Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-06

BLUE BRITAIN.

The Alarm OF England AZ the DeclSae Of
Her Commerce-TFade Failing or
and Rivals Rising.
The United States consul al Sheffield
sends to the department of state letter
addressed to the Telegraph of that city
by Mr. Frederick Britain, member of
the local common council aud chamber of
commerce, and practical man of busi-
ness. Although not wishing to take q
gloomy view Of the future OF British In:
dustry. Mr.. britain expresses his belief
that the causes of the long continued de.
preston OF trade may be deeper and
more permanent shan is generally be-
lieved. Comparing the tables of exports
of foreign countries with those of England
he finds that the exports from France
have regularly increased SINCE 1868. ex-
ceptiug during tho war with Germany,
and in 1876 for the first time they CON-
sidcrably exceeded those OF England.
The total exports of Great Britain to all
foreign ports, excluding her colonies; rose
from e131, 100000 sterling in 1867 to
el95, 100000 in 1872, and has fallen to
e135, 100000 in 1875, the next increase In
ten years being only per cent. French
exports rose from e1OG,OOO,OOO IN 1867,
to e151, 100000 in 1875, and in 1876
were propor.ionately larger, showing an
increase of so per cent. The exports of
the United States rose 81 per cent. in the
same time, or from col 10000 in 1867
to e416,0O0,O00 in 1876. The exports
from Sheffield alone have fallen off since
1872 in hardware more than 1900, 900
pounds; in unwrought steel. l95, 900 tons !:
in railway iron, $4,000 tons, and in a
total of iron an0 steel, wrought and un-
wrought, the decrease has been l,l56,000
tons since '72. Foreigners are now supply
ing articles ofwhich ten years ago Shelf
field hadithe complete monopoly. The
exports of the United States are made up
principally of cotton und agricultural
produce, but Sheffield will require all her
energy to enable her to keep pace with
American hardware. The competition of
Germany and Belgium is, however, most
severely felt, aud France is fast becom-
ing redoubtablel rival. Taking 1871,
just before inflated values, he shows that
the exports from the manufacturing
countries OF Europe we're nearly the same
as now; that England contributes a much
smaller proportion than she did then, and
that other countries are supplying what
England used to supply. If he asks, the
falling off in English exports has been
SO great during a period of generally
moderate customs duties, what is likely
to occur when those protective tariffs
come into operation which many nations
are now preparing?
The Sheffield Telegraph, in reviewing
this letter few days later, called atten
ion to the co6rmatory evidence of tn,
shipping trade Of Liverpool, which ha
never been so prosperous. In the yea
ending June 80 last thu tonnage passing
in and out of the Mersey. embracing th'
docks at Birkenhead, as we'll as Liverpool
reached seven million tons, the larges,
ever known. Nevertheless, there is d
commercial depression, and many We
ssels are lying idle in port. Increased
quantities of the necessaries of life are
now brouget into the Mersey, creating a
new branch of trade in grain, live and
dead meat, ect. Vessels bringing these
new imports fran America find grca
difficulty in obtaining return cargoes, SC
that outward frcjghts are lower than in
ward freights. The remainder of til,
Liverpool tradeis against England. Mr.
Mundclia, a member of parliament, pub
lished contradiction of the statemcn
made by Mr.. Britain. He alleges they arr
fallac;ous, because exports. to the colo
nies are executed in the comparison. Th'
total exports of Great Britain, including
her colonies for 1876 were over e200
100000. Those of France fell off in ls6.
to el43,O00,O00. In short, he controvert
all Mr.. Brittain's figures, and makes ep-
positc deducutions throughout.