The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-20
TRADE is INCREASING
UNITED STATES EXPORTS TO
SOUTH AFRICA ARE MOUNT
ING UPWARDS
REPORTED BY CONSUL STOWE
War and the BubOntc Plague Have
Been a Severe Blow to In
dustry in South
Africa.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-The state de-
partment has received a long report on
conditions in South Africa from Consul
General Stowe, at Cape Town, dated
few days before his resignation was re-
ceived at the department The war and
the plague, says Mr.. Stowe, have pre-
vented customs officials from collecting
the usual annual statistics covering the
trade of the colonies for the calendar
year of 1900, and, as all imports for the
use of the imperial and colonial military
forces are admitted duty free, 1t is i'm
possible to make an accurate comparison
with the trade of the preceding year.
However, the figures available show that
the imports from the United States in
1900 were greater than those of 1899, and
that this country still stands second
among the nations exporting direct to
South Africa, and, in addition, ships a
large amount of supplies via England.
AS to the general situation, Mr.. Stowe
says that as the war drags along, trade
in the Transvaal and the Orange River
Colony languishes, the fields are barren
and practically no planting has been at
tempted. The plague played havoc with
incoming cargoes, there being at one
time no fewer than 200 steaming and sail
ing vessels in the harbor of Cape Town,
with cargoes valued at nearly sos, 900, 900,
unable to discharge their goods on this
dock laborers, and they stopped work, the
compulsory incubation of all persons en-
ployed at the docks, aside from the in
stincttve dread of the disease, adding to
their terror All governmental and mill
tary supplies had to be discharged first,
and for these reasons several American
ships were obliged to remain in the har-
Dor for two and three months, and a
stay OF many weeks in the harbor was a
usual occurrence.
But In spite of all this, Mr.. Stowe says
trade is not dead by any means, and
orders already have been placed for steel
rails and other railroading material which
Will be needed when hostilities cease.
The total value of imports into South
AFRICA from the United States amounted
IN 1860 to $20.086 12S-an increase of nearly
s5,5O0000 over 1899.
This does not include the imports for
military use, nor the merchandise shipped
via England. There was a considerable
decrease in beef and flour, and in agricul-
tural implements. but the former was
caused by Australian and Argentine com
petltlon' and the latter was a direct re-
suit of the war.
The cost of living in Cane Co1ony = 10
STARED, mas increased to a marked de-
gree and the overcrowding of cities has
iorcea rents up enormously, so much so
mat the various town councils are con-
sider1ng the erection of dwellings to
mouse the working classes. There is an
other handy American trick" saws Mr.
stowe Is getting to be common saving
IN cape Colony. The natives, he saws are
astounded when they view the work Of
our agricultural machinery in the fields
me children sit in school at desks made
IN america. and American pews In the
churches says Mr. Stowe, make moor
services less tedious" The imports into
inns colony from the United States
next to Great Britain. with her exc roc IN
worth. Goods imported into the coIonv
o. OF Natal from the United States during
ISVo amounted in value to So 22O Sic
shght decrease as compared with 1899