Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
OUR CHANCE COMING
South Africa as a Great Market for
American Goods.
IMPORTS ARE SURE 70 INCREASE
Some Of the Articles That Will Be
Most in Demand.
CAPITAL IS NECESSARY

Written for The Evening Star by Edgar Mels.
formerly Editor of the johannesburg Daily News
America will eventually profit most by
the war in South Africa, if she will take
advantage of her opportunities. No matter
what the result. England will not be able
TO trade extensively in the Transvaal. nor
will she be able to control the trade in her
own provinces, since at least 10 per cent
of the people, even in the British colonies
are anti-British in sentiment Nor will
France, Holland. Belgium or even Ger
many play more than a small part in the
commercial expansion of the land of dia-
monds and gold. But America, friendly
with both Briton and Boer, may reap Il
harvest if she chooses to-
In 1898 South Africa, including the Boer
republic and all the British provinces. i'm
ported goods worth $3.50 OOO, 600: the twelve
months after peace shall have been declar-
ed will see this total Increased by one
third. Unless the American merchant and
manufacturer have lost their push and en-
ergy, American commerce will be greatly
benefited by the trade with Cape Town and
through 1t with the interior And what is
even more important, the American work.
man will have just that much more work
to do.
American goods have always been favor
ties In South Africa. The first spectacle
that greeted the writer's sight on arriving
In Kimberley was a mule-propelled car,
!.nls aions Duloltspan ROAD, labeled
broadway, from central PARK to Battery
"a reno OF me Gays OF morse cars On
Broadway. Then, too, American liquors,
american hardware. american mining ma
chinery, American agricultural implements
and American goods of all kinds have been
and will be in demand. -
Americans have always been well treated
III oouth AFRICA. An American was STATE
mining engineer IN the !ransvaal; another
was executive mead OF the famous De
Beers consoildateo diamond mines, ana
nearly tWo-tnrus OF the heaos OF the mines
IN the 1ranSVaal are Americans Dy plrtn
will again MAY a large mart in the com
mercial affairs of South Africa.
South African DEVELOPMENT.
The country has deyeloped wonderfully
in the last ten years. Old-fashioned Boer
methods have given way to up-to-date
ways. Where formerly the rolling veldt
stretched from sunrise to sunset-Where
solitude reipned sunreme-whcre the aas-
80,
vosei anu sprilispoh any .ile pusy ant OWL
GU al my sui eu..!tie hunltii enter
P Ioo aiiu hIliislii nov piesa,i'
N; ~ iI H I 1ne 90 ann VI .ouas unip
f.,;, " ano"o Jus. penoie .ii9 VAL was
Ieleiie iaihi; oWheu ny one beIuioehliout
Even cape Town. the Oldest settlement In
. part OF tne "orlo. Is pelng modern
iAeo. MOI iohs ago merchants ana other
'.nia men "eie epli,ent win low one
s.ois aoooe houses, paheu 10 the consist
ency Oh srahte by the sun NOW mag
iiiiitence mas .ahen lIe pace OF boer SIM
piI.i.S' SCUM Alricd Is dWakenlng.
ots IL AIlerica would take advantage
VI 'hs a~dheiiis she Hiust not seek 10
uLiioau gu s.och OF aaHaseu GOODS upon
l - Aa ~. iol tne herman traoer Is
c.cse AT haho' eager TO take advantage OF
any SUI, sup We may MAKE. Soulh AREA wants
tie pesl sooos IN every nne. Ihat Is why
i prdct l.Iy an tne mining machinery at
me oiamono mines ana IN the Johannes-
ours mines IS american; tnat Is why the
ooutf. AIriean FARMER uses american ptows
anu American noes.
What South Africa Wants.
South Afr;o, ,oads ~. VOW, .,o,f ...,,,.
.,e very sei-safie
Things thdt we need Inc idea that 1t Is
all veldt and kopjes. with heaps of dia-
monds or gold scattered here and there a,
irregular Intervals ,s erroneo,s MI, -
49, tarr,+a... =. 800 t. "u.n u
the territory Is fertile farming land. South
Africans wear clothes. as We do: they
even inauige IN collars; the ladies' have
fact. almost ANYTHING mannfactnrad N ,ha
United States will be salable in South At
RIGA lightweight mems hats are in great
u uru ho, aiiis s. watches bring fancy
i;sape Of vaIat Iifa ~ ,ha a ~ .ne TOUGH
made timekeepers' from England or the
continent. American revolvers have al
ways found ready buyers
AS Tor mining machinery much will de-
pend upon the action of the Beers If the
approach of the British forces under Lord
Roberts means the destruction of the
mines at Johannesburg. then America will
have to supply about twenty million dollars
worth of stamp mills pumps, engines, ele-
vators. drills and other mechanical imple-
ments. Even if the mines remain intact
disuse will force the companies to replace
DESTROYED machinery worth nearly s5Oo0,-
oo. In any case America will be the
gamer. 1t will be the same with agrcuI-
tural implements. During the absence of
the Boer at the front they either remained
idle or, being intrusted to the more or less
careful kafiir boy, were damaged.
Hitherto the American exporter has con-
tented himself with looking after South
African trade In desultory manner. He
mas sold through British representatives or
by means of catalogues. All that is being
changed Some of the largest makers of
machinery now have permanent represen-
tatives In Cape Town. A well-known
american life insurance company owns the
nnest building IN Cape Town.
Selling to the Natives
Trading with n.,,,,o, =, ,,..,
o,.a.a,Ie w." w., ia IS lucrative and In
ciuehtahy aii OF happenings that are de-
cidedly funny. Any one can sell ANYTHING
to q native providinp tho oo,or;..u s