St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-02-23

economic methods of production.
Among these the most important
;s new furnace which enables the
nlanter to utilize the wet cane direct
" il comes from the crushers, as fuel
for his boilers. a..
The question of fuel in some dis
tricts had become a serious problem.
In the use of this furnace, the econo-
nv is so great, that in two seasons
it is said to pay for itself,
1t is an American who has invent
ed and patented a furnace OF this
type which up to thepresent moment
proves to be the only one absolutely
practicable and reliable. By its use
the expense account Of great sugar
estate is enormously lessened.
The insular condition of Great
Britain long ago compelled her to
occupy territory all over this globe.
This policy in due time gave her the
vantage.ground for commercial SUI
premacy and this in turn created
her enormous fleet in the merchant
marine, numbering nearly $4,000
vessels employed in the home and
foreign trade. These shipsrepresent-
ed a total displacement of nearly
100000 tons, and carried last
year fve-sevenths of the foreign COM
merce of Great Britain, or nearly
55.0OO.0O0 tons to and from Brit
ish ports. This immense feet was
constructed, in great part, IN British
yards. 1t has been assumed by many
that England could control ship
building, and the commercial su-
premacy Of the seas; but the contln-
uation of this state of things is
threatened An English newspaper
devoted to her interests asserts,
that British ship owners already ac-
knowledge a probable immediate
competition from the United States.
And when it comes they expect it
will be ola very formidable character.
They say that there is a contlnu-
Gus growth in the oversee traffic OF
the world, and they who can carry
cheapest and best will secure the
largest share Of trade.
This statement about the vast for
eign commercial interests OF Eng
land is intended to illustrate the
possibilities before MS, whenever our
manufacturers and exporters can
find it for their interests to push for
eign commerce with the same intel
ligent energy as i'll The development
OF our internal affairs. Incredible as
it may seem, the consular reports to
the state department at Washington
are unit in the statement that
American manufacturers, with some
exceptions, take indifferent or inef-
fectual measures for the sale of their
wares in foreign lands. The charge
is made that many American ship
pers practically ignore local and ma
tional preferences in the pattern,
form or quality of goods; and fur
ther, that they do not master the re-
qulrements of transportation, ex-
change, credits, and the custom
house regulations OF the countries
with which they seek commercial re
lations. A Spanish dealer near
Gibralter, by the failure of New
York shipping house to send goods
as requested, did not receive them
until period of 148 days had
elapsed from the day of sending his
order.
A consul general makes this sum
mary of the situation: "When the
same energy, persistence, and fore
sight, which are now displayed in
the manufacture OF American goods
are turned to the work of selling
them in foreign lands, then will come
the crisis of competition which all
Europe will have cause to dread
When American merchants establish
permanent agencies in new fields
and young men are sent out to learr
the language and study the habits
and wants of the people, wher
goods are made, packed, marked
and in every way adapted to the re
quirements Of the locality to wheel
they are sent, then it will be founC
that the United States is no longe
insulated, but will have taken tina
high and commanding position il
the worlds commercial affairs t.
which it is entitled by its unequalleC
resources and the energy, enterprise
and progressive spirit Gifts people
S. o. T.