Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-14
AMERICAN COAL ABROAD
ITS SUPERIORITY RECOGNIZED IN
EUROPEAN COMMERCIAL CENTERs.
Relief From Famine Prices Promised
to COnsumers-Industr Re-
lapse I'm Germany.

Germany is now passing through period
of reflection. determination, and some
what vague uncertainty to her future,
according to United States Consul General
Mason at Frankfort. who has recently
transmitted to the State Department a
comprehensive review of the conditions
which have been productive of a threatening
crisis in many branches of German indus
try.
In many branches Of trade manufacture
the limit of profitable production seems to
have been reached says Consul General
Mason; land this, together with the scarcity
and high rate of money incident to liberal
investments in all sorts of improvements
and new enterprises. has brought on re-
lapse, which has recently caused a general
decline in most industrial securities"
lhought1ui Germans. says MIR. Mason,
are al loss to determine whether the dis
tressing condition of textile. hardware and
other branches of trade is the inevitable re-
action following protracted period of in
tense activity, or whether a serious crisis
IN these industries is actually at hand. The
temporary stoppage of exports to South
Africa and to China is felt to be respon-
sble In large measure for present condi-
tons.
ASIDE from the local conditions which
exist in Germany, says the consul general
by FAR the most important and ominous
element in the problem is the new and en-
larged role which has been assumed by the
United states as source of coal and met
ais. The first reports that American coal
had found a market in France and Italy
and mad even been tested successfully for
gas-making purposes In London, were re-
ceived here with an increduity amounting
TO resentment. while dealers and certain
consumers. he says, hailed the prospect
of new source of supply from beyond the
Atlantic with delight. the general sentiment
OF the press was distinctly hostile and in
credulous."
Consul General Mason then recounts the
incidents that gradually awakened Germany
to the unquestioned superiority of American
coal "A test of Ohio coal on the Bavarian
State railway proved it superior to the best
OF native coal, the great transatlantic Ger
man steamship lines We're found to be using
the American article exclusively and the
big Deutschland, before setting out to break
the speed record of the sea Significantly
filled up her coal bunkers at New York
Ihere was no arguing against these
facts says Mr. Mason and when a short
time ago. ii was announced that West Vir-
ginla gas coal had been tested at Hamburg
the conclusion became unavoidable that
only scarcity of tonnage and exorbtant
freights stand between tne coal famine
prices in Germany and the eXhaustess de-
posits of the United States"
something of the present industrial de-
preston is attributed to uncertainty as to
what legislation will be enacted in the
reichstag on the future fiscal policy OF the
empire. A number Of reciprocal commercial
treaties will expire in 1902. and as their eff
feet has been to powerfully promote Ger
many's industries and her exports. their
re-enactment or rejection is awaited with
deep interest.