The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-24

---s-January, ., IIs.2gS;
March, 1888. April. 1852: May. l43. $50.
June, 1880, total for six months. S26. 52S. %
There is therefore net increase Of
5000 tons Of 336 per cent over the ex-
ports Of the corresponding period last
year, against which is to be placed an
equal and rather OminOus decline in the
imports OF iron and steel, which were for
the first half Of 1901 only 233 $50 tons. as
compared with 502 $50 tons during the same
period Of 1900. 35OS94 tons in 1899. 2ls.sl7
tons in 1898. and -. 20 tons in the first
half Of 1897.
II IS only when these figures are an
alyZed and compared in detail that their
fuH significance becomes apparent 1t is
not a good sign for Germany when her
pis-lron exports increase and imports de-
crease. In 1890, for instance. when the
metal industries Of the Empire were a+
the iuil tide Of activity. the nig-iron i'm
ports during the first six months reached
"o7,i-5 tons. OF 293 "a tons in excess Of the
exports Tor the same period, whereas the
imports for the past six months were
IoS.sSo tons, or only lO3GS4 In excess Of the
exports Tor the same period. which have
remained almost undiminished But This
Is not all Not only has the importation
OF pig iron, but what is more significant
It's home production in Germany serious
~ fallen of. From the reports Of the
Ironmasters' Union, il appears thar tn
plg-lron output for the first half Of the
current year was 3.95377g tons. against
4''sN,S5i for the same period in 1900 so thar
aadlhg this deficit TO the loss in imports.
we reach the fact that. aside from any
increase which may have occurred in the
SUCK OF Dig iron now on hand at the
"orAs' the consumption Of that metal has
oeechned from 4.3f5.32l tons in tho frs,
SOS tons.
1T is only when we enquire into The
comparative prices obtained. and tho con
diuons under which these exports ba,,e
been made, that the shadow-whareve +,
may be-becomes apparent II is stated
upon what should be trustworthy an
Ih"Tlty that these increased exports rem
resent not prosperity. but dire npcessi-
~ IN face Of which German iron masters
btEtft or their usual market by the de-
Ginning demand at home. were conpeIIed
10 shoNe their growing surplus into for
elgn markets 10 De sold for what r.
would bring. To what extent this is true
and what the actual loss. II any. has
been, It is Of course impossible to saw
and this remains the unknown 0uautfty
IN the equation. But from all that can be
seen, the worlds open market values ~
iTon and steel manufactures are al least
80 per cent below what the same products
nave hitherto brought in the home market
OF Germany, where everything is controIl-
co Dy syndlcated industries operating in
a protected field
These exports were distributed in
respect to destination. as follows tn
IN the first half Of 1900. Belgium III $50
tons, against So .7S4 tons. and Holland 19q
o.. TONS likewise an increase from 4 10
tons the previous year. British India took
1901 tons: Italy. HE73 tons; Austria
Hungary, 1875 tons: France. % On tors.
AZ Stlllt.st, y 80 tons Austria q. ggS tons
Dutch East Indies. % 3t5 tons Japan 10
.el tons, chile 65l3 tons; Canada. Csc
tons Egypt 1856 tons, and Mexico 226
tons. all Of which showed a notable in
crease over the totals Of the corresuorId-
ing previous half year Switzerland took
t<"eS tons, against 81, 49, tons. and Rus
STA only 53.sSl tons. against 5s55q tons
from JanualE ! to June 30 1900 which
shows that Russia is drawing her rails
structural iron machinery. and hardv-ar r..
largely from some countrv other than
Germany
The imports of machinery To GERMANY
dropped from H.eG tons during the first
haf Of 1900 TO G3.2I tons for the same
period this year, a loss OF % per cent
which is rather less than might have
been expected, IN view Of the almost TO
TAI suspension Of factory construction
ana shows how firmly the German de
mand FOR forcigu-esPeciallv American
made machinery is established
In respect TO agricultural machines
the most notable item ga the exhibit il is
worthy OF note that the entire import
from all countries was lg4loS tons 50
that more than three-fuurths Of the whole
supply came from the United States
against .s-32 tons from al other Countries
among which Great Britain leads win "a
total export 70 Germany of $3.50 tons