New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-27
A CHANCE FOR AMERICAN TRADE.
THE UNITED STATES CONSUL AT SINGAPORE
BELIEVES DIRECT COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
sror.r =, ~ rS-r JSIrTD WITH Ut PORT.


THE UNITED STATES CONSUL AT SINGAPORE
BELIEVES DIRECT COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH THAT PORT.
Washington. Feb. 90 (Spccial.-If the opinion OK
pressed by some the best authorities be sound, that
for some years to least American manufactur-
CTS depend upon foreign counties for their sup
ply OF tin II Is strong argument In support OF the
20 GpCrgctC plea Of United States Consul Widman, OF
singapore. In behalf OF the establishment OF direct
trade between the United States and the Straits set
Elements 4le has found that the total tin output OF
the world for the year 1901 81 SOL tons. OF Whlch
36.O61 produced in that colony and exported
from singapore while the total output Of Dutch india
whose til bearing Islands within few hours steam
OF singapore. amounted TO 12,106 tons leaving Only
0,384 tons for the OF the world. According 10
the report OF the Bureau of statistics for the year ended
June 80, 1891. the total imports OF tin into the 'u
states amounted to nearly 100000 pounds OF wMeh
more than oncha (22 900 600 in round fgureS) We're
credited to the British East Indies. and 24"2'oVo
mounds TO the Netherlands. II Is Wei Rho"h' INV"
ever that including the indirect mportations RON inc
East Indies the total is largely in excess OF 'hese
figures
In a recent report on American Trade In Singapore,
which will soon be published by the state Department.
Consul Wldman rcitcrates the opinion that uere -
nm opening for first-Class American importing anu
exporting firm in the Straits settlements
In round numbers he writes, &" the direct trade
Of the Straits settlements with the United STATES 10
s12 100000 yearly, of which the exports amount
10 $40 con 600 and the imports to ~. 100000 This
great trade is conducted solely by English ana German
firms There is not one American firm or American
commission broker here. 1T would seem 3" Ne's
simple matter for such an American hrm as nave
suggested TO open business almost with the assuiac
OF handling this $l2.000000 year trade IN Inc
first place. the balance of trade is all against inc
United states in the proportion of one to SIX. 1ni'
would soon be corrected by an American firm Inc
English and German merchants take the Slo,ooo'ooo
received from the United states ana DnS cIo'i"e
goods machinery. provisions. ETC., In germany 'u"
Great Britain. which they sell to the loo 'ooo HI
habitants of this colony
Consul wiIdman submits n table Of direct exports
md imports 10 and from the United states duiihs inc
ouar,er ended December 81. 1891, and adds: "Iher'
Is large indirect trade with the United states thl
goes through London, Germany ana HONG hoh6' "'"'
is necessarily credited TO those ports, tat Is HI
tended ultimately for the United states vi COURSE
This would be to q certain extent stopped 10y all
American house shipping direct. The indirect inpo',
trade is also very dull. An hours inspection Vi
the stocks of the leading retail stores IN singapore
would reveal more American goods than arc SHOWN III
five wears of Blue Book returns. This trade "ou1u
naturally be controlled by an American hin pu9i
direct" ...
The chief article OF import from the United states
according 10 the table, was petroleum. inc NHin'
>, which for The quarter amounted 10 S23J,o41
The chief articles OF export TO the United states our
ing the same quarter were: Tin Sl,lo3,2o9' rat
tans. SOB. G4i pepper Sl13321; gambler s0o'4'0'
and cOpal $i3.l0o.
Consul Wldman submits some Interesting com
narisons of The trade between the United states ana
the Straits settlements. and that between the 'mcu
-tstes and certain other countries, as follows i
find that the trade OF the straits settlements '"'
nossed through tbs consulate was equal In value 70
chr trade with Austria Hungary, Prussia, llayu ana
sonto DominCo or with Nova scotia, New bruhSwleh
nd Prime Edward Island together; that IL was
twice as large us our trade with Portugal or Den
,nart or with British Columbia, Newfoundland anu
Labrador together; that 1t was ten uIne, as lar
rs our trade with Turkey in Europe, ana esh,e,n
times as large as trade with Greece tnat II va"
larger than that with any country III SCUM 'n.,
ave Brazil and Yenezuela and larger IMAM our eF
tire trade with Africa" A. .,o a-o
~ he adds: allow many American firms theIe are
I'm the MANY countries have named womb M, u nn
to compute, mentioning over lU0 e'nrui1 d Sr
more than a dozen legations, oil OF whom are uV1It
their best to push commercial interest,". In ~
few figures and facts which have gwen UuS t VII
convey come idea OF the vast trade OF nm sdln r
colony and act as an incentive 10 @N"''"
letitiOn,D