The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-11-28
THE NATIONS TRADE,

THE NATIONS 5 TRADE.
The advance of American trade in
the worlds markets during the past
three years has created amazement
and CONSERVATION in Europe. Prob
ably nothing like it has ever been seen
i in the commercial world before
Americans are building the new steel
bridge over the Atbara, in northeast
Africa. American mining machinery is
driving out English and German in
South Africa. American canned beef
is used by the British government to
provision its troops American railway
tools and other appliances have sup
planted all others in the building of
the new Siberian railway. Orders for
American locomotives are pouring in
from the continent of Europe. Ameri-
can cotton goods are finding new mar
kets in the far east, and when peace
comes in the Philippines the trade will
advance by leaps and bounds.
Time was when American exports
We're nearly ell raw materials. In
that this country might better restrict
its energies to the production of those
things in which it had n natural ad-
vantage-wheat and corn and petro-
leum, and other raw products, leaving
TO the older and better equipped ma
tions the task of manufacturing They
alleged that n protective tariff never
could and never would build up manu-
featuring industries to the point where
they coul5 compete with those of the
old countries. The theory was very
taking, to many minds; but it has been
disproved by facts, as many other
theories have. Look at the figures:
In 1892 we exported to foreign coun-
tries manufactured goods to the
amount of S15S. .51O,937. 1t was about
the same the next year. There was
not much change until 1896, when
William Mckinley was elected presi-
dent. Then the figures jumped up to
S22S, S,5T1,1TS. In 1898 they had gone
up to $500, 1907 .354, and for the year
just closed they were $33S,677,794. 1t
against us, the markets of the world
have opened wider than ever. Our
total exports abroad in 1894, after the
Wilson bill had gotten into good work
ing order We're $500, ,140,5I2. Last
year they were S1,227 ,205, ,419, or an
increase of S325.0GI,S47.
on the other hand, imports have de-
creased under the protective tariff fol-
lowing the Wilson law. We have been
using less of foreign made goods. In
1898 we bought $500, ,lOO,922 worth
abroad. Last year we bought nearly
S2O0,OOooo0 less.
The home market is still the best
market in the world, and more and
more our manufacturers are controll-
ing it. Prices have not kept up to the
price of foreign goods plus the amount
of the tariff, as free traders said they
must keep up, but have decreased un-
I'll our manufactures can undersell the
English and the German, in the same
quality of goods. in very many lines of
production.
~ new tTa HIS DepuH LOT American
trade, just as n new era has begun po-
litically. The United States are now a
world power of the first magnitude;
they are TO be n world-producer. With
expanded productive power have come
expanded markets.
There are timid souls who shrink
from all this-who mourn over our for
mer magnificent isolation;" who in
sist on putting back the hands of times
dial, and fear that we shall never be
equal to our new responsibilities. But
these are the small minority. The
great majority of the American people
rejoice in the new opportunities, and
are not afraid of the new responsible
ties.
The whole country is glad of the i'm
proved condition of the health of Vice
President Hobart. Mr.. Hobart is one of