72 2 UNITED STATES FOREIGN COMMERCE 



in three textile industries: cotton goods, 10.4; hosiery and knit goods, 8.1 and silk, 8 the 

 number of girls being much more than that of boys in the last two. In canning and preserv- 

 ing, in the woolen goods industry and in the manufacture of bags (not paper), of cigar boxes, 

 of paper and fancy boxes, of cordage and twine, of needles, pins and hooks and eyes, 

 of lead pencils, and in a few other comparatively unskilled industries, more than 5 % 

 of the wage-earners are under 16 years. Geographically, child labour is strongest in the 

 South Atlantic group, where 6.3% (7.9% in 1899) f wage-earners were less than 16 years 

 old. In South Carolina the percentage is 12.9 (in 1899, 18). The recent establishment of 

 manufactories, especially cotton factories, the small percentage of immigrants to be employed, 

 and the comparative laxness of child labour laws explain these high percentages. In general 

 and particularly in the larger industries the proportion of women and children employed 

 decreased markedly between 1899 and 1909. 



TRANSPORTATION. -Railway mileage, January i, 1912, 246,572.73, exclusive of 114,940 m- 

 of second track and sidings. In the preceding year 3,292.66 miles of steam railway track 

 were added; 793.40 in the Southwestern group, 729.34 in the Pacific states, 500.33 in the 

 Northwestern, 460 in the South Atlantic, 318.51 in the Central Northern, 310.33 in the Gull 

 and Mississippi Valley, 180.87 in the Middle States and 2.85 in New England. For ipca' 

 building operations see articles on separate states and for the Grand Trunk in New Englanc 

 see RHODE ISLAND, for the Western Maryland see MARYLAND, for the Key West railway see 

 FLORIDA, for the barge canal see NEW YORK, for the Cape Cod Canal see MASSACHUSETTS, 

 etc. See ALASKA, also. River and harbour improvements also are dealt with in separate 

 state articles. The total appropriation for rivers and harbours in the last fiscal year was 

 40,559,620. The only sign of economy in this respect is the growing tendency to make 

 Federal appropriations contingent on local expenditures and co-operation. 



FOREIGN COMMERCE 



For the twelve months ending June 191 2 1 the total imports of merchandise were 

 valued at $1,653,264,934 (as compared with $1,527,226,105 for the preceding year and 

 $1,556,947,430 for the year ending June 1910), and the total exports at $2,204,322,409 

 (in 1911, $2,049,320,199; in 1910, $1,744,984,720). The excess of exports was $551,- 

 057,475 in the year ending June 1912; $522,094,094 in the preceding year, and only 

 $188,037,290 in 1910. 



The duties collected on imports were $311,257,348 (in 1911, $314,497,071, and in 1910, 

 $333,683445)., Of the imports 53.33% were free of duty. More than one-third the total 

 imports was classified as crude materials for manufacture, valued at 8555,059 586, more than 

 one-fifth (value, 360,655,409) was manufactures ready for consumption, and the other large 

 items were manufactures for further use in manufacturing, $294,260,981; foodstuffs in crude 

 condition, $229,565,515; and foodstuffs partly or wholly manufactured, $196,759,741. Of 

 exports nearly one-third in value ($722,488,531) was crude materials for use in manufactures, 

 and the other major items were: manufactures ready for consumption, $674,302,903; manu- 

 factures for further use in manufacturing, $347,451,013; foodstuffs partly or wholly manufac- 

 tured, $318,262,524; and crude foodstuffs and food animals, $99,659,023. 



Of the world trade of the United States the major part of course is with Europe in 1912 

 a little less than half the imports ($819,585,326) and more than three-fifths of the exports 

 ($1,341,732,789). Of imports from Europe nearly one-third were from the United Kingdom 

 ($272,940,700) and of exports to Europe a little more than two-fifths goes to the United 

 Kingdom ($564,372,186). Germany and France rank next: Germany, imports to United 

 States $171,380,380, and exports from United States $306,959,021 ; France, imports $124,548,- 

 458 and exports $135,388,851. Other countries with American imports or exports of $100,- 

 000,000 or more were: Netherlands, exports from U.S. $103,702,859 (imports to U.S. $35,- 

 568,436); Canada, exports from U.S. $329,257,302, imports to U.S. $108,813,368; Cuba, im- 

 ports to U.S. $120,154,326 (exports from U.S. $62,203,051); and Brazil, imports to U.S. 

 $123,881,644 (exports from U.S. $34,678,081). The excess of imports over exports in the 

 last two cases is due to the larger sugar and coffee trade. 



The trade of continental United States with Alaska was: exports, domestic $18,809,270: 

 imports $21,597,712 (including fish, copper, $5,040,386) and not including gold and silver 

 $20,732,597. Shipments to Hawaii were valued at $24,418,671, and from Hawaii to U.S. 

 at 855,055,816 (principally sugar, fruits and nuts, $2,744,042). To Porto Rico $37,424,545 

 and from Porto Rico to the mainland $42,873,401 (sugar, coffee, tobacco and fruits). Tc 

 the Philippines $23,703,935, and from the Philippines to U.S. $23,257,199 (including sugar 

 fibres, fruits and nuts, cigars and cigarettes). 



The Table shows the value of foreign commerce for the year ending June 1912 by the 

 principal ports and customs districts, arranged by states. 



1 For the calendar year 1912, imports, $1,817,662,340 and exports, $2,399i995.973; for 

 the calendar year 1911, 'imports, $1,532,931,861 and exports, $2,092,373,141. 



