The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-24

shippers have awakened to this disparity,
and are determined 10 correct Il. 1t Is be-
lieved that the Commercial Museum will
prove OF great value in disseminating ac-
curate Information of the products OF the
American countries, their prices, meth
DDS Of packing, avenues OF transportation
and the like and that the result will prove
mutually advantageous.
A comprehensive and impartial article
on the Philadelphia Commercial Museum
appears In the April number OF the 1mper-
ial Institute Journal of London. 1t recites
that the avowed special objects of the
Museum are to develop the general export
trade of the United states and to promote
the interests of American manufactures
by the Systematic investigation of the con-
ditions and requirements OF the foreign
markets. The Museum is practically
national, state and city organization, and
its advantages and result to the profit
Of all three. Philadelphia will naturally
benefit from the eclat attaching to the 10
cation of the Museum, but this will be
merely incidental. as the scope of the or
ganizatlon is national. The Journal Is OF
opinion that the efficiency and value OF
the Museum will depend to large extent
upon the amount, not only OF support, but
of material assistance rendered to 1t by
American business men. This Is a saga
fact that as the Museum Is formed for
practical business purposes II Is the busi-
ness world that must rally to It's support
and maintain its efficiency. The journal
also notes that the prospectus OF the Com"
mercial Museum alludes 10 some or the
British colonies as likely fields for Ameri-
can exports, and our British contempo-
rary remarks that with a proper under
standing between the producers and con-
sumers of the Empire, the supply of trade
to American manufacturers should be re-
stricted to such as provide supplies which
the Empire Is incapable of producing to
any marked extent. The Journal says In
conclusion: "The Anglo-Saxon has al
ways controlled very large proportion
of the trade of the entire world. Although
the Atlantic divides them, the labors OF
these two great institutional the Phila-
delphia Commercial Museum and the I'M
perial Institute), albeit creating healthy
rivalry between two great commercial
powers, should be powerful factors In
maintaining the trade supremacy Of the
English-speaking races
1t has been the fashion with some Amer
lean economists to concern themselves ex-
clusively with the problem of Row to pro-
tect the home market. They have given
little, II any, attention to !he problem OF
how to obtain q foreign market for our
surplus manufactures. 1t has been as
sumed that our surplus agricultural prod
ucts will ind their own way to market.
But business men realize that trade con-
ditions change and that theories must
give way to facts Our agricultural prod
ucts are meeting with new and grow
ing competition abroad. Our workshops
and mills have a capacity to more than
supply the home market. Under the cir
cumstances 1t is important that special
study shall be made of the needs and de-
mands of foreign markets, to the end that
we may dispose of our surplus products
to advantage. This is no question of poll
tics; 1t is a matter of business, and the
more the subject Is considered on its ner-
it's without the Introduction of political
prejudice, the better will it be for all con.
| cerned.