Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-19
N SO UTH AT RIG A
INTERESTING REPORT ON TRADE
CONDITIONS THERE.
General Situation Depressed on Ac-
Not Dead by Any Means.

The State Department has received long
aud interesting report on trade conditions
in South Africa from Consul General Stowe
at Cape Town dated few days before his
resignation was received at the State De-
partment The war and the plague, says
Mr.. Stowe. have prevented 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 il
impossible to make an accurate comparison
with the trade Of the preceding year. How
ever. the figures available show that the
imports from the United States in 1900
were greater than those Of 1899, and that
this country stin stands second among the
nations exporting direct to South Africa,
and besides ships a large amount OF sup
plies via England.
The General Situation.
AS to the general situation, Mr. Stowe
says that as the war drags along trade IN
the Transvaal and the Orange River Col
ony languishes, the fields are bare and
practically no planting has been attempted.
The plague played havoc with incoming
cargoes there being at one time no fewer
than 200 steaming and sailing vessels in
the harbor of Cape Town. with cargoes
valued at nearly $25 OOO. GOO, which were
unable to discharge their goods on this ac-
count. The plague appeared among the
dock Iaborers and they stopped work, the
compulsory incubation of all persons en-
ployed at the docks, aside from the in
sttnctive dread OF the disease. adding to
their terror. Besides this all governmental
and military supplies had to be discharged
first Of all. and for these reasons several
American ships were obliged to remain in
the harbor for two and three months, and
stay OF many weeks In the harbor was q
usual occurrence.
Trade IL Not Dead.
But in spite Of all this Mr.. Stowe says
trade Is not dead by any means, and orders
have already been placed for steel rails
and other railroadins material which will
be needed when hostilities cease
The total value Of imports into South Az
lea from the United States amounted in
1900 to $200S6, 12S-an increase Of nearly
100000 over 1899. This does not include
the imports for military use. nor the mer-
chandise shipped via England There was
a considerable decrease in beef and -four
and In agricultural implements, but the
former was caused by Australian and Ar
gentine competition and the latter was q
direct result Of the war.
Cost of Living Increased.
The cost of living in Cape Colony. 1t 10
stated. has increased to a marked degree.
and the overcrowding OF cities has forced
iehlS Wy ehoi AiouSiS, % MUCH 50 tndt tHo
various town councils are considering the
erection of dwelling houses for the working
classes. There Is another handy Amer
lean trick" says Mr.. Stowe, Is getting to
be common saying in Cape Colony. The
natives, he says, are astounded when they
view the work Of our agricultural machin.
cry in the fields. The children sit at school
at desks made In America, and American
pews in the churches, says Mr.. Stowe.
make poor services less tedious" The
imports into this colony from the United
States amounted in 1900 to So 626 260, stand
ing next to Great Britain, with her $53 1885,
$40 worth. Goods imported into the colony
Of Natal from the United States during
1909 amounted In value to S, 200, S16-a
slight decrease as compared with 1899.