The New York herald., 1874-08-17
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. August 49, 1874
General Condition OF Foreign Trade

oohoH&A SomuIt1On OF TOTefkh
Commerce.
The following extracts are from the recently
published annual report on the commercial rela-
tions between the United States and foreign coun-
tries:-
BY treaty with foreign Powers the public slave
markets. IN turkey and It's dependencies have been
apolisnea. slaves, however. are sold In consider,
apie NUMBERS III Damascus, AleppO and in all
oriental towns, and are largely owned By Mosems
III syria; Although wine and hquor are
pronlDlted by the Koran tnelr Is very common
among the more wealthy Turks VINO are ambitious
OF emuiating Europeans. Beer not being prohib-
lted Dy Tue horan its Introduction into the coun-
try was greeted with great satls action by the lo-
lowers or MOhammed. Since the discovery OF
petroleum the use OF olive OH lor lights has almost
entirely ceased IN spain. Osaka, in Japan, mas de-
creased IN importance to foreigners as shipping
port, while Hiogo mas more than made up the dit
ference on account OF both ports, there being Tor
the year just passed an average gam in the Ship
ments to the United States OF more than seventy
per cent over and above previous years Osaka Is
reported to have a population OF about 2500,00O
inhabitants, whose incI Ieasng wants are supplied
who meet the requirements OF those people
through the osaka lJapanesel merchants, VINO
assume the position of middemen. 1t will thus
be seen that Osaka is indirectly OF muca i'm
portance to foreign merchants. In the matter OF
marine advancements there Is little to note
having been supplied with increased facilities is
now coming gold and silver assayed to be the
unimportant to add that all these several Depart
ments are under the direction of and conducted
by BritSh emp Dyes. The restrictive policy OF the
government stlll debars the foreign development
of the rich coal mines that lie on every hand.
IRON examinations during the last year
1t is proven that the surrounding region
is one vast coal field, OF u bituminous
and anthracite nature, and with proper devel-
opment, could supply the East with coal or periods
OF years at nominal cost OF So or - per ton AS
1T is the mines OF Tokasima only are being worked
oy ioreign appliances, with a growing outturn at
market value OF S. to $S SO per ton.
The foreign commerce OF the west coast of
Mexico Is almost entirely in the hands OF Germans
Sra niara ondE nfrl,o nttvat lnod
merchants are Mexlcans and Spaniards. There Is
no American importing house. and only one COM
goes, as a rne, are bought in Germany and Eng
land-where the importing house Is well KNOWN
on twelve and eighteen months time, and sold on
arrival at from six TO eight months, while Amerl-
can goods, purchased Tor cash or on snort
time, are seldom sold on credit longer
than from thirty to sixty days. The re-
suits are that American merchants and
others bringing goods IRON the United states
on steamers aud sailing vessels always IN small
quantities IN comparison with full carsoes rom
Europe) and paying full duties, are unable TO
compete with the German, English and spanish
houses the coast, who now and always have
controlled the importing trade OF the Pacific, ana
this explains the reason why American commerce
on the west coast has such o small fOothod. Un-
less the abu es before mentioned regarding large
impOrtatons are remedied by tue faithful admin-
StTaoh OF tne import laws wc1 aca m
by special commercial treaty with Mexico, Sc
curing an exemption or reduction OF duties or
American manufactured goods, our commerce and
trade with this coast, under the circumstances
are not able to cope with that OF Europe.
Statistics OF Our Trade with Canada.
The Official visit to the custom houses on the
Canadian border and to the United States consul
ates and customs officers OF the chief cities of the
Dominion, from which the Chief OF the Bureau Of
Statistics has lately returned was TOR the pur-
pose Of securing more accurate returns OF our ex.
ports 10 and immigration from the provinces OF
Quebec and Ontario. The returns are now defec.
tive, from the fact that those provinces are sepa-
rated from this country in many places by sur
veyOr's line, or, as at Niagara, by q bridge, and
merchandise valued at millions, shipped from the
Eastern States aud New York, annually crosses In
cars without being returned to the bureau, as
must be done when shipped in vessels. The same
inaccuracy exists in Canada in regard to their
ports to this country. To supply the omissions in
the international trade Dr. Young went
to Ottawa and made arrangements with
the commissioners of Customs In the Do
mInion, under which each Office will in
future furnish detailed quarterly statements OF
imports from the other country and also for the
fiscal year just closed. AS, no doubt, the Recipro
city Treaty VIII excite considerable discussion
during the next session Of Congress- 1t is the de-
sire of the chief OF the bureau to obtain and sub
nit to that body statements as full and accurate
OF the trade between the two countries as already
exists between the United Statesan all others.
The Political Record from 1879 to 1874.
The Hon. Edward MCPHERSON, Clerk of the House
Of Representatives. has just published his "Hand-
book of POItics' for 1874 being a record Of I'm
pOrtant political action, national and State, from
July Is, 1872, to July Is, 1874. 1t is shown in this
volume that the last two years have developed
unusual activity IN political thought. The princi-
pal facts Of the period are presented with tables
OF elections, appropriations, revenues and expen-
ditures, currency distribution ana puplc debt,
atiording NINE Of interesting Information,
The District 8oard Of Audit.
The Board or Audit Of the District have decided
not to recognize transfers OF claims pending be-
fore them, but will issue the certificates to the
parties In whose name the claims are presented.
Transfers OF the certificates OF the Board must be
made In such form as Will be satisfactory TO the
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund. A consldera.
Bile portion of these claims are held in New York.
The Expenses OF Territorial Govern.
The First Comptroller will shortly Issue circu
lar to Secretaries OF Territories informing them
what o1icers can be employed by Territorial Legis-
lasures. This Will be done to prevent the mourning