COMMERCE. Being an agricultural country, The growth of the trade with the United States during the last half century is shown by the following figures: Imports into Exports from Argentina Argentina from the into the United States. United States.
1850_ . 8800.000 $2.700.000 1860... .. 900,000 4,000,000 1870 `...500,000 6,100,000 1880 1,900,000 6,200,000 1890 8,900,000 5,400,000 The crisis of 1890 had a similar effect on the trade with the United States as it had on the general trade of Argentina, the decline continu ing for several years. Since 1896, however, the trade has again been increasing as follows: Imports. Exports.
1896 $6,000,000 $9,300,000 1897 6,400.000 10,800,000 1898 6,400.000 5,900,100 1899 9,600,000 5,100,000 1900 11,600,000 8,110,000 The trade with the United States increased, not only absolutely, but also relatively. In 1896 the imports from the United States constituted 9.9 per cent. of the total imports; in 1897 they rose to 10.3 per cent.; in 1898 to 10.4 per cent.; in
1899 they were 13.2 per cent., and in 1900 11.9 per cent. The exports from Argentina to the United States were 4.4 per cent. in 1898, 4.• per cent. in 1899, and 4.4 per cent, in 1900. The chief articles of import from the United States are machinery and all kinds of tools and imple ments, having an annual value of some $4,500, 000. The value of agricultural implements alone is rapidly approaching $•,000,000 annually; that of oil (illuminating and lubricating) is nearly $1,500,000; that of boards, woollen manufactures, and lumber ex0eds $1,500,000: and that of man ufactures of linen, hemp, and jute is over $1,000, 000. The chief articles of export to the United States are wool, valued, in 1900, at more than $4,500,000 (a decline from $20,000,000 in 1897) and hides and skins, valued, in 1900, at nearly $1,000,000 (a decline from nearly $6,000,000 in 1896).