The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-13
CRISIS IN ERAAN TRADE
MITs a REPORT ON CONNER
CIAL CONDITIONS
THE LIMIT OF PRODUCTION
As Far as Profit Is Concerned, Seems
to Have Been Reached in
Many Lines of Manu-
facture.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12-Germany IS
now passing through a period of rt;iec-
ton, self-examination and a somewhat
view of uncertainty as to her future
according to Consul General Mason al
frankfort, who has transmitted ID the
state department comprehensive review
OF the conditions which have been pro-
ductive of threatening crisis in many
branches of German industry.
In many branches of trade, manufac
ture, the limit of profitable production
seems to have been reached says Con-
sui General Mason, and this together
with the scarcity and high rate of money
incident to liberal investments in ;in
sorts of improvements and new enter
prises, has brought on Il relapse " hich
has recently caused u general decline
in most industrial securities
Thoughtful Germans" saws Mr.. Ma
son, "are at loss to determine whether
the distressing condition of textile
hardware and other branches of uade is
the inevitable reaction following a pro-
tracted period of intense activity. or
whether serious crisis i'll t9esa indus
tries actually is at hand. The tenpora, v
stoppage of exports to South Africa and
to China is felt to be Responsible in ,arre
measure for present conditions.
ASIDE from the local conditions which
exist in Germany says the consul sr.ll-
eral, by far the most important and
ominous element in the problem is .he
new and enlarged role which has been
assumed by the United States as a
source of supply of coal and metals The
first reports that American coal Lad
found market in France and Italy. and
had even been tested successfully for
gas-makipg purposes in London, were re-
ceived here with an incredulity amount
ing to resentment. While dealers and
certain consumers hailed the prospect of
new source of supply from beyond the
Atlantic with delight the general senti-
ment of the press was distinctly hostile
and incredulous."
Consul General Mason recounts the in
cidents that gradually awakened Ger
many to the unquestioned superiority
of American coal. A test cf Ohio ooal
on the Bavarian State railway proved it
superior to the best of native coal the
great transatlantic German steamship
lines were found to be using the Amer
lean article exclusively, and the big
Deutschland, before setting out to break
coal bunkers at New York
There was no arguing against these
facts says Mr. Mason, land when a
short time ago it was announced that
West Virginia gas coal had been tested
at Hamburg and found superior to the
Cardiff standard, the conclusion became
unavoidable that only scarcity of ton
mage and exorbitant freights stand
between the coal famine prices in Ger
many and the exhaustless deposits 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 Oh the future fiscal policy of
the empire. A number of reciprocal
commercial treaties will expire in 1892
and as their effect has been to powerful
ly promote Germany's industries and
:, exports their re-enactment Or rejec-
ton is awaited with deep interest.