The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-12
THE SOUTH AFRICAN FIELD
Of Commerce Beginning to Be Titled
by Americans.

by Americans.
New York, Aug. PA special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Not only is it true as asserted by Con-
sui General Stowe in his long report to
the state department on the imports in
to South Africa, made from Cape Town,
that trade in that region has untold
possibilities, and that one of its obvious
features at present is the toothoId
gained by United States goods, DuE 1t
is also true that the trade OF this cOun-
try with the British and Dutch COM
munities of southern Africa tends to
weld together in a common brother
hood the people who are interested in
the trade and strengthen the bonds that
bind them in sentiment. These are
the worlds freest and possibly happiest
communities. 1t is, therefore, a matter
of deep interest TO the lover of free
government on the original TeutOnic
model well as to the enterprising
tradeSman and manufacturer that the
commerce of this republic with South
Africa is largely on the increase and
has already reached a highly respecta-
BILE stage of development.
The trade of the United States is
mainly in feed stuffs. Among the ar
ticles mentioned as having held their
own in the last year are electrical goods
and appliances, steel and iron, galVan-
lied iron, tools, hoes, forks, hardware,
silver plated ware, furniture and win
dow glass. An improved demand for
drilling and hosting machinery and oil
stated, sent more goods in 1897 than e.
er before. England shippers urge tt e
they are not on the same footing with
Americans and Germans. They hope
that preferential rates to American
shippers will be withdrawn.
The imports into South Africa last
year aggregated 1923, 150,129, of which
Cape Colony took $87, 148 927. This trade
came from the following countries:
Great Britain and her possessions $685.
$40 1852; United States $13 Isl, OIL; Ger
many s5,122 738; other competing coun-
tries S15,745. 291; foreign countries not
competitive, Sc, 460, 665.
Germany is prepared to foster her
trade, initiating the United States in
classes of goods and methods of pack
ing. Her proportional trade at Della
goa Bay IS shown to be large. She sends
to South Africa a monthly trade and
export journal in order to make known
German industry and prove it's ability
to compete with all civilized nations.
British manufacturers are calling at
tentiOn to the attractive advertising of
Americans In the trade with the
United States the principal increases
stated in the table are flour. lard, clocks
and watches, cotton manufactures and
raw tobacco. Timed beef, agricultur-
al implements, sewing machines, hides
and bacon show q, decrease. The heavy
loss of cattle and crops caused loss of
impOrtations of implements, vehicles,
etc. The table of items of Inerchan-
disc imported from this country is three
pages and a half long of fine type and
embraces q large number of articles
Mr. Stowe is surprised at the small i'm
ports of fish, particularly cured fish,
such as mackerel, salmon, halibut, etc.
He thinks Americans ought to have the
glue trade of South Africa With the
large apple crops, Americans sends no
cider. England furnishes all the malt
How much of this, says Consul General
Stowe, was made from barley sent from
the United States. OF wire fencing
produced so largely in the United States
England sent twice as much as this
country. Bacon and other salt cured
meats are imported from the United
Kingdam in the ratio of ten to one as
compared with the United States. Yet
the bulk of the raw meat came from the
latter.
The United States, the great silver
producing country, sent only about
$4,000 worth of siIverplated ware, to
Great Britains nearly $4,000. It is
pretty much the same way as to man
ufactured tobacco and worse as to whis-
ky, by comparison with the United
Kingdam. The total imports of Cape
Colony for 1897, were S31, pa, 1872; for 1898
$27, 767,74S. The exports were respect
lively $23441, 54S and s37 664, S75-
The Total exports of wool from Dur
horn, East London, Port Eliza beth and
Cape Town of which the last named
exported less than any. were for 1897,
Sd, S23. 327 pounds-nearIy seventeen
thousand pounds less than 1896.
The revenue for Natal for 1897 was
SO. 769, 925; expenditure 81. $50, 033- The
value of the imports was 9,119,136
against S26, 463, }55 in 1896 The exports
were 81, SEQ, 122. They were in 1896, So
SIS. 527. The decrease is credited to the
rinderpest, locusts and drought.