports which
reaches Washington, but seldom is
seen at other ports. consists of wild
animals skins, bones of prehistoric
dinosaur, rare plant and other spec
linens or natural history. which Uncle
Sans scientists constantly are COL
lecting for exhibition in the museums
here. A large quantity of scientific
apparatus and books also is imported
for use in the Federal Governments
labora tories and research Offices
Olive oil is the principal article of
food brought here from abroad. The
quantity of this food which arrives is
worth more than all other food i'm
ports combined. and represents one
sixth of the value of all foreign goods
received.
Linen embroideries, laces, handker-