The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-04-13
FORMIDABLE COMPETITORS.
Net willing TO Always conesds Ameri-
cas- Trade Supremacy.

- @aes~ eAfs~NJ-
The general survey Of foreign trade
Introductory to the volume on "Com-
mercial relations with the United
States,D which formed the subject Of
special letters from the president and
the secretary Of state to congress, has
just been publishedby Frederick En-
ory, the head Of the bureau of foreign
commerce, and compiler of this mat
ter, in the shape of special number
of the advance sheets of consular re-
ports" As the title indicates, the
survey is a compact presentation of
the most important and instructive
features of the enormous mass of
trade in formation which has been
collected by the United States con-
suls throughout the world during the
past year. The publication says that
along with natural note of satisfac-
tion in the annual reports of our con-
sular officers for last year, there is
strong hint of most strenuous COM
petition and opposition to American
trade Advancement abroad which may
finally counterbalance our superior
advantages to considerable extent
and check our progress in the worlds
markets, unless we equip ourselves
meantime for the ultimate phases of
the struggle.
Our foreign trade to-day, as COM
pared with that of recent years shows
a gain, 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 astonishing to
ourselves as to our foreign opponents.
The question for the future, says
the publication, is whether we can
hold the position we seem about to
gain, by means of our economy of pro-
duction, greater labor efficiency, and
cheap raw materials or whether we
| shall have to arm ourselves with
weapons especially fashioned for
controlling foreign trade, such as
more scientific export methods, bet.
ter facilities of banking and trans
portation, more liberal credits and
manufacturing for particular market;
with intelligent regard to climatic
and race requirements.
| According to United States treas.
ury returns the imports of this coun.
try for last year in round numbers
amounted to $S30,000,O00, and the
exports to 81, ,47S,0 100000, an in
crease of over $4,000, 900 in the i'm
port trade, as compared with the pre-
ceding year, and of $202, ,4s0, 900 in
exports. Of the exports, the per-
centage of manufactured goods rose
to very considerable extent, and our
industrial growth continued last year
at a rapid pace, enabling us to take
less finished goods from other coun-
tries and TO furnish more. The rela-
tive cheapness of American prod
ucts has given them preeminence, it
is shown, and the remarkable growth
of the foreign demand for our iron
and steel is cited as striking instance
of what undertaking in prices will
do.
Foreign observers, particularly the
British and the Germans, are shown to
be keenly alive to what is being ac-
complished by the greater efficiency
Of our industrial methods, and ex-
hibit purpose to profit by them, and
then to fight us with our own weap-
ons. A great number of express
sions from various sources are pre-
sented, showing the wholesome re-
spect and fear with which the powers
of the world look upon the United
States in the trade arena of the uni
verse. The concentration Of capital,
our suddenly acquired financial inde-
pendence, the excellence of our for
eign consular service, and, as most
important, the valuable practical
business education which our sons re-
ceiye, are reasons advanced by for
eien Qmme4taSiss. " (ais.s,ssa..se~ss..'s'-'