The times., 1899-06-05
AMERICAN TRADE
In GREAT BRITAIN
Reports Issued by the Bureau
of Foreign Commerce.
Commercial Relations With England
in a Satisfactory Condition.
Goods Bringing Them Rapidly
to the Front.

The Bureau of Foreign Commerce, De-
partment of State, has issued advance
sheets of the annual reports of American
are to be printed in the forthcoming
volume on commercial relations OF the
United States for 1898.
Z In an exhaustive report from Birming
ham Consul Marshal Halstead says:
''The commercial relations of the United
States with Great Britain and other great
trading nations are changing so rapidly.
and the changes are so much in favor of
every home interest, that one hesitates
when giving even the simple facts for fear
of seeming TO indulge in exaggeration.
shall therefore limit myself TO the state
nents, first, that in my opinion there is
hardly a single line of American manu-
facture OF articles, used also in other
countries as well as many novel things
not known elsewhere, but could be profit
ably exported if proper steps for its intro
duction were taken, and if careful. slow,
reasonable, and common-sense methods OF
sale were adopted; second. ! must add
that, while ! believe we are the best
manufacturers in the world, i am also
convinced that we are the poorest
traders, and this is impressed upon me
over and over again every day in my cor
respondence with American merchants
and manufacturers and in my observations
of the way they are handling the new ex-
port trade and of their endeavors to get
into il; third, il is my idea that American
export trade is rolling up like a SNOWFALL
because of a so per cent superiority in
manufacturing knowledge and natural re-
sources, and despite Is to 80 per cent
inferiority in trading knowledge, a heavy
percentage of unwillingness to learn for
eign trading customs, and a still greater
percentage OF lack of foreign merchant
facilities and organization. II small
portion of the vast sum of money in the
United States now seeking investment
could be employed in some form of eX-
port scheme TO handle American goods,
We would soon be able to record greater
export of American goods than of the raw
products of the soil, though today We are
boasting OF an excess OF manufactured ex-
ports over the manufactured imports"
Mr.. Halstead also says that American
pig iron is coming into British ports in
increasingly large quantities. The good
quality of Americas Southern coke iron
has been amply demonstrated and today
81 is recognized as the equal of the best
brands of Scotch and English iron. In re-
gard to the cycle trade ar Englishman
familiar with the market said 10 Mr.. Hal
stead: "A combination of circumstances
has prevented American bicycles from Sc
curing the footing that they deserve in
this country. but 10 show the possibilities,
1t may be mentioned that large Ameri-
can house with direct representation in
London sold TO Scotch firm a short time
ago 1000 machines, TO be delivered during
the forthcoming season. UnQuestionably
IL bicycles are sent over here according
10 English requirements, and the tastes
of buyers in the various details cultivated.
there is no reason why a large business
should not be done"
The war with Spain. and the consequent
Increase in the circulation of the news
papers of the United States causing a
greater consumption of paper, had an ef-
feet on the sale OF American paper in Eng
land. Paper was temporarily too high.
Sporadic attempts have been made TO sell
American paper here. but the Introductory
efforts were too costly for individual ac-
ton, and there was always the discourag-
ing factor that sharp competition from
home would follow, if individuals were
successful. On account OF the formation
of the paper trust in the United States
there can now be that combined action for
trade here which should mean successful
sales In competition, particularly with
German and Norwegian paper.
Three little industries which we have
almost entirely neglected, though Ameri-
cans could handle them proftably II we
had the time. are the making of pens, fish
hooks, and needles The declared value OF
the total shipments of these articles
through my consulate last year was
s525,Gl9.SS, and the Germans also ship us
some Of these articles in the poorer grades
Pen manufacture is the only one OF these
lines in which have heard OF any recent
American efforts. The total exports from
the Birmingham consular district for the
year 1883. ending September 30. were
sl,973.605.97, decrease from the figures
of 1897 of 1921. 1868, and less than those
OF 1896 by s.. .S6l, ,773.ss. If the decrease OF
sl,05s,9s7-25 in 1897 be added to the de.
crease OF S1.9sl, ,773.Ss in 1898, the decrease
since 1896 is 50. I76113, or s45S. I55 II
greater than the total shipments OF tn,
year 1895, ending September 30"
Consul Erastus S. Day, OF Bradford
transmits to the State Department table
showing the value Of declared exports from
that consular district 10 the United States
for the calendar year of 1898 He says
that the period has proved 20 be mos
disappointing one.
The total OF s6.724. 543.S1 for 1898. agains
s24.471. .035-2S for 1897, shows decrease o
sl7,74e.i9I.47 equivalent to 70 1-2 per cent