The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-02
S0U1A AFRICAN AFFAIRS.
HnFUGnn oUTLANDEns surFEnfN0
FOR xECDssAnIns OF LIFE.
Consul General stone Presents In .
Report 1 Picture Of Conditions
n they Icxist-war II Injurins
Commerce of the Cape Colony.

special Dispatch 70 tho observation-disclosures.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.--Corsul General
j. @. Stowe. Of Cape Town, sends to the
state department these interesting reports
concerning commercial conditions in South
Africa:
""Tne exodus of outlanders from the South
African republic and Orange Free State
has. believe. bsen unprecedented IN his
population, the bone and sinew Of the
country-hAve scattered over the world.
Numbers Of them, too poor TO get out OF
cities Of Cape Colony and Natal and have
TO be fed. Some have funds for q few days
or weeks. but will in time have TO be sup
that cannot or does not produce the food
stuffS for Its own people:
The English army e fed With supplies
from other countries. and. While much .s o.
United States, they reach here via Eng
land. The customs duties and railroad and
telegraph revenues haye fallen on. A. the
government. very large source OF gov.
eminent support Is lost, to, say nothing of
the employees thrown out Of work.
Cities Are Deserted.
Johannesburg. in the Transvaal. and
intents and purposes, deserted cities Jo-
hannesburg, the largest commercial center
IN South Africa, has, 80 far as trade H. con-
busting city, producing monthly over nj.
teen tons Of gold ana yearly. over $50, ooo, 900
worth, ID silent. Up to this time, goods
have reached the ys tb psasSa
long be permitted to enter.
"The two republics must then live on
their own resources. Their crops are ready
men are or to the war. Prices are 30 high
that the trade papers refrain from publish
ing the usual column OF market prices
aTse aI ibs coson % s 81 to Eng
land have been taken by the Boers.
Representatives here Of export commits
stantiy booking and cabling large orders,
from the Gamers OF meat and ash, makers
81 i6ey csn DO to suppy ts home
demand and are many weeks or months be-
hind orders.
Shipments BEING withheld.
From United States papers that reach
me-. gather that our manufacturers IN
try. The fear is expressed that the war
would disrupt businesses for time. War
does disrupt business, but does not always
curtail export trade or interrupt its prog
ress I agree that goods which are sent
to South Africa from the United States are
handled in many cases by English 1obbers,
break off business relations with the ma
tives In case of hostilities;' ana that pre-
serts the question, Why should English
JODDeFB lake the agency IOT tHc WHOlc VI
South Africa In any article?
IT regret to learn, and correctly, too, that
several bills of goods sold by resident
agents to merchants here have been held
back, both on account of the war and un-
certainty OF payment think this Is poor
policy. The credit Of the leading merchants
In the seaports OF this colony can not be
erai cases of which am cognixant the
goods which were sold and held back In
the United States were sure Of payment.
ticle from the British and South African
Export Gazette that here insert 1t:
south Africa's Commercial Credit.
ut Is gratifying to NOTES.-The war notwithstanding
that there no need e urge .i p0sy ,h %
part Of creditors 1t is generally and rightfuiy rec
ognzed that the present situation is altogether abb
normal and produced BY causes essentially transit
tory 1t is not case where consideration may only
delay, but not prevent. final collapse, but the
are excellent; but political circumstances in South
Africa stand In the way OF their immediate utiliza-
t sm When ess the parsy. trade Is At an end
the vast sums of money locked up In bank Golfers IN
South Africa. well as those in this country
which are ready to be launched soon as reasons
Bile securities are visible, will ubricate the wheels
Of a rebound Of trade which will quickly change
before now successfully tded over worse times than
these, and there IL no reason to suppose that she
will not be able to do so again.
Imports From United States.
II make the statement IN all canuOr tn6C
the war, even with all It's horrors, will not
cause imports from the United States to
fall off, The thousands OF mules, the mil
lions OF pounds Of -four, wheat corn, corn
meal, samp, and canned meats and fish
brought into this country for war purposes.
which previously had been shipped from
the United States to England, added to the
direct shipments from the United States to
this country. present total that is extra
ordinary.
what the shipment Of United States
products from England amount to we shall
never know, as they enter duty free, and
no record Is kept of them at the custom
houses.
at must, however. be kept in mind that
in some lines of goods from the United
States. which have In previous years found
in imports will be decided. The total trade
from the United States Is maintained by
the increase in foodstuffs."