Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-22
CAPTURING MARKETS
cERMANy,s VIGOROUS POLICY
OF TRADE EXTENSION.

Her Tremendous Development OF Mer'
chant Shipping Facilities Contrasteo
with Tardy and Neglectful Course
Pursued by the United States.
Some consular reports Of exceptional
value and interest have been received
at the State Department in Washing
ton. Consul Covert, writing from Ly-
ons. deals at length with the subject OF
the French Bureau of Foreign Com
merce, recently established. The ADLER
division of this bureau will devote It's
attention in large measure to the Ofl-
ent. The plan is said to be patterned
after Russia, which has two foreign
ministries, one for the East and the
other for the continent of Europe. Thls
bureau will be in close touch with the
French boards of trade. The French
are aiding Russia to develop her re-
sources and large part Of the report
referred to is taken up with the details
of this aid, which is benefit to France,
of course.
The consul says that the work OF the
Lyons Commission, sent to China by
the business men, is being followed up
vigorously. France is trying to keep
up with England and Germany in eff
forts to supply China, nation which,
to quote from great European au-
thority, ''is the most potential market
in the world" He adds:
,4I ~ tvSo, md
shall be a feeder to Russia's TRANSIT
berian railroad, to England through
Hong Kong, to Germany through Kioa-
Ohau or to France from Tonquin is the
momentous problem of the coming GEN.
tury."
Consul Monaghan writes from Chem
nitz in two reports just given out. One,
concerning Germany's shipping, and
the other, concerning her machinery ex-
port, throw much light on great ri
vars operations. Compiling his figures,
it is seen that there was an increase in
1896 over 1895 of 13,7O6 ships and 600,-
900 tons. Compared with twenty years
ago the figures show twice the num-
Der Of ships and three times as much
tonnage. There was an increase of 80
per cent. in the number Of laden ships
and 152 per cent. increase in the num-
Der of registered tons of vessels that
went out laden with the empires prod
ucts and brought in foreign raw ma
terials Taken as to the number of
voyages, too, the growth is almost 10
per cent. for the last period-1S96-95-
for which figures are accessible. The
consul says:
eff we are to take part in the trade
with South America and with the East
we must emulate this empire in the
matter of ships. Of all the ships that
came into and went out of German
ports in 1896 72.4 per cent. bore the
empires flag. OF the steamers, 63.3
per cent. were German"
Germany, like France, is catering to
the Russian trade and supplying that
colossal country with manufactures.
Russia is Germany's best buyer of ma
chinery. Consul Monaghan says:
ct is in Eastern, Russian and South
American markets that we must make
our greatest efforts to meet Germany.
We should improve our transportation
facilities to South America and inau-
gurate an energetic policy Of making
foreign markets"
The contrast between Germany's
tremendous activity in the develop
ment of her shipping facilities and the
sluggish, neglectful policy Of the Uni
ted States is not flattering to American
pride. Neither is it suggestive Of fruit
full results in the field of American
trade expansion. Germany is captur-
ing the worlds markets by means of
German ships manned by German sail
ors. What time Germany has been
effecting an increase of S3 per cent. in
the number of her laden ships and an
increase of 153 per cent. in the regis
tered tonnage Of vessels carrying her
goods to foreign markets and bringing
BACK cargoes of raw materials, the
United States has steadily refrigerated,
until at present something less than
per cent. of our foreign trade is car
ried.in American ships That is not the
way to compete successfully for
share in the great markets of Asia and
South America. You cannot build I'D
trade by employing a rivals vehicles
in the delivery of your goods to GUS
toners.
The Hand Upon the Helm.