The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-14
OUR FOREIGN TRADE
STU ALTON REVIEWED by FREDER.
ICK EMORY.
HEAD OF COMMERCE BUREAU.
PROSPECT OF STRENUOUS CoMPE-
Triton ABROAD.

Foreign Nations Awakening to Our
Advantages. and Preparing Ia
Meet Us with Our own Methods,
Rapid strides Have Been Made,
but Competition Must BE Prepared
fora Merchant Mariue One of the
Things Needcd-SOuthern states
Have Made Great Strides.
Washington, Feb. l3-The general sur
vey OF foreign trade Introductory to the
volume on Commercial Relations With
the United States" which formed the
subject OF special letters from the Presi-
dent. and the Secretary of State to Con-
gress, has Just been published by Fred
crick Emory, head of the bureau of for
eign commerce.
1t says that the annual reports of our
consular officers for last year furnish a
strong hint of most strenuous compeu-
ton and opposition to American trade adj
vancement abroad which may finally
counterbalauce our superior advantages
to a considerable extent and check our
progress in the worlds markets, unless
we equip ourselves meantime for the ul-
Innate phases of the struggle.
Our foreign trade to-day, as compared
with that Of recent years, shows a re-
markable gain
Foreign observers, particularly the
British and Germans, are shown to be
keenly alive to what is being accomplish
ed by The greater efficiency Of our indus
trial methods and exhibit 4 purpose TO
profit by them, and then to fight US with
our own weapons.
The concentration Of capital or sudden
~ acquired financia, independence the ex-
cellence of our foreign consular service.
and as most important, the valuable
practical business education which our
sons receive, are reasons advanced by for
eign commentaries for our remarkable ad-
vancement in trade.
The importance OF building up mer-
chant marine TO further our trade with
foreign nations Is touched upon at some
length and the benefits OF direct steam
ship transportation emphasized. To a
lack IN this respect Is attributed the slow
growth of our trade with South America.
Inc entrance OF the south INTO tue
trade Of the Orient is spoken of az a novel
feature of our exla sion. In the y oduc-
ton and exportat on Of cotton the South
ern states have made gigantic str des Of
late. The acquisition Of the Hawaiian
and Philippine Isl nds, il is declars d. has
converted our Pacific slope from mere
outpost OF trade into hive of commerce,
while Cuba ana Porto Rico offer the
Southern states convenient stepping
stones 10 Latin Americ au trade.
Africa If rapidly becoming a promising
field for American enterprise, wherever
artificial restrictions are not imposed.
On our own continent, we still control
fnore than one-half Of Canada's trade
with Mexico our trade relations are most
satisfactory and our goods appear 10 be
making steady progress IN Central Amer
lea. in this connection attention is call
ed TO the increasing investment OF Ger
ran capital ~ Costa Rica.' Guatemala
and Nicaragua, which Is estimated at So, =
O00,OC0.
IN the West Indies and especially the
British possessions our trade Is constantly
growing, and t1esc islands draw the bu X
Of imported food supplies from ~. as
well az an Increasing proportion OF manu-
featured goods
IN Cuba and Porto Rico trade as begin
ming TO revive with the promise Of grad
mol development on the ! mes OF closer in
timacy with the United states
on The whole a would appear that mo-
where does tho United states appear Ia
better advantage IN foreign trade.