Evening star., 1901-11-11
GLOOM IN GERMANY
Anxiety Caused by Growth of Ameri-
can Trade.
LOSING her MARKETS In MEXICO
Proposed Check on imports o
Manufactures.
NEW "CORN LAWS" OPPOSED

points out that American Omitted States)
competition makes inroads on the sales of
German-made iron and steel ware and i'm
plements in the Mexican markets. 1t spe-
cially mentions that barbed wire, tubing,
square-cut nails, small agricultural ma
chimes, plows and sugar cane mills used
In Mexico almost exclusively come from
the United States. The notification, which
is given wide publicity by the trade and
manufacturing papers in Germany, states:
American competition makes itself felt
to the disadvantage of German exports on
account of being favored by speedier COM
munication with Mexico The nanufac-
turers of the United S lates devote remark
able attention to Mexican trade, and show
great interest i'll it, their commercial traV-
eers visiting even quite small places, ana
they are far more liberal than the German
manufacturers in distributing hne cata-
logues which are in Spanish text.
Cannot Compete With America.
The annual report of the seniors OF the
Berlin Mercantile Guild chamber of conf
merce) contains expert opinions of leading
electrical companies, among which occurs
the following: 'In the export trade at
present only large dynamo machines play
role OF late German dynamos have
been ordered from countries that hitherto
have been supplied from the United states.
But in spite of this success we cannot eX-
pect to maintain the severe contest with
American competition, which. in d CONNER
cial-political way, is better placed tnan
ourselves, unless the new commercial
treaties will bring us equal amelioratlons.
The chamber of commerce of Plauen,
SaXony in its annual report on the trade OF
1906. notes the recurring complaints from
manufacturers of certain lines of musical
instruments because the United States have
been lost to them a market, owing to
the fact that now these instruments are
supplied by American factories, which have
been called into life by the protective
policy.
Losing the Mexican Market.
The Finanz Chronik, which is an author
ity among German trade journals, contains
a letter from its correspondent in the City
of Mexico, wherein, in regretful tones, the
increasing preponderance of the United
States in Mexico is noted. The correspond
ent describes the progress in railroad build
ing in Mexico, which, he says, is mostly
of American promotion and owned by
American capitalists. He quotes the crea-
ton of a new American financial enter
prise, which starts with capital OF S2ooO,-
coo in gold.
In illustration of the growth Of American
influence the correspondent points to the
celebration of the Fourth of July last by
the American colony in Mexico, which
within the last decade has grown from 300
to 1900 members, and he therefore agrees
with the opinion of the Mexican Herald
that the resumption of diplomatic rela tions
between Austria-Hungary and Mexico will
not enhance the commercial relations be-
tween the two countries. as the United
States is the natural purveyor of Mexico
The CORRESPONDENT dolefully remarks that
Mexico is rapidly becoming Americanized,
and the only antidote to this Transforming
process consists in the ability of the Mex
icap government to introduce fresh blood
from Europe, especially from German and
Austrian veins.
German Industries Suffering.
The annual report of the chamber of COM
merce for the city (and district of Hagen
says:
''The fear entertained in the iron indus
tries that in a coming reaction works en-
gagged in supplying tools and materials for
manufacturing plants would be first to suf-
fer has verified itself. The demand for an
wills hammers, files. machine-tool steel etc,
as also for locks and iron furnishments to
doors, windows, etc, has not only dimin-
shed, but has at times ceased almost total
ly. The bicycle manufacture and its aux
iliary branches have not recovered from
their former state of Stagnation and this
has forced many foundries and steel works
to underbid each other in prices and to hunt
up foreign markets in order to dispose of
their goods. Many manufacturing estab-
lishments which have been in flush opera
ton for years are now in bad condition;
prices have sunk below production cost and
stocks have accumulated.
I'm similar qiIandary works supply
ing railroad materials and agricultural i'm
plements. The hopes entertained concern
ing an Improvement in the textile industries
have proved futile
Reports from other chambers of commerce
in German districts are equally doleful or
even worse.
The next annual reports will. according to
present indications, be disheartening. Fall
ures have increased during the last few
months in frightfu rate. Official statis-
tics for the first half of this year for Sax
ony SHOW an increase of % per cent in
mercantile failures. The latter half of 1900
will swell this ominous increase out of all
proportion to the figures of the first half
Discharges of factory operatives and work.
Ing people of all branches of manufacturing
are of constant occurrence. Leading Ger
man journals in reviewing the condition
of the labor market Condition has become
worse since them say:
Many operatives seek employment in ag-
ricultural lines and this summer tide
of emigration rushes from industrial CEN
ters toward the agricultural districts. Even
the rams o. female house servants now re-
ceive large reinforcements from operatives
out or work. When will this tide come to
an ebb?'
BARRING Foreign Manufactures.
The general convention of machine-tool
manufacturers of Germany took place re-
Gently at Nurnberg. The report ION the
condition of the trade for the past year
| CLOSING March 81, 190D,'' read at the con-
ventfon, mentions the general economical
| decline which also involved the branch of
| machine tool manufacture so seriously that
/ the prices in many cases We're below the
| cost of production. while the export fig
| ure in this line has been maintained, yet
| owing to the cut prices ruling In outside
| markets, it is very difficult to keep up ex-
| portation 1t is necessary, in order that
| the sacrifices made to establish this indus
/ try be not in vain, that foreign competition
| be refrained from supplying machines need
| ed for domestic use. The association has
| In the past year issued various instructions
| to counteract the annoying advertising
| propaganda for American machine tools
| whereby the German machine tool manu-
| facture was traduced. 1t is expected by
| the association that wise legislature will
| show due regard to the efforts of the as
| sociation for protection by means of import
| duties, which efforts sustained by Ger
| man industries employing machine TOOLS
| From this It becomes apparent that
| American products will not in future find
as easy an entrance into Germany and con-
| tinental Europe in general as they have
| had in the past.
| Opposition to Grain Tariff
| There is, however, great opposition in