Evening star., 1898-12-03

line. where an estimate of tonnages for
the calendar year 1898 is given.
Year. London New York
1904 ..................l4,4 IL, Az $50 Il, OS6, 454
1879 IA ,346 001 Bliss, ,OSC
1910 ID, 0S2,51D IL. b5S. 43s
1891 ....................15.79 797 $50 14,211 ,315
1898 ....................15,s1 ,s14 213 15,343, 24i
1885 June to Dec). 10, ,SO1 1877 l5S4271a
SEstimated from monthly returns
The total value of Londons trade In 1885
was 81 .l23 ,591 $50 New York's showing
for the same period was 5000, ,32I 19O In the
following year New York gained sl37 $50. :
33S, while London advanced only about S27 =
1900 In 1896 the figures for New York
were S9I6, sos .235. a decrease from the pre-
ced1ng year. while London showed another
slight gain. But 1898 has proved a banner
year. Exports OF merchandise have ad-
vanced fully $3.50 900 ,OeO a greater gain
than has been shown by any preceding
twelvemonth Imports of merchandise
have not advanced. but there have been
up. Altogether New Yorks foreign trade
for 1898 will not be less than 81 800 600 900
while that of London is computed at 81 202 =
207 ,SiI.
A Victory for the Nation.
Although New York is thus raised to
honor and renown, the achievement is in
no sense local one. 1t is a victory for the
whole United States, peaceful conquest
in the domain of commerce in which every
section OF the country can Justly claim a
share. The steel and iron industries of
Pennsylvania. the cotton of the south the
FOOD products OF Chicago, the copper of
Michigan the wheat of the northwest and
the cattle from states hey ond the Mississip-
pi and the Missouri have all contributed to
swell the volume of expoI is to point never
attained before, while the whole country
has used the manufactured goods brought
from Europe through New York. The me-
tropolis has served merely as the gateway
OF the country.
hrjp afpir1 pF ha
this fact very plainly. In the most pros
porous years between 1890 and 1897 our ex-
ports exceeded imports by about 5000 900 =
900. In 1898 the excess reached the as
founding hgure OF over S615 600 900. OF
wheat and wheat products twice as much
was shipped as in the preceding year. Of
corn lso"oooo more bushels were sent
abroad. Meat and live stock showed a
similar gain and for all of these the pre-
ratling prices were good.
Although agricultural products formed
the greater part of the increase, there was
also notable gains In the realm. of manu-
factures. American locomotives have been
sold to an English company to run across
Egypt. They have likewise been sent to
Japan and China. London's new electric
roads have been equipped largely with
American electrical supplies, while every
where in Europe American bicycles and
typewrters have made their way And
when both domestic and foreiegn trade
come to be reckoned in both New York and
chicago are ahead of all European cities
ne limited states VIII start off on the
twentieth century as a great manufacturer
as Well as great producer of raw material
and every succeeding year will make Amer
lean supremacy more secure.
In comparing the trade of London and
New York 1t is interesting to note that Lon
dons heaviest footing Is on the side of i'm
ports, while New York's is in exports The
great liners and freighters sail out through
the narrows with their hulls low in the wa
ter and every foot of space crowded; they
come back in ballast or half loaded with
the greater part of their sides free-hoard
On the Thames an opposite state of affairs
prevails
Causes of New YOrk's Victory.
While American enterprise as displayed
in every part of the country has been the
direct means of making New York the
greatest shipping port in the world, other
factors have contributed to the result One
of these is the development in the COM
merce of continental European countries
Germany is the most notable example of
recent commercial expansion on the con-
tinent. From 1885 to 1898 the commerce of
Hamburg and other German cities incre as
Ell over ~ per cent, while London gained
only IL per cent, and Liverpool less than 10
per cent. The rapid rise of German COM
merce has put a decided check on the rapid
expansion of British trade.
Another significant factor is TO be found
in the rapid development of South Africa
Australia. China and Japan. In the COM
petition for this trade the United States
has come off with her full share of honors.
American machinery can be put down in
all these countries at prices which other
manufacturing countries cannot meet and
as they grow American commerce is bound
to increase in steady ratio.
All these things promise well for the con-
tinuation of American supremacy
Mr.. Henry W. Edge of the American
Shipping Company, who is an expert en-
matters of foreign trade says:
I'm my estimation New York Is safe to
maintain her lead. To begin with there
are the inroads of nations like GERMANY
on trade which Great Britain has hereto
fore had to herself. This is a condition to
which Englshmen must reconcile them