The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-16
CLIPPERTON'S REPORT.
A Review Of Trade by the British
Consul at Philadelphia.
GRADUAL REVIVAL OF BUSINESS.

A Review of the Condition of Labor, Quot
Ing from Statistics to Show the Amount
of Wages Paid In Agricultural aud Other
Industries.
NEW YORK, July 16.-A consular report
on the trade Of Pennsylvania. Indiana,
Ohio and Michigan, made by r. G. Clip
perton, British consul at Philadelphia,
has been issued by the British foreign Of
flee. The report mentions the business
depression that prevailed over the United
States In 1923, and says the exuct cause
of this would be difficult to determine A
gradual revival of business is now, how
ever, being realized. The report then
goes on to review the condition of labor,
quoting from statistics to show the
amount of wages paid In the agricultural
and other industries of the states in the
consular district.
The shipping trade Of Philadelphia is
then treated at length, the report showing
that in 1893 992 vessels (674 of which were
British) of total of 1898, 1872 tons, en-
tered the port, against 9i6 vessels 1854
Britishl OF total tonnage of l,509,5s5, in
ls92 The total number of lives lost at
sea on Philadelphia vessels during the
past year is placed at 15l and the value of
property destroyed at 81, 37T, $50.
The report then treats of the ship build
ing industry of Philadelphia, particularly
In connection with the new American
navy. 1t says among other things: Con-
siderable additions are being made to
what few years ago became prac-
tically obsolete navy; and, although faults
OF construction, top heaviness, weakness
OF armor plates and such like are occsi-
sionally rumored to exist in the new
ships, the very fact of ther construction
means progress. This is evident when it
/ is regarded that in 1888, when the first
naval contract was signed, there was not
In the United States single mill that
had ever made plates and shapes Of such
quality required by the governments
specifications.
! Now, it is claimed, that there are yards
and plants in this country which can pro-
duce, in any quantity and of the highest
Quality, any structure in steel, or iron, or
brass, or any other metal, that can BIO
( produced anywhere, all of which have
been created or developed during the past
seven years. The greatest of these achive-
ments are due to the enterprise, invention
and skill of Pennsylvanians, assisted
greatly by the immigration of British
mechanics, especially in Philadelphia and
iPittsburg.
Il Consul CHpperton says that Philadel-
'phia has by no means retained its proper
ton OF the export trade, and quotes sta
tistics to prove his statement. 1t is al
legged, he adds, that the grain trade, like
many other commercial interests of Phil
adelphia, is handicapped by the practical
laependence of the city upon single great
trunk line railroad. The bankrupt Read
ing system seems not now in a position
to successfully compete, and the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad which is essen
TALLY gra!n-carrying road, is not com
'petitive, the centre of its activities being
;, baltimore. BY virtue of geographical po-
sition, capital and special facilities, Phil
Iadclphia should occupy leading place,
but every Northern Atlantic port controls
n larger share of this business than does
Philadelphia
1t is also alleged that the ocean freight
rates and facilities between Philadelphia
and European ports are not so favorable
as the existing rates and facilities at
New York and Baltimore: and it Is like.
wise said that certain terminal charges
are eXacted in Philadelphia which are not
eNacted from the grain merchants OF New
York, and which are apparently only EN-.
Iploycd at Baltimore to assist in conceal.
ing the diiferentinl rates there offered
/ The total value of imported foreign goods
) mt Philadelphia in 1893 was S.9, sO6, ss1
against 4s, TG2. 900 in 1892 The exports
from Philadelphia in 1892 amounted T..
l2,054, 0S5 pounds, an increase of 3. 4S5. G6C
pounds over those of 1891.
The report treats at length Of the coal