The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-15

never reached 5 per cent of the point of
The product of the United States and prob
ably will not for years to come. Radical
changes In the freight and labor situations
must occur before America can capture EN-
glish and European markets with crude
iron. She is shipping literally, it is true.
and will continue to ship, for prices in Eu-
rope will always be regulated pretty closely
by those in the United States.
But 1t is in the finished forms where
American victories will be won, as they are
now being won. In locomotives, wood and
i-on-working machinery, agricultural ma
chinery, nails, wire, bicycles and a hundred
other lines, American inventive genius,
great productive capacity, undermined
plants, superior business organization etc.,
Will maintain and doubtless increase the
great total of $50. 900 900 900 reached last year
In her iron and steel exports. The effect of
this great and growing foreign demand is
sensibly felt in every department of the
trade.
The belief is widespread that exports from
the United States must suffer sharp check
If not come to a full stop, unless prices in
America recede. This is a natural but not
well grounded view. 1t assumes that the
markets 70 the rest of the world go their
way, irrespective of what the United States
does. That was formerly the case but 1t Is
so no longer. The world is now knit closely
together in its industrial and commercial
that affect one nation are soon felt by the
others. England and Germany were In the
midst of industrial prosperity two years be-
fore 1t was felt in America, but now that
she has responded. the added stimulus is
felt over there We think 1t phenomenal
that the mills and furnaces throughout the
United States should have their product
booked half through next year, but In Ger2
many and Belgium they are already booked
all through the year 1900 The great Krupp
works at Essen. employing thirty thou
sand men, are filed with orders until 1901.
Germany has nearly overtaken Great Bril-
tain in pig iron product, but 1t Is neverthe-
less importing largely from both England
and America to supply her deficiency. Great
Britain Shows a slaekening in her Ship
building Industry, burt her export trade in
iron is again growing and all her lesser in-
dustries are exceedingly active. Prices of
iron and steel have risen there almost as
ra pidly as In the United States. Middles-
boro pig that sold last year for AZ shlllings
has reached rs shillings and is now little
under 70.
The fact is the great Industrial awakening
Is worldwide. China India South Africa,
the Philippines. Japan, Russia and the new
island possessions nearer to the United
States are full of projects for improvement.
They have caught the renaissance spirit.
The beginnings are small. but they suggest
immense future possibilities. They want
steam railways, electric lines electric light
ing wster-works, locomotives, machinery,
bridges, etc, and It scarcely seems probable
that having felt some of the benefits of
modern progress, they will decide to turn
back. America has shown her ability I'd
with the other industrial nations
for this trade, and will continue to get 1t in
quantity.
CONTINUED on 18th Page.