FOREIGN TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. 635 



tion, of special training, of technical skill, of more scientific methods of 

 extending trade, which have already secured rich returns — to Ger- 

 many, for example — in quarters of the globe where our goods, as yet, 

 have made but little if any headway. 



GENEKAL SUMMARY OF TRADE. 



When we come to survey the field of international competition, as 

 described by our consuls and in the light of comments by foreign 

 economists and trade authorities, we find some highly significant indi- 

 cations of the probable course of trade currents within the next few 

 years. As to the general march of our commercial expansion in the 

 immediate future, the reports of the consuls emphasize the conclusions 

 to be drawn from the most recent figures of the United States Treas- 

 ury. According to a statement issued by the Bureau of Statistics of 

 that Department for the decade ended with the calendar year 1900, 

 our imports, which in 1890 were $823,397,726, were in 1900 $829,- 

 052,116, an increase of less than 1 per cent, in the decade; while our 

 exports, which in 1890 were $857,502,548, were in 1900 $1,478,050,854, 

 an increase of 72.4 per cent. In 1890, the excess of exports over im- 

 ports was $5,654,390; in 1900, it was $648,998,738. 



"In our trade relations with the various parts of the world," con- 

 tinues this statement, "the change is equally striking. From Europe, 

 we have reduced our imports in the decade from $474,000,000 to $439,- 

 000,000, while in the same time we have increased our exports from 

 $682,000,000 to $1,111,000,000. From North America, imports fell 

 from $151,000,000 in 1890 to $131,000,000 in 1900, while our exports 

 to North America increased during that time from $95,000,000 to 

 $202,000,000. From South America, the imports increased from $101,- 

 000,000 in 1890 to $102,000,000 in 1900, while to South America our 

 exports increased from $35,000,000 to $41,000,000. From Asia, the 

 imports into the United States increased from $69,000,000 in 1890 to 

 $123,000,000 in 1900, while to Asia our exports in the same time 

 increased from $23,000,000 to $61,000,000. From Oceania, the im- 

 portations in 1890 were $23,000,000 and in 1900 $23,000,000, while 

 to Oceania our exports in 1890 were $17,000,000 and in 1900 $40,000,- 

 000. From Africa, importations increased from $3,000,000 in 1890 

 to $9,000,000 in 1900, and exportations to Africa increased from 

 $4,500,000 in 1890 to $22,000,000 in 1900." 



The changes in the movements to and from the continents are 

 attributed by the Bureau of Statistics to two great causes: First, 

 the increase at home of manufactures which were formerly drawn 

 chiefly from abroad; and, second, the diversification of products, by 

 which markets are made for many articles which formerly were pro- 

 duced or exported in but small quantities. "From Europe, to which 



