Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
COMMERCE OF THE WORLD
A Report Prepared From Statements Prom
the Various Consular Distriota
Secretary O1ncy Suggests Energetic
Action on the Part of Manufact.
urers and Exporters.

The President today transmitted to Con-
gress a report prepared by the Secretary
of State on the commerce and industries OF
the various consular districts. The report
which receives the Presidents indorse-
ment. is as follows:
II have the honor to transmit herewith,
in accordance with section 2OS of the Re.
vised Statutes, the Commercial Relations
of the United States with Foreign Coun-
tries during the years 1894 and 1885, being
the annual reports of consular officers Of
the United States on the commerce and
industries Of their respective districts. In
cluded with these reports is an introduce
tory review of the commerce of the world
compiled from them. and from other
sources of information, including the Of
fetal publications of the United States
treasury and of various foreign govern
mentS.
mo similar compilation has been made
for Commercial Relations since the issue
for the years 1SSO-lSS1, for the reason that
the addition in 1880 of the publication of
the monthly consular reports and of va
| rious special reports to the work of the
bureau of statistics of this department,
without any permanent increase of it's
clerical force, rendered 1t impracticable 10
undertake so laborious a task, especially
during the earlier stages of the experiment
of printing a monthly periodical. The bu-
reau of statistics still labors under the
mericaily the same as to the compiling and
editing of the consular reports as in 1880,
before their monthly publication was be-
gun, notwithstanding the great increase
from our consular officers. but its work
has been SO systematized and improved
mat the preparation of a general review is
now not so formidable as it once was And
aside from this fact, 1t was felt by the
department that. in view of the increased
interest of late among our manufacturers
and merchants in the trade conditions of
foreign countries and the possible share
OF the United States in the worlds com
merce, such summary should be under
taken with the least delay
The main object of this review Is to set
forth the special conditions of trade in the
various countries which seem to offer favor
able conditions for the Introduction of our
products in order that the hindrances to- as
Wen as the opportunities for, the expansion
OF our commerce may be understood. Special
care mas 6een taken to particularize the
classes of raw products and of manufac-
tured goods consumed by each country
and the prospect OF successful connection
by the United States with other nations
Ihe recent increase in the percentage of ey-
ports CT manufactured articles as compar id
Win the total OF our exports seems to in
dlcate that the United States stands upon
the threshold of a great DEVELOPMENT of
this important branch of international
trade, and the conclusion arrived at from
the general view of the worlds commercial
1
IS tnat what Is most needed to hasten this
development is energetic action on the part
OF our manufacturers and exporters after
a careful study of the special requirements
OF the nations whom they wish to secure as
customers. The basis for such study it is
hoped. Will be found in the full and com
prehensive reports which / have the honor
to lay before you
In view of the value to the trade interests
of the country of the general summary
above described would suggest that Con-
sress be requested TO authorize the printing
under the direction OF this department of a
special edition of the matter preceding the
detailed reports of consular officers In a
form more convenient for general distribI-
ton than the necessarily bulky volumes of
Commercial Relations. l may add that the
Depa1 tment of State being now engaged in
the mCrthly distribution Of consular reports
to commercial organizations. libraries, bus
mess houses and individuals throughout the
country. could profitably utilize as many as
10O00 copies of such an edition.
AS the demands for the information con-
tanned in Commercial Relations are mainly
addressed to the Department of State If
would also be advisable, in my opinion to
provide the department with a reasonable
number of copies, say $500. of the entire
W ork In order that it may be enabled to
meet such requests. Hitherto, the practice
las been for the department to purchase
from 500 to 1000 copies annually for this
purpose. but the supply has always been
inadequate to the demand, and besides the
department appropriation has been made TO
hear charge which would not seem to be
properly applicable to it,