Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-14
foreign TRADE SHOWS
A Remarkable GROWTH.
AMERICAN PRODUCTS FIND MAR
KETS THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD.
FOREIGNERS KEENLY ALIVE
TO THE SITUATION AND MAKING
DESPERATE EFFORTS TO RE-
GAIN PRESTIGE.


al survey of foreign trade Introductory
to the volume on Commercial Rela-
lions with the United States" has just
been published by Frederick Emery.
AS the title indicates, this survey is a
| compact presentation of the most i'm
portant and instructive features of the
enormous mass of trade information
which has been collected by the United
States consuls throughout the world
ton says there is strong hint OF
strenuous competition and opposition
! to American trade advancement abroad
which may finally counterbalance our
superior advantages to a considerable
extent and check our progress in the
worlds markets, unless we equip our
selves meantime for the ultimate
phases of the struggle.
+ Our foreign trade to-day as compar-
ed with that of recent years shows a
gain, remarkable because it has been
achieved with but little effort, for it
is set forth that the appearance Of the
United States as perhaps the most
formidable of all competitors in the
| fight for trade supremacy is as aston
ishing to ourselves as to our foreign
opponents. The question for the fu-
ture is whether we can hold the posi-
tion we seem about to gain by means
of our economy of production, greater
labor efficiency and cheap raw mater
ials, or whether we shall have to arm
ourselves with weapons especially
| fashioned for controlling foreign trade,
such as more scientific export methods,
better facilities of banking and trans
portation, more liberal credits and
manufacturing for particular markets
with intelligent regard to climatic and
race requirements.
| According to United States treasury
returns the imports of this country for
last year in round numbers amounted
to $3.50, 10000, and the exports to ST.
| ATS 900, 900, an increase of over $50, 000,-
GOO in the import trade as compared
with the preceding year, and of $202,-
| 100000 in exports. Of the exports the
percentage of manufactured goods rose
to very considerable extent, and our
industrial growth continued last year
at rapid pace, enabling us to take
less finished goods from other countries
and to furnish more. The relative
cheapness of American products has
given them pre-eminence, it is shown,
and remarkable growth of the foreign
demand for our iron and steel is cited
as striking instance of what under
cutting in prices will do.
Foreign observers, particularly the
British and the Germans, are shown to
be keenly alive to what is being accom-
| plished by the greater efficiency of our
industrial methods, and exhibit a pur-
pose to profit by them and then to fight
us with our own weapons. A great num-
Der of expressions from various
sources are presented showing the
| wholesome respect and fear with which
the powers of the world look upon the
United States in the trade arena of the
universe. The concentration of capi-
tai, our suddenly acquired financial in
dependence, the excellence of our for
eign consular service, and, as most i'm
portant, the valuable practical bust
ness education which our sons receive.
are reasons advanced by foreign COM
mentarles for our remarkable advance
ment in trade. AS particularly signifi-
cant, writer in the London Times
tells of few evenings spent with some
students OF a large American college,
where, to his great amazement. the
youths, instead of discussing the lighter
sides of life, discoursed cleverly on
questions that arose out of the business
in which their sires were engaged.
ha
OF bad form at an English university.
but to 1T is attributed American sue
cess in business.
The entrance of the south into the
trade OF the orient is spoken of as a
novel feature of our expansion. In the
production land expectation of cotton
the southern states have made gigantic
strides of late.