The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-11-18
AFTER MORE TRADE.
BRITISH MANUFACTURERS LOOKING
TO THE WEST.

Some British Goods sold In Western Cities.
Possibilities For Foreigners Under Dem
ocratic Tariff-Raiiroads Disseminated
Against American Goods.
A memorandum, dated April 10 last,
has been received at the British foreign
Office from Mr.. A. q. Vansittart. her
majesty consul at Chicago. which calls
attention TO some articles of commerce
which he thinks should, in the interests
of British trade, be watched by British
merchants. The memorandum states
that there is good market in the west
ern parts of the United States for earth
enware, crockery, china, glassware and
enameled ware. Although 1.-THE imports
from Great Britain are steadily increas-
ing, still they do not increase as fast as
the country develops, and cheap Amer
lean products are being used where Brit
ish made goods, if the same were made
known, might be utilized. II is thought
that many large firms in Kansas City,
Leavenworth, Topeka, Atchison. st.
Joseph, Lincoln, Omaha. Sioux City
and Denver would probably buy if an
opportunity were given; also that this
is a favorable moment for pushing the
above class of goods forward in the
western section Of this country.
In 1894 Kansas City received from
Great Britain $4,000 worth of the
above named goods. In 1895 the value
had increased to nearly $50, 900. In
1894 Omaha received 422 crates and in
1896 as much as 6l2 crates. The orders
are increasing, but the consul thinks
there is room for larger ones. He points
out that British merchants should OBJ
serve more closely the market in the
following articles-viz, linens, carpets,
linoleum, salt, saltpeter, cotton goods,
wooden goods, knit goods, caustic soda,
plate glass; quicksilver and fuller's
earth.
Mr.. Burrough, her majesty's vice
consul at Kansas City, is also of opinion
that the trade in the above goods, i'll his
district at least, could be increased ma
terially. The importation of tin plate
from the United Kingdom to Kansas
City and Omaha is falling off rapidly
this year, and American tin plate takes
the place of the British article, although
our Democrats have not yet acknowl-
edged that we can or do make any.
The following table shows the amount of
tin plate used annually in the different
cities:
Pounds.
Kansas City .l4'OOOOO
Omaha. o,OOOVOO
.JOgpnh 4,UJ
Denver ..................'''''''' o'oVO'oVo
One firm in Kansas City uses about
1000, 600 pounds per year, and there
are some ten firms using tin plate In
large quantities in the west. The Brit
ish consuls think that British merchants
should be able to increase their bust
ness, for tin plate will probably increase
in consumption as fast and in the same
ratios the packing house business does.
They forget the existence of the Ameri-
can mills. The following amounts were
imported from Great Britain to the cit
les as named: Kansas City. in 1894,
4,825,9l9 pounds; in 1895. 6,774, SOL
pounds; Omaha, in 1894, $500, 900
pounds in 1895. 4, $3.50. 900 pounds; st.
Joseph, in 1895. 1000. 900 pounds;
Denver, in 1895, 3, 102. 900 pounds.
In this connection it should be re-
membered that British tin plate has
been carried to these western points
from England at a lower freight rate
than American railroads would carry
American tin plate from Pittsburg TO
the same western points. The American
roads made special rate. in conjunc-
ton with the transatlantic steamship
companies so as to secure British freight
and discriminate against American
manufactures. II they can haul British
goods from Atlantic ports to our interior
points for certain sum of money, they
should be compelled to haul similar
American goods for less money for a
shorter distance. Congress can well af-
ford to direct its Legislative attention in
this direction. 1t forms part and parcel
of the policy of protection.
Another trade which the western
British consuls think should be watch
ed is the binding Irvine business. In
Kansas City there is very large sale
of all kinds of ropes. OF late some very
heavy orders have been placed in On
tario, and it looks as if more would fol-
low. To give an idea of the Importance
of the binding Irvine sales. figures are
given showing the average annual sale
in the following four cities:
Pounds.
Kansas City Is, 0O0, 00C
Omaha ..,.........'...........''.' o.VO,UO
3D. Joseph. ......sss..... ..'..,......... E,UO,UU
Denver ............................ o,uO,Uu
AS regards portland cement, COM
plants are made from the above four
cities that the British article is toe
much mixed and that the diminution
in its consumption is due to that cause.
On the other hand, German and Belgian
portland cements are said to be giving
universal satisfaction. and their trade
is increasing. OF imported oements used
in the western cities, 20 per cent is Ger
man, 30 per cent Belgian and only 10
per cent British. More cement is being