The morning call., 1891-07-30
EDIrOKIAL NOTES.

How jealousy Great Britain guarded her tex
tile manufacturing Industries a century or more
ago is shown by a statute enacted IN IVA, en-
titled IAN act 10 prevent the expectation to for
eign ports Of The utensils made use of In The cot
ton, linen, wooden and silk manufactures OF this
Kingdom" the object of the law as set forth In
The preamble being "to preserve as much as
possible 10 his Majesty's British subjects the
beneiils arising from these great and valuable
branches OF trade and commerce." Another
statute. even more stringent, was enacted In
1TS1. Ii was not till 1916 that machinery for
textile manufactures was for the first time
omitted from the list OF prohibited exports. So
far as this country is concerned jealous eyes are
cast even now on the wonderful progress at
talned In the manufacture of textile fabrics, and
covert efforts are being made TO cast down the
protective barrier thrown around our home
market.
The London Economist views with much con-
Germ the prospect OF tin plate being mlnufac-
tured to a considerable extent in this country.
Ii says: "What is patent 10 the meanest under
standing Is that, to successfully compete with
any American firms who may take up the manu-
fact ure Of tin plate, our makers must cut their
prices. The only way TO keep the trade is TO
show the Americans that they cannot reap any
great advantage from taking up this manufac-
TUE themselves" Tie Economist further ar
cues that if the industry is allowed to gain much
OF foothold in the United States I'VE may be
very sure that the days OF the tin-plate trade Of
this country with America are numbered"
NJ. de Freycinet, the French Premier and Min.
lister OF War, WHO is credited with having COM
pleied the construction OF the remarkable chain
o! forts guarding the republics eastern frontier.
has just returned 10 Paris from a tour Of inspec-
ton along the Belgian frontier, inspired by the
belief that Germany would make the next at
tempt to invade France through Belgium. 1t is
now probable that the French engineers will de.
vote their attention to strengthening those forth
1cations.
II is said that Secretary Tracy's object in giving
the contract for the construction Of cruiser No.
13 to Cramp & Sons instead of TO the Bath Iron
Works was to facilitate the construction OF the
Pirates sister ship. The Cramps agreed 10 con-
sttuct the cruiser, which viii be one Of the
speedisst naval vessels IN tile world, for So $780,
600, the amount bid by the Maine firm, and IL is
calculated that at least years time Will be
gained in placing her in commission.
The report that reciprocity treaty has been
concluded with san Domingo may be followed
eventually by tidings OF the leasing of Samaua
Bay TO the United States for naval station.
The bay forms OF the finest harbors
In the world, and may be regarded as a
most important maritime position In reference 10
the trade of the CUFF of Mexico and the inter
merclal and II avail point of view.
COnsul-General Guenther was surprised to dis
cover on arrival at the Mexican capital thai
MexicO's imports from the United States were
nearly S5,o00,oO0 greater than those from En-.
gland, France, Germany and all the other eoun.
tries in the world combined. San Francisco
exporters, who know what difficulties: have been
encountered In extending trade in the countries
10 The south OF US. will note with pleasure lie
progress made In Mexico.