New-York tribune., 1901-08-20
TRADE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
AN INTERESTING REPORT FROM CON
SUL-GENERAL STOWE
THIS COUNTRY SECOND IN VALUE OF
EXPORTS POPULARITY OF AMER
ICAN GOODS.

Washington. Aug. 1s.-The State Department has
received a long report conditions in South
Africa from Consul-GeneraI Stowe at Cape Town,
dated few days before his resignation was
ceived at the department The war and the
plague says Mr. Stowe. have prevented customs
ohcials from collecting the usual annual statistics
covering the trade OF the colonies for the calendar
year Of 1900, and all imports for the use of the
imperial and colonial military forces are admitted
oHty free 1t is impossible to make a comparison
with the trade OF the preceding year. However
the hgures available show that the imports from
the United States in 1900 greater than those
OF 1883, and that this country still stands second
among the nations exporting direct to South
Africa, and in addition ships a large amount of
supplies by way of England
As to the general situation Mr.. Stowe says that
as the war drags along trade in the Transvaal and
the Orange Colony languishes the fields bare
and prac ically planting has been attempted The
plague played havoc with incoming cargoes. there
being at one time less than two hundred steam
ing and sailing vessels in the harbor Of Cape Town
with cargoes valued at nearly s25,OO0CO0 unable to
discharge their goods this account. The plague
appeared among the dock laborers and they stopped
work the compulsory incubation of all persons
employed at the docks aside from the instructive
dread of the disease. adding their All
government and military supplies had to be dis
charged first, and for these reasons several Ameri
can ships were obliged to remain in the harbor for
two and three months. and a stay of many weeks
usual occurrence
But, in spite of all this Mr. Stowe says trade is
not dead by any means. and orders already have
been placed for steel rails and other railroad ma
terial which will be needed when hostilities cease
The total value OF imports into South Africa from
the United States amounted in 1900 so O2Sl2s an
increase of nearly $500 900 1899 This does not
include the imports for military the mer-
chandise shipped by way of England. There a
considerable decrease in beef and -four. and in
agricultural implements. but the former was caused
by Australian and Argentine competition, and the
latter was the direct result of the
The cost OF living in Cape Colony, 1t is said, has
increased to a marked degree. and the overcrowd-
ing Of cities has forced rents up much that the
various town councils considering the erection
OF dwellings house the working classes There
is another handy American trick" says Mr.. Stowe.
is getting 10 be a common saying in Cape Colony.
The natives he says. are astounded when they
view the work of agricultural machinery in
the fields. The children sit in school at desks
made in America, and the American pews IN the
churches, says Mr.. Stowe make poor service less
tedious The imports into this colony from the
United States In 1900 260 standing
Great Britain. with her $50 7S6, $40 worth
Goods imported into the Colony of Natal from the
United States in 1900 amounted in value to 50 S16
"a slight decrease compared with 1899