The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-03


country return, when the gold and aia-
mond mines are again in fun operation,
| yielding more largely than ever, and when
| the agricultural resources are better de-
| veloped, the outlook will be bright, and
| the country will witness ar advance in
| business never before experienced. There
| will be an impetus given TO the importa-
! tion of goods of ali kinds, not only in
order to restore stocks to thier original
| quantities, but also by reason of the in
| crease of capital.
| For that time the manufacturers and
producers of the United States should pre-
| pare, not by flooding the country with cir
| cula.s and price lists, but by sending men,
or by working through the export commits
| sion houses Of the United States which
| have men here constantly and are subject
! only to the criticism that they perhaps
| represent too many lines Of goods to co
! justice to all, or that they are unable, in
| justice to older clients to represent SINH
lar lines of goods produced by different
manufacturers. It is net to be expected
that the export commission houses will
ever endeaVor to become statesmen for cold
storage. mining ,e1ectric-Iight, street-car
or otner outfits, and heavy machinery such
| as steam railway supplies, rolling stock,
and many ether articles of great bulk for
they have enough to Go in the lines of
smaller goods and food supplies.
/ The total imports into South Africa
through the ports of Cape Colony and Ma
tai. entered at the customs. from all coun-
tries were: 1898, st06, sos, 607.63 1899, $780,
SS5, e64. So
Il again call attention to the fact that
tie large imports for army supplies are
not Included in above figures.
The total imports from the United
States to South Africa through the same
ports were: 1898. s13, 454s 072-56; 1899 3d.
All 935. 90
(
ures the imports frongrthe United States
that entered through Portuguese territory
and imports from the United States through
the ports of the British colonies for war
purposes not entered at the customs, the
| increase for 1899 over 1898 would largely
augment the above figures.
The United States has for only few
years had any considerable part in for
i eign trade outside OF foodstuffs, and
much of this has sought her and much
has been obtained through the export COM
mission houses which make it their BUSH
ness TO seek such trade. Even with what
may be called simply scratching the sur
face the results have been very satisfac-
| tory. That other nations are jealous is
evidenced by their present activity in pre-
pairing for the capture of trade in South
Africa after the present war. Owing, l
presume. to the increased price of coal at
South African ports, to the inability TO
obtain coal supplies, and to the serious
detention to which steamers are being
subjected therein. the rates of fFe ght
from New York have been raised by $I.21
per ton on all classes Of cargo from May
16-eXcept oil and lumber which have
! been raised by $4.99 per ton. The colony
OF Natal viii take of the duty on -four
thereby relieving the people Of some ex-
tent
1T is q matter OF much pride to Amer
m he ba nit od
| States has made in the introduction.
! abroad Of products notable for their SUI
perior workmanship, efficiency, durability,
and strength without unnecessary weight
This may be seen in the line of agritu-
tural implements, machinery of all kinds,
and vehicles. There has recently been in
troduced into South Africa what is knoxn
as advertising posters in both paper ard
metal, aid the superiority in wol kmars alp
OF the American over the foreign poster,
from even an art standpoint, is vary p-o-
noUnced
Speaking Of the outcome OF trade after
the war is concluded and assuming that
the Transvaal will become a par. of the
British Empire, as per the opinion of the
English trade press. l note the said press
Is urging the passage OF certain laws by
which a premium to foreign competition
at the expense Of the commerce and indus
tries OF the Empire may be done away
Win Inc IOilOAiuS, from Int BTlIlSH ana
South African Gazette Is worth reading:
&" That the termination Of the war /:
South Africa Will produce many changes n
fiscal arrangements, and especially witr
regard TO the Transvaal, is und0ubteo-
That. however, is should inaugurate a as-
cal federation of the Empire, in the same
way that Il has advanced corporate fedora
ton, is more in the nature of things de-
sired than what are actually considered as
practically realizabIe From the many e.
pressions OF dissent at imperial fiscal dis
positions recently uttered which offer Il
premium to foreign competition at the ex-
pense OF the commerce and industries of
the Empire, 1t is not, however, unlikely
that it may even bring this about. Ger
tain 1t is that the conviction is growing in
this country that the immediate future will
have TO see some notifications of existing
fiscal arrang emeuts If We are TO maintain
our position in oversee markets against
the phaianx OF foreign competitors who
now contest with our merchants and man
ufacturers our supremacy in our own colo
MES
The Demand for Vehicles.
in relation to the vehicle trade, Of
which the United States has the lions
share which I venture to assert cannot
be taken away without detriment to con-
sumers and users, the following tells the
truth:
1.-The intention credited To Canadian
carriage and cart builders to contest the
South African market with the United
States for the supply of the lighter kinds
Of road vehicles, while commendatory of
their enterprise and justffable as common
sharers with ourselves of the markets OF
the Empire. invokes the enquiry why Brit
ISL firms have hitherto suffered foreign
ers to cater for this special want. Our
manufacturers apparently adhere TO the
old and heavy style of vehicle which finds
q sale in this country, and altogether ig-
more the fact that lighter kind Is almost
universally in demand in South Africa.
The figures of imports into South Africa
of wheeled vehicles for 1897 show that the
British proportion of the South African
trade in these articles was only s132, 1872
against that of the United States of 1857, =
735, and Of Germany OF SO, 203. The Ameri-
can exports were thus nearly three times
the volume of ours. AS the American ex-
ports are of the lighter kind exclusively
and well adapted for the market, this rep
| resents ratio of deInATd for the two
kinds Of one to three Although late in
the day, a recognition of this fact may
still retrieve the situation. Are our manu-
facturers so pressed with orders for their
particular style of vehicles that the de-
mand for any other is not worth their
studying? 1t would be interesting to have
the answer to this question:
The exports of vehicles from the United
States to Africa for the month Of Febru-
| airy. 1900 twhen large part of Africa was
in state of WARP, was s102, 1865, against
n ~ yo5,~,,