The National Bureau of Statistics gives the following figures for
the year ending June 30, 1874 : —
TOTALS.
Domestic Exports (currency value) $093,039,054
Foreign Imports (gold value) 595,861,248
BREADSTOFFS.
Exports $161,307,864
Imports 13,042,771
In the case of breadstuffs,— tliat is, of wheat, corn, barley, and
the like, — skill can do little more than cheapen production and
lower prices. Thereis no opportunity for the exercise of taste.
PROVISIONS.
Exports $78,348,225
Imports 4,904,824
To these exports, pork contributed $5,808,712 ; lard, $19,308,-
019 ; bacon and hams, 33,384,108. These three articles, having a
value of $58,600,839, represented so much Condensed corn. With-
out this reduction of bulk, the corn would not have found so profit
able a market; perhaps it would have found no market at all.
TALLOW.
Exports $8,135,320
Imports none.
KAW COTTON.
Exports $211,223,580
Imports 704,784
Skill can cheapen the production of raw cotton, and bring down
its price, but it can do little or nothing towards improving its
quality. There is no room for the exercise of taste.
COTTON MANUFACTURES.
Exports $3,091,332
Imports 28,183,878
In otlier words, with the amplest supply of raw material at
home, we not only fail to supply foreign markets with our manu-
factures, but we do not even supply our home market. Manu-
factures of cotton present an opportunity by the application of
skill and taste to enhance prices. But how little of skill and