Arizona silver belt., 1899-10-12
AMERICANS ABROAD.
Our Influence and Activities in the
 TfanSNaal.
From the Boston Herald


 second place in the South African trade. In several branches of trade America surpasses even England, which has always had the trade ad- vantages following from the, suprema- ey of her flag over the greater part Of the country.
 In his valuable book about the sit'i- of ''Oom Paul's People" Appleton). with reference to the rest Of south Africa, Mr. Howard c. lliliegas, a New York newspa' man, who spent two years in d, region studying con ditions, dcyotes most important and significant chapter to "American in- terests in South Africa," and shows how strikingly our business enterprise, the quality of our manufactured pro ducts and our knowledge of mining and engineering have affected the de- yelopment of the country.
 Scores of business representatives of American business firms are constant ly travelling through all parts of south Africa, either to secure orders or to in- vestigate the field. Yet the law in all sections of South Africa are decidedly unfavorable to foreign commercial travellers, who are obliged to pay very heavy license fees The superiority of certain American manufactured pro- duets Is such that other nations are un- able to compete in those lines after our products have been introduced. This is especially true of American machin- cry. Almost everyone of the extcn- sive gold mines on the Randt Is fitted out, wholly. or in part, with American machinery, and, at the present rate of increase in the use of it, it will be less than 10 years when none other than United States machinery will be sent Go that districtr The Kimberly dia- mond mines among the most exten- sive and elaborate underground works in the world use American machin- cry almost exclusively, because II IS cheapest and best. Almost every pound of electrical machinery in use in the country was made in America and was instituted by American work men, Almost every rail, wire or ear of the street railways in Cape Town. Pretoria and Port Elizabeth bears the marks of American manu- lecture. Beside installing these street railways. Americans secured the con eessions for operating them.
 One of the first railroads in south Africa was built by an American, and American material has entered largely into the construction of the most eX- tensive roads. American rails are more quickly ana more cheaply ob- taiuable in South Africa than those of rnglish make, but the influence which is exerted against the use of other shan British rails prevents their mi yersal adoption. American firms have recently secured the contracts for i0,- 900 tons of steel rails for the Cape Col eny railway system
 American manufactured wares of all kinds are in demand. Agricultural implements, for instance, which are more adaptable to the soil and much cheaper than any other make.
 Almost all the lumber used in the mining districts come from Puget sound, in spite of the expense involv- ed. American coal has secured a foot hold in south Africa, and American petroleum is rapidly crowding out its sole rival, Russian oil Among the other articles of export to south Afri- ca are flour. corn, butter, potatoes canned meats and vegetables. Ame- rican live stock has been introduced with such successful results that sever al western firms have established branches in Cape Town.
 Our trade with South Africa was s5,- OOO. 900 in 1895, sl2,000,0o0 the next year. sl6, 900, ,00O the next, and proba- bly s20, ,O00, 900 last year. But a large percentage of our exports thither are ordered through London firms, and consequently do not appear in the of iicial figures. Almost every dollars worth of this vast amount of material is carried to South Africa in ships sail ing under foreign colors.
 Our commercial interests in south Africa are small in comparison with the work ofindividual Americans who have been active in the development of that country. Wherever great en- terprses nave been inaugurated, Ame- ricans have been promptly identified with their growth and development, and in not few instances the success of the ventures has been wholly due to American leadership. European capital is the foundation of all the South African institutions. but their success has been due to American skill. British and continental capital ists have recognized the superiority of American methods by intrusting the management of almost every large mine and industry to men who were born and trained in the United States.