The times., 1898-12-04
PROSPERITY IN GERMANY.
Every Chimney Smoking; Every
Wheel Turning.

Relations, 1s91-'3s. gives some interest ng
figures concerning the commercial and
Industrial activity in Germany. He starts
or with the statement that the year 1871
was "twelvemonth during which every
chimney in the Fatherland was smol ing.
every wheel turning
A synopsis of foreign trade for the I've
years ending with 1897 shows 4 net gaia
Of S93.0OG.6e0 over the aggregate foreign
trade of 1896. which in respect 70 b-th
imports and exports surpassed the Ie-o,d
of every previous year, Tne exc s. orI
imports over exports amounted in round
numbers to s2ii.000 60, wh:ci would b.
considered in tie United states u some-
what serious adverse ba ance OF r. d -
But the relative Situations OF Germany
and the United States In regard to sup
pies Of food products and certain raw
materials of manufacture are e. seatIsl:y
different. Germany. VITA ., ,o0) 90 in al
tants. is unable, under pr-seIt CO. dit.ols.
TO raise either meats or b-.adstIfts IN
sufficient quantity to supply the want of
her people, and mist import heaviy net
only food. but several staple raw ma
terals.
Speaking Of the decreases in exports
from Germany TO tie United Stats a
result Of the United States tariff law of
1897, the consul general says tat the dis
tricts of textile manuf4cture-Crefeli.
Barrnen, Sonneberg, and AK IA caapsl
show an aggregate loss of Hea. Il 81 3.0.-
600 as compared with the exports of The
| preceding year.
This deficit says Mr.. Mason, has
| not Jailed to attract immediate and seri-
| GUS attention in Germany and some of
/ the most aggressive journals and econo-
mists have suggested that the present Is
a favorable occasion for the adoption of
| a retaliatory policy against the United
| States. In respect to the whole question
| OF import duties and commercial treaties.
which will play important part In Ger
man politics during the coming two or
| three years, there are in Germany, aside
| from merely political divisions, three
| weli-defined groups each repres enting the
| personal interests of its members. They
| are respectively the agrarians. who. IL
| unrestrained, would abolish most of the
| concessions granted by the commercial
treaties that were negotiated with foreign
4 countries during the administration of
| Chancellor Caprivi. and by cutting of
| the importation of meats and cereals,
| advance the local prices of animals and
I food products. and thus render German
| agriculture more profitable; secondly. the
| Industrial group. which would lower OF
| abolish entirely the duties and restric-
tions against foreign meats and bread
| stuffs. and by making food as cheap as
possible facilitate low cost Of production
| in manufactures: and thirdly. the COM
mercial group-merchants. bankers, and
| traders of all kinds-wh0 urge the Ut
| most freedom of trade. large internation-
al exchanges. busy railroads, canals and
inland river routes, Increased subsidies to
ocean steamship liTes. and a general open
and liberal policy in all matters of trade
Great Britain holds the first and the
| United States the third place in both the
| import and export trade of Germany. OF
| forty-six countries the five leading ones
| are as follows: Great Britain contributed
to the imports Of Germany in 1886. 6is,-
i0o, coo marks (sl54 cS1, ,20d) or H. per cent
of the whole amount; Russia came sec
ond, with 6si, coo marks (sl5o, ,ss2- 0Oe), or
1873 per cent; the United States third.
with 5si 400. coo marks, or 12.S per
cent; then Austria-Hungary, with
57seo0,o0o marks. or l2.7 per cent; and
| France fifth, with 233 61J.690 marks
(s55, SGT, Soo), or 81 per cent OF the whole
amount
I'm respect to German exports, Great
Britain took 70 per cent OF the whole,
valued at us, 5,i10Oo0 marks 6sl70, 1876, S09D I:
Austria came second. with 4T,0do. .090
marks (slIS. .5ei 00Jl or 127 per cent; the
United States third, with $50, 700 900 marks
(sSs, So eo0,; and the Netherlands fifth,
with 90. 800, go marks (S62 ~ 400. or Fer
cent of the entire export trade of the
year Germany, therefore, imported from
the United States in 1896 merchandiss-
largely food products. cotton, and petro-
ieum-valued at s1S9 go. .o00 and exported
to our country goods worth So, so. 800 leav-
ing balance of SO. 100, 600 from the years
transactions in favor of the United
States"
| Noting the fluctuations year by year OF
imports of the several classes OF products
which form the staple of American ex-
| port trade TO Germany. 1t IS cited that The
import of Indian corn in 1896 was $50 9sl
tons. white that of 1897 showed an in
crease of 10. .O53 tons. or. Is per cent.
Wheat on the contrary. declined from
2s6. .s75 tons in 1896 to sG..2s1 tons in 1897;
but 1t is to be remarked that. notwith-
standing this difference in quantity. the
wheat imports of 1897 were valued at
S1.54i.sOo. against IS. .e05 for those oil
1886, a difference of only S5-5 90. The
greatly increased import OF corn shows
that the people of Germany are begin
ming TO realize the economy of corn as ]
breadstuff While they have not yet tC
any great extent accepted corn bread as
! substitute for the heavy, sour, black
loaf made from a mixture of rye and tht
lowest quality of wheat. corn meal is now
used to a greater degree than hitherto foi
mixing with wheat and rye, and it is
moreover. in constantly increasing ds-
mand as food for cattle and horses and
for distiilation.
There We're imported last year from thi;
country to Germany 59lS horses value q
at S9l5, 500.
The importation of fresh fruit into Ger
many in 1898 was 9i,05S tons; in 1897, III, 81
tons. the increase being principally due
to the importations of American apple:
| that invaded the German ma kets b.
, shiploads, which not only undersold til,
: native fruit from the TyrOl and Italy. bu
established new standards OF tendernt s
and flavor. The import during 1895 Shove
great activity until practically cut CT
{ by Ine German government for the de
5 clared reason that danger to German or
chards was feared on account of the Sar
Jose scale. which restrictions are st IL 1
vogue.
The consumption of coal which form
an accurate index to manufacturing ant
commercial activity. increased consider
ably the product of German mines il
, 1895, being 80. 100. 900 tons, and in 1891, %.
7oo,ooo tons. Besides the domestic suppl.
, Germany imported more than $1,000
, tons in the latter year. besides s,ooo.oO
tons of brown coal and about .00e ton
of coke.
. In the district of Dortmund the nun
, ber of men employed in coal and irol
works increased from l09.sl5 in 1896 t
, IT, 76S in 1897. Fifty-two of the principa