Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-07

adapt his goods to the new markets,
and facilities for exchange must be es-
tablished. This work has been we'll be-
gun, our merchants and manufaqt
having entered the new fields with
courage and enterprise. In thelcase Of
| food products, and especially with Cuba,
the trade did not need to walt, and the
results have been most gratifying. II
! this policy and these trade arrange
ments can be continued in force, and
added TO by the establishment of Ameri-
can steamship lines, I do not doubt
! that we shall, within a short period, Sc
cure fully one-third OF the total trade
of the countries Of Central and South
| America, which now amounts to
about $780, 900, 900 annually. In 1855
we had only s per cent OF this trade.
The following statistics show the in
crease in our trade with the countries
with which we have reciprocal trade
agreements, from the date when such
agreements went into effect up to Sep
TENDER 30, 1892, the increase being In
some almost wholly and in others in an
important degree, the result OF these
agreements The domestic exports TO
Germany and Austria-Hungary have In
creased in value from SAT, 67S,7 56 to
S57, 993, 06s, an increase of $40, 519, 3OS or
21. 60 per cent. With American coun-
tries the value Of our exports has In
creased from S44, 100, 2S5 to S54, 6lS, 999,
an increase of $40, 453, 213, or 34.67 per
cent. The total increase in the value
OF exports to all the countries
with whom we have reciprocal
agreements has been $50, 772, 62l.
This increase is chiefly in wheat, flour,
meat and dairy products, and In manu-
features OF iron aid steel and lumber.
There has been large increase in the
value OF imports from all these countries
since the commercial agreements went
into effect amounting to STA, 294, 525,
but it has been entirely in imports from
the American countries, consisting
mostly Of sugar, coffee, India rubber and
crude drugs. The alarmed atten-
tion of our European competitors
for the South American iron market has
been attracted to this new American
policy and to our acquisition and their
loss of South American trade.
THE SEAL QUESTION.
Z A treaty providing for the arbitra-
tion Of the dispute between Great Brit
ain and the United States as to the kill
ing of seals In the Boring Sea was con-
cluded on the Goth Of February last.
This treaty was accompanied by an
agreement prohibiting polagic sealing
pending arbitration, and vigorous eff
fort was made during this season to
drive out all poaching sealers from the
Boring Sea. Six naval vessels, three
revenue cutters, and one vessel from
the Fish Commission, all under the
command Of Commander Evans, Of
the Navy, were sent into the sea,
which was systematically patrolled.
Some seizures were made, and it is be-
loved that the catch In the Boring
Sea by poachers amounted to less than
500 seals. 1t is true, however, that in
the North Pacific, while the seal hands
were on their way to the passes be-
tween the Alentian Islands, a very
large number, probably $4,000, were
taken. The existing statutes of the
United States do not restrain our citi-
zens from taking seals in the Pacific
Ocean, and perhaps should not, unless
the prohibition can be extended the cit
liens OF other nations. l recommend
that power be given to the President by
proclamation, to prohibit the taking
Of seals in the North Pa
cifc by American vessels in case,
either as the result OF the findings of the
tribunal Of arbitration or otherwise, the
sttFi at98thfggsni "fRGSA6aafs OF the 10Tf
ed States for the tribunal of arbitration
has been prepared with great care and
industry by the Hon. John W, Foster,
and the counsel who represent the gov
eminent, express confidence that a re-
suit substantially establishing our
claims and preserving the great industry
for the benefit of all nations will be az
tained.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH CANADA
During the past year a suggestion was
received through the British Minister
that the Canadian Government would
like TO confer as to the possibility OF en-
larging upon terms of mutual advantage
the commercial exchanges of Canada
and of the United States and a confer
ence was held at Washington, with Mr..
Blaine acting for this government, and
the British Minister at this Capitol and
three members of the Dominion Cabinet
acting as Commissioners on the part OF
Great Britain. The conferopce devel-
oped the fact that the Canadian gov
eminent was only prepared to o1fer TO
the United States, in exchange for the
concessions asked, the admission of
natural products. The statement was
frankly made that favored rates
could not be given to the United
States as against the mother
country. This admission, which was
foreseen, necessarily terminated the
conference upon this question. The
benefits of an exchange OF natural pro-
ducts would be almost wholly with the
people of Canada. Some other topics
of interest were considered in the con-
ference and have resulted In the making
of convention for examining the Alas
kan boundary and the waters Of Passa-
maquoddy Bay adjacent TO Eastport,
Me-. and in the initiation of an arrange
ment for the protection OF fish
life in the Columbia and neighbor-
ing waters of our Northern border.
The controversy as to tolls upon the
Welland canal. which was presented to
Congress at the last session by special
message, having failed of adjustment, l
constrained to exercise the authority
conferred by the act of July 25, 1892,
and TO proclaim suspension Of the free
use of ST. Mary's Falls canal to Congress
in transit to ports In Canada. The
Secretary Of the Treasury established
such tolls as mere thought to
be equivalent to the exactions
uniustly denied upon our COM
merce on the Canadian canals.
If, as we suppose, the political rela-