The sun., 1901-06-29

poeSoIu5, Amer1C4n OtlQ8e8 tO-O0y 0fo
cheaper, simpler. better designed. and
can be much more rapidly constructed
than any We can make So when bids for
the Atbara bridge In Egypt were called
for the English wanted twenty-six weeks
to construct II and t7s.s5 ton: the Ameri-
cans offered to do the work In fourteen
weeks for $3.50 ton. For the Gokteik
vtaduct In Burma the American bid waa
rS a ton. the work to be done In q year:
the English bid was SiS450 ton and three
years time was asked for. For the Uganda
viaducts the Americans asked 800 ton
and forty-six weeks time. the English sos
ton and 100 weeks time. Slowness was
a greater hindrance every time to the
British makers than their higher charges.
Three years ago few women's shirt
waists were ordered In America by an
enterprising English fffm. on account Of
their superior cut. Last year nearly all
the ready.made shirt waists sold In Eng
land were made in the United States. one
h-use alone importing SisS.ooO worth Of
them. The English have found II profit
able to import American machine-made
boots and shoes: In 1898 the imports were
ssoo.ooo: In 1890 they were $4,000 last
year ti,i40.ooo. They have started shoe
shops with American machinery now in Eng
land. but even then they cannot come up
to their rivals. for the American mechanic
turns out with the same machinery three
pairs Of boots for every two tho English
workman can make.
In the new appliances that enter into
common life. the automobile. the telephone,
the portable camera. the phonograph. the
electric car. the typewriter. the elevator.
the manufacture OF machine tools, the
American makers are far ahead Of the
British and in some cases have a practical
monopoly OF tho business. When the
British Post Office took up the telephone
service 1t intended to use British material,
but was obliged to go to America for its
instruments. greatly against ito will, be-
cause It could not get what It needed in
England. SO with printing machines the
American makers are absolute masters
OF the field. No flrst,class daily or weekly
paper to-day would think OF having any
but American presses" American ma
chinery. in almost every business, saves
time, turns out more, and puts money
in the pocket OF the man who buys it,.
1t Is in the field Of electric traction that
the Daily Mad sees the greatest triumph
OF the invaders. In traction machinery
America is flst and England nowhere.
The few British firms that are holding their
own are doing 1t by employing American
and using American methods.
The Americans have the advantage now that
electric traction is limited to street railways
and they will retain their advantage when 1t
Is extended to long distances and heavy
trains The Americans have found out that
there Is money to be made in England. They
are establishing branches in the old coun-
try. studying British prejudices and tastes,
and conducting their affairs with American
energy and with intelligence and with busi-
ness methods that turn the British aghast
On the causes that have brought about
the decline Of British trade the Daily MoI
touches only lightly. 1t speaks OF inJu-
dicious legislation interfering with new en-
terprises; 1t lays more stress on the harm
done by the mischievous and uninteligent
action Of the trades unions. Perhaps when
the British really think the matter out
they may discover that the world Is ad-
vancing at a more rapid gait than it used
to. and that England may be left behind
II she does not wake up and hustle
The facts presented by the Daily Mail
should serve that purpose. They do not
tell the whole story. but they tell enough TO
give JOHN BULL many wakeful night.