The evening times., 1899-10-30
TRADE IN south AFRICA
Consul General Stowe Sends an In.
teresting Report.
Business Practically at StnndstiiI
Before the Outbreak of the War.
Large Productions of Gold and
DiamOnds-AD Income Land Tax
Being Collected mt Cape Colony.

J. S. Stowe. consul general at Cape Town,
has forwarded report TO the State De-
partment on the trade conditions in South
Africa. He says undcr date of Septem-
ber >:
Trade in South Africa shows no decided
decrease from that of June and July; but
the conditions, not only in Cape Town. but
in johannesburg, remain very unsatisfacto-
ry due of course, TO the political crisis
Merchants are complaining that business is
practically at a standstill Collections are
bad, money scarce, and many reputable per-
sons are out of employment. If the present
situation continues, Johannesburg will be
involved in commercial ruin. Prices are
advancing, and it is asked if war would not
be preferable to present conditions.
i am told that the opposite state OF
affairs is true of agriculturists and mineral
producers. More gold and diamonds are
being produced and exported. Good wealth
er has favored crops.
Imports for July into Cape Colony were
$S.GS2. .643.Si, as against s62j9, ,sl3.O2 in July.
1898: the increase. is due to specie. which
has arrived in large quantities. Exports
for the same month were $40, ,594, 370.50. as
compared with $3.50. .2l72s in 1898. The
increase is in large shipments Of gold and
diamonds Of the exports above mention
ed. Sl.O51. 1852 were in agricultural pro-
duce. which was valued at s.. 1.i36. $500 in
1898. The output of gold for July was
AS. 1873 ounces.
The Government of Cape Colony has
introduced an income and land tax ow-
ing to an estimated deficit of sl.622 564.
ho ie tod e
The colony is divided into two classes
agricultural and non-agricultural. The
former pay l cent upon every S4.S6 value
above value of S5.S39.S0. The latter
class includes men of trades, professions,
etc. The tax on incomes is 81 cents on
every S4.S6 above 1,459.gJ. II is claimed
that the agriculturist, in this land where
droughts and disease among cattle and
sheep prevail, should not be taxed as
heavily as the townsman, who may have
cash income from other sources. The tax
1t is said, will reach the rich corporations
many of the stockholders in which do not
live in the colony and expend their income
in ether countries. Ii will it is feared
fall heaviest on the middle class, whose
wage or salary runs from $4,000 to $500
per annum, who, in this country of expen-
sive living-bread is dearer here than
elsewhere in the world-can hardly strug-
gle along, and to whom tax of per cent
over $l,459.95 will mean hardship.
There is an outcry against the law. and
an excise tax on liquors. wine. and brandy
produced in the colony is called for. This
is one of the few countries where such a
tax does not exist. Cape brandy cdopeD
is sold largely to the natives at a few
pence per bottle and is the cause of much
drunkenness.
"A modification of the income and land
tax is expected. to the effect that all mort
cages will be deducted from the value of
the land. and the income fixed at 10 cents
up 10 S4.S66.50, and "a cents on amounts
over and above s4S66.50. The stamp tax
referred to in previous reports will then
be repealed, so that foreign manufacturers
doing business here will pay on income and
not on subscribed capital.
stringent laws against adulteration of
foodstuffs. drugs, etc, are in, force: the
government has men out constantly buy
ing samples which are analysed Those ex-
amined in 1889 were found to be more
largely adulterated than for many years.
Much prepared coffee is being imported
from America; it is to be hoped that only
pure coffee will be sent.
Prices OF foodstuffs show an advance
although it is stated that they are kept low
enough to bar out foreign manufactures.
particularly flour, which is selling at ss.65
per 100 pounds