The record-union., 1899-09-19
FOR TRADE INTO RUSSIA.

Consul Monaghan, writing from
Chemnitz to the State Department,
points out a fine opportunity for our
iron trade in Russia, if we will but
push it. He declares it to be one of the
very best in the world and that all we
have to do is to adapt ourselves to the
requirements of the Russian people
not a very hard task-and a very
large share of her foreign trade will
fall into our hands.
He declares that no nation is SO well
equipped as we are to supply Russia
with the very best weapons with which
to work out her industrial and COM
mercial destiny. The conditions pre-
vailing in the vast empire could not be
more favorable to our manufactures
There are vast forests to be cut away;
marshes to be drained: mines of all
kinds to be opened; canals to be dug;
waste lands to be reclaimed; railroads
and mills of all kinds to be built-and
we ought to be at the fore in bidding
to do the work and supply the material,
when necessary.
Austria complains about the very
limited amount Of iron exported from
that country to the Caucasus. She
points to the progress made by the
Germans, and especially to the COM
petition between Caucasus and Siberia.
Siberia produces iron that is very pop
1i1a IN 49,
is accomplished only at heavy cost and
after long delay, and always with great
uncertainty as to the material arriv-
ing at the appointed time.
The Russian works in Siberia operate
constantly night and day the year
round, but cannot begin to supply the
demand. Under such circumstances
the works fix the prices and the con-
ditions. The import duties are enor-
nous, nevertheless foreign countries
send in large quantities of iron. In this
Germany is largely represented Baku
buys half of it's supply abroad and
Germany furnishes 20 per cent of it.
Most German iron sent is for reser-
voirs, boilers and what is known as
facon iron.
The Consul says there is a big open
ing for iron girders. beams, ETC. Bel
gium has had most of this trade. but
it is losing it because of inferior. quail
tiles supplied. and the same is true
of band iron. The report goes on at
some length to specify the needs Of the
iron trade on the supply side. Among
articles in iron which he thinks Amer
lea can supply at an advantage, are
mining machinery. shovels. wire rope.
roof tin, furnace fronts and bars for
boring chisels. He believes that it
viii be a very long time before
Russia, despite the rapid rise of
her industries. will be able to sup
ply more than a small percentage
of her vast needs. Even the present
enormous duties cannot keep foreign
goods out of her markets. He dis
covers in Russia fine opening for
trade in agricultural implements and
machines.
The point of it all is that If we will
but improve the opportunity, we can
make way through the tariff and find
a large and profitable trade in Russia.
and open to ourselves one Of the best
markets in the world To the manu-
facturers and traders of the Pacific
Coast the thought will appeal with es-
pecial force, since the completion of
the trans-Siberian railway is going to
give the west coast of the United
States a relation to the Russians Sibe-
rian domain that no other country win
so well occupy. or can SO easily avail
OF commercially.