Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-27
TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA
American Imports Making Greater Gains
Than British.
Nearly Six Times rs Much as n Dec
ade Ago Variety in the
Goods Demanded.

An evidence of the gains which Ameri-
can manufacturers and producers are max
ing in their export trade in direct COM
petition with those of European nations
is found in soma recent figures on the trade
African Gazette, which has just reached
of articles on the imports into South Africa,
are making a greater proportion of gains
than those from Great Britain.
The exports of British manufactures from
the United Kingdom to South Africa in
February. 1899, are shown to be SS2'Oo in
excess of those for the same month of 1898,
while our own export figures to British
Africa show an increase in February OF
the present year of $}62,H1 over February
of last year. the general increase in our
exports to Africa during the eight months
ending with February being about one
million dollars compared with the cor
responding months of the preceding year.
The report of the Export Gazette further
shows that the exports of British manu-
features from the United Kingdom to South
Africa in February. 1899, are 1856 pounds
sterling. OF S4J52ts). below the amount for
1897, whilA the figures of our own export
trade for February, 1899. show exports to
Africa of about Si:DCoO in excess of those
for February, 1897.
Six Times as Much ns n Decade Ago.
No feature of the remarkable develop
ment of our foreign commerce has been
more striking than the increase of late in
exports to Africa, which are now nearly
six times as much annually as decade
ago. and nearly three times what they
were in 1893. In 1889 the total exports
from the United States to Africa We're
81 1856 90 in 1888 they were SlI.1l1.T30 and
in 1879 they are. up to the present tme:
practically million dollars in excess OF
last years figures.
The variety and quantity of American
goods demanded in Africa are interesting
and in many cases surprising. OF books.
maps and engravings, for instance. the
exports to Africa in the eight months
ending with February. 1899. were s46,9io in
value. against So, Ni+ in the corresponding
months OF the preceding year. ard S2o2l''
in the corresponding months of 1891, show
ing a rapid gain in the demand for our
books and other printed matter. OF bicycles
the exports to Africa in the eight months
ending with February were S12JJ>3, against
80, 1Gt in the CORRESPONDING months of 1897.
Exports of builders hardware. which in the
eight months Of 1S!lS We're S12I.1 'A in value.
were III the corresponding months of 1899
SlE'2 OF typewriterS the sales to Africa
in the eight months ending with February,
1888. Were 81 1Si in value against $lS34J
in the corresponding months of 1898. and
Sl2.1"l in the corresponding months OF 1871.
Popularity of Boots and Shoes.
American boots and shoes are slowly
gaining in popularity in Africa. the value
of the exports of these articles in the eight
months ending with February. 1899. being
SCI. Io2, against sJI 90 in the corresponding
months Of last year. American cotton seed
oil has rapidly increased in popularity in
that part Of the world, the exports to Al
rica in the eight months ending with Feb
ruary. 1889. being Stri,4id gallons against
5II,Hi2 in the corresponding months of the
fiscal year 1S.S, and ;IS9.2S7 gallons In the
corresponding months of 1897. ExD)r.a-
tons of lard to Africa, which in the eight
months ending with February. 1891. were
S'3-!S4 pounds, increased to .249, ID in the
corresponding months of 1S!'S. and .92l Isl
pounds in thu corresponding months ending
with February, 1SG Exports of lumber to
Africa increased from 81 ,G41 in the eight
months ending with February 1898 TO
SH.Dl2 in the corresponding months Of 1899.
The rapid growth Of our export trade to
Africa is illustrated by the following table
which gives the value of exports from the
intel States to Africa In each year from
ISIS to 1N.'S: