The age-herald., 1898-08-21
AMERICAS TRADE
 IN THE PHILIPPINES

H. S. Garfield in the Chicago Times-Irerald. Oscar F. Williams, consul at Manila, writes cheerfully of the outlook for United States trade in the Philippines, especially the boot and shoe trade. He says that of the footwear for the 100000 inhabitants the United States has hitherto furnished not more than per cent. He predicts that in five years time these articles of Amer ican manufacture will have supplanted the Spanish product entirely whether the Phil ippines are annexed or not The advance of American manufactures in the east is dependent only on the opening of east ern interiors to trade.
 Since the Dingley tariff went into effect thousands of steel gun barrels in the rough state have been exported from Belgium to the United States, to be finished in Amer lea, thus increasing the demand for skilled labor at home. There are always in stock in Liege 100000 old military rifles discard ed by different governments and bought by Belgian gun dealers. The French govern ment has in stock 100000 "Gras" breech- loaders and chassepots, offered for sale at 97 cents apiece. After being cleaned and put in perfect condition they are sold in Liege for $1.54. The revolutionary com- mttee in Athens during the Graeco-Turk- ish war bought thousands of them at half price. The Austrian "Wanzer military breechloading rifles are sold by the gov ernment for 40 cents each. The Belgians convert them into nipple and f1int-lock guns for the natives of the west coast. The negroes prefer the fint-lock model as they can always find rocks. American machine made rifles, revolvers and shotguns are ad- mittedly superior to the Belgian hand made product, but their high price forbids their importation to that country.
 The British Columbian provincial legisla- ture, which adjourned recently, granted charters for twenty-one distinct railways, many of them headed for the gold fields on the northwestern boundary. Many of these roads are subsidized at the rate of $4.O00 a mile. The legislature expects to get the money back in royalties on gold dust
 
 In an effort to reduce weight European military authorities are endeavoring to substitute aluminium for iron, copper and steel in the manufacture of all articles of equipment carried by infantry. With the same object the Russian minister of war has ordered aluminium horseshoes for the cavalry. The first trial is now being made by the Finland dragons and the horses are shod as follows: A shoe of the new aluminium model is placed on one foot, the three remaining shoes being of the old styIe The trial, which has lasted two months, has been satisfactory. The alum mum wears out less rapidly and it is less affected by heat and moisture than the old shoe. The difference in weight Is about two and one-half ounces on each shoe. The cost is no greater.
 At Bixerte Tunis, French engineers have built a moveable steel bridge over the en- trance of the canal from the Mediterranean into Lake Bizerte. Tall towers stand at each end of the bridge and the bridge is pulled up to the top Of them by machinery in forty seconds. The towers are 213 feet high. M Arnodin is the inventor. The new bridge is by far the fastest concern of the kind iu the world.
 As an evidence of the "heft' of South African Dutchmen, all American vehicles intended for sale in that country must be built with seats eight inches longer than vehicles Of the same "tracl1'' carry in this part of the world.
 South Africa imported si .43f, 534 worth of bicycles in 1897, of which the United States furnished $174,692. The United States in crease for this year is estimated at III per cent. In that country Malays as well as whites use wheels. In the mining city of Kimberley there are 5000 bicycles, or one for every seven of the population. The duty on wheels is g per cent. and they sell in South Africa at about the prices obtaining in the United States. with the freight and duty added. The importation of some American cheap wheels has injured the American market to some extent. The country Is rough and it has been found that a cheap wheel is a dear wheel.
 
 employment in South African coal mines.