The Washington times., 1901-09-06
sharper Competition in Grain.

Sharper Competition in Grain.
Commercial conditions are all the
time changing. Under a just trade pol
icy ii is not to be doubted that our ex-
ports of manufactures will steadily In
crease, allowing always for temporary
setbacks and seasons of business stag
nation. If we can compete in the marts
of the great manufacturing countries,
it stands TO reason that we can do so
in the markets of n-manufacturing
countries. where all foreign goods stand
upon an equal footing. While this is
true we must also be prepared for
sharper and keener competition than
| heretofore in the sale of our agricultur-
al surplus.
No particular changes are to be noted
in regard to Argentina, our great South
American wheat competitor but as the
| agricultural resources of the country
are more fully developed she will prob
ably have considerably more wheat for
export. In the matter of transporta
ton Argentina and the United States
meet on footing of approximate
equality, the advantages being slightly
with us with reference to inland car
riage. The most important changes to
be looked for will be in Russia and
Austria Hungary. Heretofore both of
these countries have been at great
disadvantage through the defects in
their internal transportation system
1t has cost more to move wheat from
the great producing belt in Russia to
the London market than it has to carry
ii from Kansas TO the same market.
This is also probably true with refer
ence to the wheat of large areas in
Austria Hungary and the Balkan
States. But great plans for the inn
provement of transportation facilities
in those countries have been formu-
lated. and some of them are well under
way. These will more Immediately af-
feet the freight charges TO the German
market than to those of the United
Kingdom. but they must also affect the
latter to a considerable extent, for
when grain reaches Berlin and partic-
ularly the Baltic ports of the Empire, it
is very easy matter to get 1t to Lon
don.
Consular Agent Harris. at Eiben-
stOCh, reports lndI
Russia's new railways and canals will
enable that country to move her crops
toward the German frontier much more
easily than has hitherto been the case;
moreover. that within ten years Aus
tria expects to have a network of ca
mails finished which will completely rev.
olutionize the grain traffic in that coun-
try and the adjacent Balkan States.
When that system is completed he says
that barges of grain may be moved
without transfer from the navigable
waters Of the Vistula and the Dneister
through the River Oder into the upper
Elbe and thence to the grain markets
of Prague and Dresden, and that the
same will be true of great cargoes from !
the lower Danube.
All of this is highly important to the |
American grain grower. Such competi- |
ton will affect both the quantity of the !
grain sold and its price. 1t is not a I
matter 10 give us any great alarm. for |
we may fairly hope that the demand !
for grain in Germany, France, and Eng
lars. will keep pace with the increased |
supply. At the same time such compe-
ttion will be serious, for if it results in
nothing worse, it will probably deprive
US of the increasing advantages which.
without such competition, would ac-
crue to our grain growers.
The worlds commerce is complex
thing, and is becoming more so all the
time with the progress of the Industrial
arts. This truth bespeaks the necessity
for an efficient consular service abroad
as we'll as for the highest and broad
est craftsmanship at home. The neces-
stiles of the present trade situation
cannot be fairly met by a hide-bound
adherence to the policies of twenty five
1r thirty years ago.
Captain Forsyth, unlike Admiral Howl
ION, does not dodge the question of his
alleged interview concerning the Samp
rankly that, while he refused to talk to
my newspaper man, one OF that persua-
ion got hold of remarks which he did
make in private conversation, and used
hem in the manner complained Of The
department considers the incident closed
1.-The subject of the investigation is to be
Rear Admiral Schley''--New York Sun.
On the contrary, the real subjects
# The investigation are to be Sampson,
and Long. Hackett will
ONE in with the dessert.
linz Har y1pti ion fpa