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Show u Increased Imports Of Potatoes Tho fact that two and one-half million mil-lion bushclB of potatoes wero Imported Import-ed Into tho United States In February, Febru-ary, or about twice as much ns tho annual Importations during tho dec-ado dec-ado ending with 1012, lends Interest to figures compiled by tho burenu of statistics, department ot commcrco nnd labor, showing (ho Imports of foodstuffs Into the United States. Imports Im-ports ot foodstuffs of all kinds In the eight months ending with February, 1012, aggregated 2C2 million dollars, against 224 million In the corresponding correspond-ing poriod ot 1011 and 145 million In 1002, having thus nearly doubled In ten years. Tho chief growth occurs In tho class ot articles not grown In tho United StnteB, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and tropical fruits. Coffee, Cocoa and tea. Imports under un-der this head havo greatly Increased during tho decade, though In coffee tho growth Is solely due to hlghor prices. Eight months' Imports of cof-f'co cof-f'co show n decrease in quantity from 7C9 million pounds in 1002 to C02 million- In 1012, whilo tho valuo increased from 40 million dollars to 78 million ttio averago import price advancing from 6.3 cents per pound In 1902 to nenrly 13 cents in 1912. Cocoa Imports Im-ports In tho eight months under ro-view ro-view Increased from 34 million pounds In 1902 to 79 million In tho current flscnl, and tho value, including includ-ing prepared cocoa and chocolnto, from four and one-half million dollars to over nlno million. Tea Imports havo also Increased both in quantity and value, tho eight months' figures being 87 million pounds valued at 15 million dollnrs, compared with G4 million pounds valued at eight million mil-lion dollars a decado earlier. Sugar. Of sugar tho Imports aro about tho samo ns In 1900, though higher prices give tho imports of tho present year a valuo moro than that ot a dozen years earlier. Eight months' Imports In 1000 aggregated 2,150" million pounds vnlued at 46Vfc million dollars; in 1912, 2,153 million pounds valued at 59 M million dollars, tho average price for each period bo-ing bo-ing 2.2c and 2.8c per pound, respectively! respect-ively! These figures do not Include, In either of the years named, tho sugar su-gar from Porto Rico nnd Hawaii, now customs districts of tho United States. Fruits and Vegetables. Imports of fruits and nuts aro increasing at a rate ot about threo million dollars a year, tho eight months' figures having advanced from 23 Vj million dollars In 1910 to 2GV6 million In 1911 nnd 2G& million in 1912, or considerably moro than double the total of 13 V6 million recorded in the eight months ot 1912. Bananas, almonds, cocoanuts and copra scored tho largest gain under this head; while ralslnB and oranges hnvo loBt ground during tho decado. Eight raonthB' Imports of bananas havo Increased from threo and two-thirds two-thirds million dollars In 1902 to olght and one-half million In 1912; almonds, from less than one-million to 2 million, mil-lion, and cocoanuts and copra, from nbout ono to threo million dollars. Raisins have decreased from six million mil-lion pounds in eight months of 1902 to thrco million In 1912, and oranges from 38 million pounds to less than seven million. In ImporU of vegetables vege-tables the Increase from ono nnd two-thirds two-thirds million dollars in olght months of 1900 to 10 million in tho elapsed months of tho current year Is chiefly duo to tho unusually largo Increaso In potntocs already noted. Eight months' Imports of potatoes grow from ?47,0J8 In valuo In 1900 to nearly near-ly $3,000,000 In 1912. Beans nnd dried pease moro than doubled in a decade, from $931,827 in eight months of 1902 to $2,290,200 in 1912. BrcadBtuffs. Under tho title "breadstuffs" tho bureau groups wheat, corn, oats, rice, farinaceous substances (tapioca, etc.), flour, macaroni, mac-aroni, bread and biscuit, making a total to-tal for tho eight months of over 10 million dollars, against thrco million In tho samo .month of 1902. The chief articles forming this 10 million dollnrs dol-lnrs worth of "breadstuffs" nro macaroni, maca-roni, thrco 'million; rlco and rlco flour, two and ono-hnll million; tapioca, tapi-oca, sago, etc., one million; wheat nearly ono million, and flour nearly one-half million dollars. Meats and Food Animals. Of meat and dairy products tho eight months' Imports increased from $2,183,338 In 1902 to '$9,172,905 in 1912. Cheeso formed moro than half this total, its growth in tho period named being from $1,745,754 to $5,744,664. Sausnge and sausage casings and cream aro the other items of importance. Of food animals Imported, cattlo Is the leading Horn, eight months' Imports having Increased from $903,146 in 1902 to $2,817,538 In 1012. Imports of fish, mostly cod, herring, hake, haddock, had-dock, lobsters and shrimps, Increased from $0,421,279 in eight months of 1902 to $11,102,986 in 1912. Spirits, Wines nnd Malt Liquors. Under this head tho growth in imports im-ports has been comparatively small, from 9 million dollars In eight months of 1902 to 12 million in 1912. half million dollars compared with the eight months' figures of 1902 and do-creaspd do-creaspd two million dollars compared with 1910. Other Imported foodstuffs lncludo for tho eight months of 1912 mineral waters and other non-alcoholic beverages, bev-erages, $1,074,092; spices, $3,638,716, and cdlblo olive oil, $3,471,117. |