The Delta independent., 1899-10-20

The German chambers Of commerce
are manifesting deep concern on the
subject OF the outlook for trade with
the United States. Our vice consul
general At Frankfort. Mr.. Hanauer. has
transmitted to the state department
several reports Of these commercial
bodies which betray not little anxiety
at the prospect OF losing the biggest OF
all markets for German products. The
Frankfort chamber of commerce draws
attention to the fact that
To-day the United States looms up
as the greatest producer OF breadstuns,
and with all the factors OF gigantic
development in metal production. II
has already attained such = position In
all branches Of Industrial power as to
enable It to boldly take up the gauntlet
OF competition in the International
arena Germany has no special treaty
with the United States; the most-fa-
yored-nation clause is the basis OF the
mutual trade. but this presupposes that
both nations maintain toward each
other such tariffs as not to make the
exchange Of goods prohibitory. The
Dingley tariff has affected German ex-
ports inimicaliy. Germany's imports
from the United States In 1888 exceeded
thos. of the previous year In twenty
Ave leading lines. whereas she export
ed to the United States considerably
less In twenty Important lines than In
1897. The question arises, Is the most
favored-nation clause without . tarin
reduction on the part Of the United
States OF any value TO us7
The Dresden chamber Of commerce
notes the fact that. owing 10 the ad-
vantaEes enjoyed In specializing and
subdividing the manufacture OF aru-
cles. In the immense capital employed
in every branch OF trade. and In the
eleverness OF American consular ON
eials, the United States IL enabled to
sell At lower prices, though paying
higher wages than its European r:'
walls" and adds:
The opinion is prevalent In various
quarters that IL the present tarin con-
tinues We must fAmiliArire ourselves
with the thought that our export to the
United States will some day cease Alto
gether. and that II we want TO do busi-
ness with that country we must estab-
lish branch factories there
The chamber OF commerce OF Hagen.
a center OF iron and steel manuiactur-
ing. puts forth . dismal wall regarding
the strained conditions which exist In
the wire and wire-tack trade, all be-
cause Of the competition Of the United
States:
The iron trade there has developed
in q supplying manner. making the
country . productive power OF the nrst
class. The condition OF this trade In
Germany has. during the las, year.
grown more and more unfavorable. be-
cause the Americans have steadily TAX
en- possession of the markets In Japan.
China and Australia, which heretofore
had been supplied mainly by German
products The prices abroad have at
the close OF the year declined so low
that even German works tha; produce
rolled wire have TO give up taking
contracts, on account Of the cost OF the
raw material. Nor is the outlook Tor
tn. lately established wire-tack trust
at all auspicious. as II must submit to
heavy sacrifices In order TO snatch at
least a few orders from the claws of
American competition"
solinsen's complaint IL that its cut
iery industry is in a bad way. because.
ow,nx TO the closing OF the American
market. the competition at home has
become So intense as to undermine
prices. diminish profits and produce
decline in the quality sf the goods
made. The manufacture Of soythes. II
In noted. was sufficiently active; but In
the future this branch is threatened
by the Increasing import OF American
grass mowers
Thus ur md that in many lines OF
Industrial activity German producers
suffer seriously because Of the competi-
ton Of the United States-hrsi. In the
invasion Of the German home market:
second. in the invasion OF competing
markets. upon which Germany has
heretofore had a frm hold: and. third.
In the diminished demand for many OF
Ccrmany's products In the valuable
American market. II Is condition
no, likely to be improved by any reeip-
,ocsl treaties which the United States
vi,l he willing to make. and still less
prospect Of relief is apparent In the
s,,.c,,ou Of tariff notifications. The
I-ni,sd States some time ago ceased
making tariffs for the beneht OF foreign
competitors. There Is. however, one
possible help for Gcrmany-that sus-
rested In the report OF the Dresden
chamber Of commercc-vii.. to estao-
li,h branch factories In the United
states. Many European manufacturers
have already yielded to this necessity
and more are coming.
OBSTRUCTIVE COMPARISON.