270 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



COTTON MANUFACTURES. 



In this connection, it is interesting to note that an export trade in 

 cotton manufactures, as well as in the raw product, is being developed 

 with the countries of eastern Asia. Our exports of cotton manufac- 

 tures to Japan, China, and Hongkong during 1899 amounted in value 

 to $9,959,665, as compared with only $1,603,"315 for 1889. China was 

 the leading market for these exports, the consignments to that country 

 in 1899 liaving a value of 19,844,565. To the entire Orient, including 

 under that term all countries, ports, and islands of Asia and Oceania, 

 we shipped during 1899 cotton goods worth 112,340,084. In 1889 our 

 exports to the same destination were valued at only 12,763,737. The 

 increase for the decade amounted to nearly $10,000,000. 



While in 1889 the consignments to Asia and Oceania constituted less 

 than 25 per cent of our total exports of cotton manufactures, in 1899 

 they formed over 50 per cent. This fact shows that the recent develop- 

 ment of our export trade in cotton manufactures can be attributed 

 chiefly to the new markets afforded by the Orient. 



WHEAT FLOUR. 



After cotton our largest agricultural export to eastern Asia is wheat 

 flour. During 1889 we shipped to Japan, China, and Hongkong 

 408,055 barrels of this product, the value amounting to $1,746,622. 

 In 1899 our exports to these three destinations reached as high as 

 1,475,869 barrels, worth 14,858,250. There was a gain of over 1,000,000 

 barrels in quantity and over $3,000,000 in value. 



The total exports of wheat flour from the United States to all Asia 

 and Oceania increased from 519,002 barrels, worth $2,244,009, in 1889 

 to 1,810,394 barrels, worth $6,003,595, in 1899. 



OTHER ARTICLES. 



Our exports of dairy produce to Japan, China, and Hongkong dur- 

 ing 1899 amounted in value to $187,962. Of milk, which Avas the 

 principal item, there were shipments wortli $126,457. In this article 

 little gain was shown over the exports for 1889, which had a value of 

 $126,062. The shipments of butter and cheese, however, exhibited a 

 marked increase from 1889 to 1899, the value of the butter exported 

 advancing from $19,349 to $30,254, and that of the cheese from 

 $15,805 to $31,251. 



In the exportation of beef, canned and cured, there was a striking 

 gain, the value for 1899 amounting to $124,384, as compared with only 

 $12,223 for 1889. The shipments of canned beef increased in value 

 from $6,908 to $80,749, and those of salted or pickled beef from $5,315 

 to $43,403. 



Of canned fruits there were exports in 1899 worth $80,547, or more 

 than double the value for 1889, which was recorded at $36,039. 



REPORT ON OUR FOREIGN TRADE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



Following a custom adopted four years ago, the Section prepared 

 during 1900 an annual review of our foreign trade in agricultural 

 products, based on the latest import and export statistics available. 

 In this review, which brought the yearly figures down to include 1899, 

 an entire decade, beginning with 1890, was covered, instead of a five- 

 year period, as had been the case in similar reports for prior years. 

 The ten-year tables permitted some interesting comparisons by means 



