Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-22
OF INTEREST TO AMERICANS.
Some Commercial Tips That Suggest
Valuable Possibilities.

Moscow, Russia, for electrical ma
chinery, both for power transmission
and lighting purposes. The bulk of
the orders are said to be going to Ger
many and Switzerland, and If Ameri-
can manufacturers were to turn their
attention to the Russian market con-
siderable business could be secured.
II must not be forgotten that Germany
has already gained an important posi-
tion--in fact, commanding one-in
Russian trade. Not only has she vast
amounts of capital invested, but she
has large number Of her people there.
The banking business is mainly in Ger
man influence. Many Of the mills
now being built all over Russia are in
the hands of German directors and
are being paid for with German capt.
tai. German weavers and spinners
are exploiting with the entire empire.
About the only English firm that
has made any progress in the con-
strtmtiun Of automobiles Is responsible
for the statement that 1t has made a
ear which has been proved under the
tests to be capable OF carrying load
of three tons 1,200 pounds at a cost
for fuel which works out a half-penny
a ton a mile. the total cost of main
tenance Of such vehicle. when all ex-
penses for working, wages, fuel, re-
pairs, insurance, etc, are taken into
consideration comes to a sum of
$1980.73, and this, with a carrying
capacity for 260 working days, gives
an average cost of fraction under 3
cents a net ton a mile. The same
firm employs a large number of horse
beams, the cost of which It estimates
at 20 cents ton mile. This is a
convincing exhibit of the future the
horseless vehicle has before it.
The figures as to the trade of the
South African Republic differ so wide
ly that they are almost useless. it be-
ing impossible to say which estimate
is nearest to the truth. The treasury
bureau Of statistics in its recent mono
graph, Commercial Africa in 1899,
states that the imports of the Trans
yaaL in 1897 were over 100000 900, of
which about $S5,0O0,000 were from
Great Britain, S13,5000O0 from the
United States and $5,000,000 from
Germany. The London Board of
Trade Journal recently published
tables showing that the Transvaaps
imports In 1897 were $66, 008, 1854 and
S5t,744,9S4 in 1898, the decrease being
due to the uncertainty even then felt
by merchants Nearly all the imports
went through British ports and this
would suggest that the English esti-
mate, about one-half that made by
the bureau OF statistics, is the more
nearly correct. On the other hand
It is possible that the English esti-
mate does not take into account the
imports through Portuguese. East
Africa. which. in 1897, amounted to
yi4000000. OF course trade with the
Transvaal is now entirely suspended,
owing to hostilitles.
report from Mexico City says that
The Mexicon Central railroad is about
TO rebuild its Tampico shops ON
large scale and will need a consider
able quantity of manufactured iron
tools and machinery. American
architects and contractors should try
60 secure the contract for the new
building which the National Bank of
Mexico is about to erect in that city
There will be considerable steel work
in the structure and large vaults. The
capital and surplus of the bank are
stated to be about $50 900 900 The
Federal District Street Railway Com
pany's equipment has arrived at
Mexico City from New York. Addi-
tioual cars will be ordered by this
company for the interior cities. where
thG street car lines have been pur-
chased by the same corporation.
tt Is ineomprehenslole to the
United States consul at Asuncion why
American capitalists overlook a
country so full of promising oppor-
tuuities for the sure investment of
capital as Paraguay. He Is more con-
WINGED than ever. since his recent trip
through the republic. that Paraguay Is
most favorable country for the ope-
ration of American capital. Advance
sheets of consular reports NO 522
contain list of promising business
openings for trade and capital
The activity in the bodybuilding es-
Establishments at Hongkong. China. is
creating from that port an extensive
call for all sorts of small engines and
other appliances. The demand for
launches for the Manila Borneo and
West River trade is so pressing that
complete vessels can be sold at most
sxtravagant prices. Both builders
ano engineers in Hongkong are work
ing night and day to keep pace with
she demand. In the shipyards of
Hongkong, Macao and Canton II is
estimated that there are 800 launches
In course OF construction. Any sec
ond-hand launches and tugs sent to
Bongkong would sell at a handsome
prcfit-
The bleached cotton imports OF Par
aguay, amounting to about si00. 00s
annually. Is in the hands OF English
merchants, but there are opportunities
for American exporters to get a share
Of this traffic IL they would send a
rt:n 10 represent them or samples to
be placed ON exhibition. A report on