The sun., 1897-05-02

Our Export Trade.
In the May number Of the Forum some
suggestive facts relating to the recent in
crease In our expectation of manufactured
products are set forth by Mr.. CHARLES r.
FLINT, who at the same time indicates sew.
eral agencies whereby this trade may be
developed. The Importance of such de-
velopment to American industries is patent.
They cannot remain wholly dependent upon
the home demand. During the last four
years, for instance, had 1t not been for the
sustaining power OF foreign orders, many
factories would have been forced to close,
thus breaking up organizations which it
had required years to perfect, and throw
ing laborers out of work at a time
when they would have been unable
to obtain other employment. To what
an extent foreign orders came to the rescue
Of many American manufacturers is brought
out by Mr.. FLINT through reference to the
Treasury reports, which show that our ex-
ports of manufactured goods increased dur
ing the three months preceding the last
election 72 per cent. over the corresponding
months Of 1892, while our bank clearlngs
for the same period, the only statistical in
strument we have for measuring interstate
commerce, increased 20 per cent. Hitherto
our trade in manufactured goods had been
almost exclusively confined to our own
country; but during the last few years it
has been gradually recognized that one
method Of relieving industrial depression is
the development of our commerce with the
outside world.
10 fp,f taI ont hu ~ T.
that the percentage of profit on manufac-
tured goods, under which term are included
not only textile fabrics, iron and steel i'm
plements, and machinery. but refined Pc
troleum, flour, canned foods and other
manufactures of farm products, is much
larger than that obtainable on raw mate
rails. The French best appreciate the fact.
Importing the crude products of other coun-
tries, they add to them features that please
the eye and crafty the taste, and thus
secure vastly greater profit than do the
producers of the raw material. We are
also informed by the author Of this ar
ticle, who, it Is we'll known, speaks from
observation and experience, that, although
1t requires much time and expense to build
up trade In manufactured goods, yet
when once developed it Is not only more
profitable than that in raw materials, but is
less vulnerable to competition. AS mat
ter Of fact, our republic is becoming yearly
more and more of manufacturing nation.
The value of our exports of manufactured
products in 1870 was SOS, 1870, ,764 in 1890
it was 1851 ,1O2, 2,376: while in 1896 1t had
risen to $22s, s,4s9, ,s93. We are reminded,
however, that while these figures attest a
notable increase, yet the largest shipment
of manufactured goods in any one year
(1s96) is small compared with our capacity
and opportunity, and with the exports Of
manufactures by our competitors of west
ern Europe. The latter exports are fifteen
times as large as ours, having an annual
value Of $3, 800, 100000.
To the practical question, how our export
trade may be developed, Mr.. FLINT answers
BY the establishment Of international bank
ing facilities based upon a currency Of un-
doubted stability; by controlling means of
transportation; by proper legislation, COM
mercial treaties, and intelligent representa-
tion abroad; by manufacturing what is
most suitable for the needs Of foreign mar
kets, and especially by manufacturing
products of good quality at low cost. With
regard to banking facilities, the fact is re-
called that the conference of eighteen
American republics at Washington recon-
mended the establishment of an interna-
tonal American bank. having branches in
all the American republics, No such
bank, however, has yet been char
tered. AS to subsidized means of COM
munication, the grave objections to
this expedient are recognized by Mr..
FLINT; but he says, and here again he
speaks from the fulness of special knowl-
edge, that the South American republics
are prepared to give liberal mail contracts
to steamship lines, II our own Government
should see fit to pursue a similar course.
With respect to legislation, the opinion is
expressed that substantial advantages
would have been secured from reciprocity
arrangements had they been continued.
The fact is noted that we bought last year
from Brazil La Plata, and the Spanish
West Indies. $126,OOO,O 900, whereas we
sold them only $50, 900, 900; the balance
against US, 500, 200, 900, we had to remit
in gold to Europe to pay for manufactured
goods which those countries bought from
Europe instead of from us.
While, however reciprocal arrangements
are acknowledged to be benefit, the field
of distribution accessible under reciprocity
Is pronounced inconsiderable compared
with the greater opportunities obtainable
through economic manufacture. How are
the prices of our manufactured articles to
he .rcduced TIndoubtelly n reductIon of