Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-09
AMERICAN STEEL FOR NORWAY.
This Country Now Competitor in the
Market with England and Germany.
(New York SUM-

The published announcement that an
order has been placed in Baltimore
for 1000 tons of steel rails for railroad
building in Norway. the first order of
the kind from that country to the
United States, draws attention to the
fact that similar orders have been COM
municated to firms in other cities, the
demand for American steel being now
greater than ever before abroad as
wei. as at home. Norway imports in
a year goods and produce to the value
of $50, 000, 900, the chief items of such
imports being -four. textiles, machin-
cry. groceries, oil and vehicles. The
Norwegian exports, which are much
less in volume and value, are lumber.
skins, paper. ores and fish. and the
chief market for Norwegian goods is
England. from which manufactured
articles, in largest amount, are i'm
ported.
The exports Of American steel rails
have. heretofore, been insignificant in
amount to European countries. which
are now supplied by England Ger
many and Belgium. During the l.
months ending Jan. /. 1898. only 1900
tons of American steel in bars for
railroad use was shipped to the whole
of Europe During the II months end
ing Jan. l. 1899. the shipments in
creased to $4,000 tons. but the increase
was not maintained for during the
last six months reported. the SIX
months ending Jan. l. 1900. the total
shipments were only 21.150 tons of the
value of S46O. OOO England has long re-
branch of commerce. It's
only serious competitor in Scandina-
Wan countries being Germany. The
appearance of the United States in the
market of supply of steel to Scandina-
Wan countries would, therefore. be
something of surprise were it not Tor
the fact that the foreign market for
American goods is now constantly eN-
handing even in directions which nave
been entirely unexpected.
In 1sSs the United States cXpcrted more
than 81 10000 worth of steel for railroad
purposes to Japan and in the same year
the expectations of. American steel 10
Canada and the other British provinces
of North America were nearly S-""."'
In the same year the United States sent
to Mexico IS Geo tons of steel of the Naiuc
of $4,000 and to South America lo'H'
tons of the value Of S35o."". Ihat the
market is not a steady one but subject
10 fluctuations is best shown. perhaps,
hy the fact that in the year ~" tne
laracst market for American steel was
MOI one Of the countries which had lei
before hut what the trca Sury statistics
describe rather vaguely as Asia and
Oceanica" As a result of the extension
of American interests to and the 'Stab-
liehment of American sovereignty within
this territory the expectation OF Ameri-
can steel during the year was S3.'op tons
of the value of s.. 000,o' and further
in me ease Of Africa. to which the ship
ments III the years named lave been az
follows:
Year. Quantity. all".
1897 ............... BIB. 3 AN,
l>9N -....---...---.. lt.t-h 80"
1893 .............2S 81. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .65.2G
Although Norway has not heretofore
been one of the countries with which the
commercial relations of the United stat =
have been intimate. 4 much larger mar
ket may be expected in the future in
nanv lines of business. Norway has le9s
commerce with its rcighbor, Sweden. than
with two foreign countries, England ana
Germany. The imports from these tive
countries arc almost identical in amount.
bit Norwegian exports to England arc
three times greater than they are to Ger
manV. At present the United States SEMI
sln worth of goods produce to Norway
for every dollars worth received in re
turn. and these figures are almost exact
II reversed in the case of Spain, which
imports more than 80 worth Of Norwe-
gian product for every dollars worth OF
tich NAT emf -