The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-19
TRADE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
America Holds Her Position, Despite
War md Plague.

partmeat by James G.. Stowe, the United
States Consul General at Cape Town At
ter referring 10 the difficulty experienced
IN gathering commercial statistics, owing
10 the war and the plague, Mr.. Stow
says.
Available figures show. however, that
the imports from the United States in 1890
were greater than those Of 1899. and that
the United States continues to stand sec
oHd among the countries exporting direct
20 South Africa. notwithstanding the large
amount Of supplies il shipped to South
Africa by way Of England
The general situation since my last re-
port has not changed for the better. The
war drags along. trade in the TransvaaI
and the Orange River Coloney Ianguishes:
the fields are bare and practically no
planting has been attempted Several
thousand Uitlanders have returned to Jo-
annesburg to prepare the mines for fu-
ture operation
1t was hoped that the vast amount II
merchandise, mining machinery. and sup
pines awaiting transportation at the coast
ports could be entrained. and a considera-
Die number Of freight cars and engines
had been secured for that purpose twenty
OF these locomotives were purchased in
The United States; but with the liberation
OF orders came the bubomc plague, which
checked business, prevented the moving Of
TRAINS, caused an exodus Of the population
ana upset values. The plague appeared
among the deck laborers. who through
Tear, stopped work. Aside from the dread
OF the natives Of the disease, the compul-
sorry incubation Of all persons employed
NJ the docks added 10 their terror. As a
result vessels were often obliged to re-
main Ia the bay for weeks. Several Amer
IldH sLlps nave been delayed Tor as long
as Two or three months. At one time
'htFe were IN the harbOr no fewer than 100
steamships and quite as many sailing YES
stis' with CargOes valued at nearly IS.
OO0.0O0
ne total value Of the imports from
the United States 70 South Africa brit
ish and Portuguese Africa amounted in
1900 10 $20,os6, 1886. as compared with SI6.-
6'4S94-5i in 1889, an increase Of s.. 1891. -
&S.'S. To this amount should be added
the large imports for military use and
the merchandise shipped from the United
states via England. Neither the number
nor the value Of the horses and mules
purchased in the United States is enter
ed at the custom house here. An increase
IN the imports from the United States
over the preceding year are noticed in
bacon, beef. corn. wheat, fruits. and nuts.
leather. horses, clocks and watches
hardware and builders tools. scientific
apparatus, telegraph material. typewrit-
ers. oil and wax, turpenune, tobacco,
passenger and freight cars. locomotives.
and timber"
The total value Of all merchandise. en-
tered exclusive Of Government importsl
In 1890, was SS3,517 952. 3. against S74S02. -
65O@I In 1899, an Increase Of S. 1872 Sc. OF
l06 per cent. This il the largest total in
the history Of the colony, except I'm 1897
when 50 1896 worth was sent for
ward TO the TransvaaI, against nothing
in 1900
Imports Of Cape Colony. by countries.
in 1860 were as follows:
United Kingdom, $50 7s6. SO Sc; Austral-
asia, 1854 196. 60; Canada 81. 81. II: India
SST.5jS-19. Mauritius, S,7l, 635. G5; Natal.
81 ~ $40 %. other British possessions S57 =
e25-s5; United States $s.Jz0. zoo-57, Arsen
tine Republic. 81 30, 759 30; Austria, 49,
979.S9; Belgium. Sl.2S7. 607. "a; Brazil. 81
o4S- z24-S7; China, st3Z. 6lOI5; France, u.OIs.-
642.S7; Germany. C.6g7. SD Is; Holland. $50
yS-by, Italy, $35. 653 s., Japan, s.. 76Z -: la
crOne Island, 81. 4GZ- 5s MAZDA gascar S2S2. %
5000
The United States stands second in i'm
The total value OF the colonial products.
including gold and diamonds. exported
amounted 10 S5i,2l.7SlZJ. against s1O010S,-
SyyI IN 1879, the decrease, in part. being
gold and diamonds namely, 1893 gold $57-
o5l, tZl-a2t diamonds. S2J.l25. Sl46I
The following prices give some idea Of
the cost OF living in. Johannesburg: COrned
beef, per pound tin. q cents. oatmeal, per
pound, j cents; paraffin. per gallon A.
cents, rice, Patua, IbS-pOuud bag. Per
pound, . cents, salt, table, per packet.
pound, cents. pearl barley, I-pOuud tin
81 cents Cabin biscuits. per pound, 10
cents; butter, per pound, IS cents. candles,
per packet. Il cents, cheese, per pound. 30
Ice. ground per pound 40 cents golden
strip. l-pOund tin, l. cents; jams. Natal.
l-pound tins. = cents sugar, best
\ Natal ltI Yellow or white PR pound.
S3.I2. flour per bag 100 pounds "a
grade, $40; per bag, LOO pounds. ID
gradei, S5-75, meaiies. whole, per bag 100
pounds 1850; crushed. per bag. loo pounds.
$3.50, meal. BOcT tuuSiftedl. per bag. 93
pounds. go, BO.r tsifcedI. per bag 2B
pounds. $lU-J- meAne meal per bag. lH3
rye, per bag, $50, tobacco. Transvaal,
cut, per pound - cents. Cape CaveudiSh
per pound. SL15, eggs. per dozen. $50
Writing on this subject. the Consul Gen
eral says
The cost Of living has increased. and is
only In the coast towns, but throughout
the country, making II very dIfficuIt for
Government and other employees 20 keep
free from dett- Increased prices are de-
mauded for everything. and the range OF
selection has been largely cIIrJailed.
ONerCrowdiHg Of the cities has forced I'D
rents enormously, ana the different town
councils are discussing the feasibility Of
erecting dwellings 10 house the working
classes"
The values Of imports into the colony Of
Natal during the year 1870, showing cOun-
tries Of origin. are given as follows.
United Kingdom, SIS. 76S S1S a. British
colonies. A.S4l. al ~. Austria. S2.953 81 Bel
gium. so. 1879, France. Sl24 2yI.O7; Ger
many, Slyl .5lZS. Holland $50 SCI. 81: Italy.
SO. fN 70, Norway and Sweden $500 10 s..
Portugal Sl+.3s9SI Spain, S57gIl: China
81 $3.50, Japan. SI5G5.75s Java. s. 81. Go. Su-
marra, N'e1.IO. Egypt. S6.735.24, Canary
Islands 500 80, MAZDA gaScar. 81. $50 go
Portuguese East Africa. Sl5l .6JIZl. United
States. S-.G-n.6i5aS; Argentine Republic
SGZSo5.S2- Brazil, 81 $685. total, 81. T6S
1913
The total exports from Natal were In
1870" S5,5Zi ,yN4ali in 1899 $J27l. 7y2. % Goods
imported from the United States. namely
In 1900. f3.ZV.sl6-22; IN 1888 g. 2iS. SIS 81 The
imports Of Natal for the year ended De
cember 81, 1880, were 81. T65. 502 81 against
50. USJS -i-92 in 1853 Here, again. the vast
import for army use does not appear.
The Indispensable Mule.
prom the Boston HsraId)
Recent unlawful occurrences IL New Orleans
have served 20 emphasize the martial worth Of