The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-04-28
UNITED STATES COMMERCE..

newspaper press, CndHlDeTS Oh COm-
merce, and other trade organizations,
through the daily consular reports so
ably edited by Frederick Emory has
called widespread attention to details
which would not otherwise be availa-
BILE.
Secretary Hay in a recent letter says
Under special instructions from the
Department of State the consular Off
GERS are addressing themselves steadily
with increasing zeal and efficiency to
the work of collecting information of
practical utility to manufacturers in
the United States, and the
results afford gratifying evidence of an
aptitude and capacity on the part of
our consular service in promoting trade
which seems to be exciting the applause
and emulation of foreign observers, as
well as the appreciation of United
States producers and experts.
mo other country in the world, it
should be remarked has so rapid sys-
tenn of disseminating information, or
one that so satisfactorily meets the re-
quirements of it's industries and COM
merce. In the development of this SER
vice, the Department of State is greatly
indebted for many valuable sugges-
lions from our manufacturers, export
ers, trade bodies, and producers of raw
materials, as well as from a number
of trade newspapers, experts and econ
omists, which have been utilized in in
e. OH
and in the improvement of methods in
the editing and publication of their re-
ports"
This is high praise for the consular
service, but it is thoroughly deserved.
1t is perfectly wonderful what a stream
of valuable information upon every sort
of subject flows into the State Depart
ment. There is at times a tendency to
belittle the consular system of the Unit
ed States, and to suggest that it should
be made a permanent service, but GER
tainly the present system works well,
and is free from the bureaucracy and
the exclusiveness which marks the con-
sular service of other countries.
According to the figures of the Treas
ury Department, the domestic exports
of the United States amounted to ST.
252, 800, 1857, against 1928, 55S, 14O in 1898.
The percentage of manufactured prod
ucts was 80 80 in 1899, "a SO in 1898: of
agricultural products, 81. AZ in 1899, 50 06
in 1885, Of mineral products, 2,66 in 1899,
2.09 in 1898; of forest products, 3.8 IN
1899, 3.16 in 1898; of fishery products,
AS in 1899, O47 in 1898 1t will be seen
that the gain was most marked in man
ufactured goods, and the increase is the
more significant from the fact that 1t
synchronizes with a general revival of
Industrial activity in Europe, showing
that the United States was able to hold
it's own in an intensified competition in
the worlds markets and with greatly
increased consumption at home of iron
and steel, which were being exported
in increasing quantities during the per-
iod of commercial depression.
The total imports during the calendar
year 1899 were valued at sos S45,57f,
against 1884 1864, 44S in 1898, an increase
of nearly $164 100000 Analysing the
Treasury figures, it will be found that
the percentage of imports free from
duty was 43 81 in 1899, 1926 in 1898; of
articles in the crude condition which
enter into the various processes of do
nestle industry, 49, As in 1899, 1.S5 in
1898; of articles wholly or partially
manufactured for use as materials In
the manufactures and mechanical arts,
9 As in 1899, 9.31 in 1898. There was
drop in the percentage of articles man
ufactured ready for consumption, from
l6. 5 in in 1898 to 14.9 in 1899, although
there was an increase from 1916 TO
13.45 in articles of voluntary use, luxu-
ries," etc. In other words, it would ap-
pear that the country is importing more
foreign materials for use in industries
and less of finished manufactures, with
a slight gain in consumption of foreign
luxuries-a condition of things attest
ing a steady widening of industrial
activity, with substantial results in a
general increase of the national pros
perity and purchasing power.
The great advance in American trade
goods exported. Thus, in China, Amer
lean cottons have shouldered aside the
Manchester goods, because the buyers
can depend upon the quality of Ameri-
can goods, while the Manchester manu-
facturers supplied an inferior article
which could be detected after washing
The pure American oil has outstripped
the impure Russian and Samaritan oil.
On the other hand, where the quality of
goods has been sacrificed to cheapness,
there is a falling off. This has occurred
in the sales of bicycles, because of the
expectation of inferior wheels. The
lesson to be learned by manufacturers
is to avoid tricks of trade, and to keep
up the quality of the goods and the
trade of the world is before the Ameri-
can manufacturer.