The Van Buren press., 1901-02-02
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
What Has Been Achieved in the
Direction of Extending Our
Markets Abroad.
STATEMENT LAID BEFORE CONGRESS-,
Secretary Hay Notes the Marked I'M
movement In Our Consular Sys-
TEN in the Collection and Dissem-
inatiOn of Important Commercial
Information.


Washington, Jan. 30.-A most i'm
portant and interesting summary of
what has been achieved by the United
States in the direction of opening mp
and extending our markets abroad, is
presented in the following letter from
Secretary Hay, which was laid before
congress, accompanying the annual
publication known as Commercial
Relations Of the United States with
Foreign Countries
Secretary Hays Letter.
department of State, Washington,
Jan. 26, 1901,-The Presidents; In ac-
cordance with section 20S of the Re-
vised Statutes, | have the honor to
transmit the Commercial Relations
of the United tSates with foreign
countries during the year, 1900, being
the annual and other reports OF
comprehensive character from the
consular officers, together with slm''
lar reports from some of the diplo-
matte officers, upon the industries and
commerce of foreign countries.
Specially Prepared Reports.
These reports were prepared under
special instructions from this depart
ment, with the object of laying be-
fore congress, with the least delay,
practically contemporaneous state
ment of the trade, not only OF the
United States with the rest OF the
world but of the various countries
with each other This, ! am happy TO
be able to say, has been accomplished,
the date of transmission 10 the CON
gress this year having been advanced
over the usual time by month, ana
realizing the utmost conditions OF
promptitude compatible with proper
anaylsis of the latest returns for the
year 1900. SO gratifying result indi-
Gates continued Improvement IN me
activity and zeal Of our consular ON
GERS as well as in the system OF pub
fishing and distributing their re-
ports.
Improved Consular service
II may be said, indeed, that while
variety of propositions have been uh-
der discussion for the improvement
Of the consular service, the service
has to a very considerable extent I'M
proved itself, and is winning frequent
expressions OF commentator from
business interests which have received
substantial aid, not only from the
published reports, but also from the
individual efforts of consular officers
to meet the growing requirements OF
American industry and enterprise
The practice character of the com
mercial information obtained by our
consuls, and the celebrity with which
II is given to the public, continues to
excite the emulation of foreign gov
eminent, and during the past year
steps have been taken by both Great
Britain and Germany to engraft these
features of our consular work upon
their consular systems.
Conclusion to be Drawn.
The general conclusion to be drawn
form survey of the conditions in
foreign countries, MS described in the
reports herewith presented,is that the
United States is approaching, even
more swiftly than was expected, po'
sition of eminence In the worlds
markets, due to superior quality
and greater cheapness of
many lines of its manufac-
lures, which must work great eco
nomlc changes and may result in
shifting the center not only OF indus
trial but OF commercial morts. The
trade indications OF American su-
premacy during the past year have
been so marked that many foreign
industries, according to the reports
Of our consuls In Europe, are intro
ducing American machinery and la
bor.savng APPLIANCES and remodeling
their factory methods, and we may
expect IN the near future II more
strenuous competition, for which II Is
important we should prepare our
| selves,
4 suggested Ala.
A IN. aid to such equipment, the