The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-03

greater progress than others. and in doing
so have taken a high rank as an export
er we may assume that the growth is likely
TO continue in view of the fact that our
Supply of the worlds requirements Is great
er than that of the other nations with
which We nave been in friendly rivalry
during the period in question. The United
Kingdom. Germany and France are the
countries which we may include in consid-
ering the list of nations with which we
are competing for the worlds commerce.
True, Netherlands and Belgium are &C
counted great exporting nations, but
as a large proportion of that
which they export comes from
countries Immediately adjacent, and
in many cases merely passes over
their territory in seeking convenient ports
for ocean distribution they can scarcely
be included in a study which relates to
productive capacity and permanent SUI
premacy in supplying the worlds mar
kets, especially in view of their relative
population, area and consequent produc-
ing power. Take the four great produc-
ing and exporting nations of Europe-the
United Kingdom, Germany, France and
Russia-it is easy TO measure the growth
OF their export trade during the last quar-
ter century and TO compare it with that
OF the United States. The United King
dom in 1875 exported domestic merchan-
disc TO the value of $1.OS7, 600, 900. and in
1900 its exports of domestic merchandise
amounted in valued to S1,41S, 900, 600. She
has thus increased her exports in the quar-
ter of the century 1891, 100000, or so per cent.
Germany's exports of domestic merchan-
disc In 1875 were $607, 00O, 900. and in 1900. bas-
ing an estimate upon the nine months
figures already received, amounted to ST.
600, 000, 900, an increase of 1898, 600, 900, or 81
per cent. France exported in 1873 domestic
merchandise valued at $747, 600, 600. and in
1900 her exports, basing an. estimate upon
eleven months figures already received,
will amount to $7S5, coo, 600, an increase of
sSS,00O, 900, or 5 per cent. For Russia the
earliest available figures for exports Of
domestic merchandise were for 1881, when
her exports of home products amounted to
$2i7, 600, 600. and in 1860. basing an estimate
upon the latest available figures. will
amount in round terms TO $3.50, 600, 600, an
increase of a little over 500, 100000, or AZ
per cent. in the twenty years for which
Udld are available. Inc OnlleU States eA-
ported in 1875 domestic merchandise val
ued at s497. 26S. 7s7. and in 1900 the exports
of home products amounted TO 81, ass. 015, $50
in value. an increase of 1856, 749, 922. or 1872
per cent
Thus, when we compare the growth in
our exports of domestic merchandise dur
ing the last quarter century with those of
the other great nations which may be
considered as friendly rivals in the contest
for the worlds commercial supremacy, we
readily see that our growth has been far
in excess of that of any other nation.
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK.
1t remains, then, simply TO consider
whether our producing powers are likely to
continue, and whether we shall, while con-
tinuing to supply other parts of the world,
increase or decrease in our power to sup
ply our own wants We nave already seen
that we are now producing more of the
great articles which the world requires
than any other nation, and it may be said
that our supply of those articles-of coal,
Of iron, of copper, of a soil capable of
producing cotton, of an area which will
produce wheat and corn and food for live
stock from which the provision supply is
AuO 0lilAAilAACOs q CANCCQ-
ing at least that of any other part of the
world whose producing capacity has beer
sufficiently developed to enable us to meas
ure it's natural supplies. In the power to
turn these natural products into the form
required for consumption we are apparent
ly at the very beginning of our career as .
great manufacturing nation. Given the
natural supplies, the coal with which to
produce the power to bring them together
and turn them into the finished product
the best machinery of the world and
the most skillful %workmen, and
it would appear that the future
Of our manufacturing industry is as.
sured. But when we add to this the enor-
nous latent supplies of power in our great
waterfalls and warehouses;, and which we
are now beginning to turn into account by
creating with it a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
may be transmitted on a wire TO any given
point where it is required for manufacture
ing. transporting, lighting and even heat
ing, the future which opens before our
manufacturing possibilities and probable
ties is Unreasonable. When we consider
further that we shall, in a few years. be
producing within the United States many
of the articles for which we are now send
ing millions and even hundreds of millions
of dollars a~broad-sugar to supply our en-
tire population, and, perhaps, that of other
countries; silk and tea, if we but choose &c
utilize the climate and soil and conditions
which nature has given us and which We
have not heretofore utilized merely because
other countries produced these article:
more cheaply than our well-paid labor car
afford to produce them-we may assume
that as the years pass we shall be not only
more self-sustaining and self-reliant, bul
that our power of supplying other parts oil
the world with natural and manufactures
| products will increase enormously, and thai
we may thus safely assume that our com.
mercial supremacy and growth will be
maintained. O. i. AUSTIN.
Chief of the Bureau OF Statistics.
Washington, ID. G.
CHAMPION DYMOKE.