The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
THE DEPRESSION IN GERMANY,
CONSI L-GENERAL MASON SAYS IT
HAS CONTINUED SINCE 1900,
But with VARYING and suddenly Eluctuating
tOnditions-The Cause Is the FnOr.
nous Transfer OF Productive Labor
From Agriculture 10 industries

WAsnISGroN, Nov. 1.-The period of
industrial reaction and financial depres-
sion in Germany. which began during
the summer of 1900 has continued, with
varying and often suddenly fluctuat ing
conditions, throughout 1901 and down
To the date of the present report" says
United States Counsul-General Mason. in a
report to the State Department from Berlin
He adds: 1T j. not too much to say that
the steady Increase in export from year
To year, and especially the strong and
sust aimed demand for German manufact-
ures in the market of the United States
now form the brigh est spot on the COM
mercial horizon of the Fatherland."
In respect 10 the origin OF merchands So
imported into this country last year. the
United States again heads the list with u
total. according TO German statistics of
s2iS .ot9,s 500. or 1872 per cent. OF the entire
bulk OF imports, as against s2i2 $4,000, or
lG0 per cent in 1900. while German exports
to our country reached "A total valuation of
SOL $4,000, leaving the formidable balance
of sj6 ls9 500 in favor OF the United States.
Making fun allowance for all possible errors
in statistics. the excess OF German imports
from. over exports 10. the United states j.
enormous and steadily growing. the adverse
balance having increased from Si3s ,3Ol. 500
in 1900 10 sl56.lsa,sOo i'll 1901.
As a test of the degree 20 which the pres
cit Industrial situation III Germany, the
perdin tariff legislation, and the il! tuence
of the VI at Ilsprction law and other legis-
lation have collectively exerted upon the
importatiuu Of raw materials and food prod
ucts from the United States. Consul Mason
says:
II is noticeable that there was heavy
increase in wheat imports and the important
falling of in corn. due mainly TO It's high
price IN America, which permitted the corn
OF Ppssia. konmania. Hungary. Argentine
Republic and ScrNia to ColIpcte, although
there vas decline IN the total import Of
corn from s3l ,iji tons during the first SIX
months of 1901 to 59:.os7 tons during the
Cotton, lumber. petroleum and tobacco
imports from our country show steady,
normal increase, even meats, In spite of all
restrict ion-, rather more than held their
OWN. Copper shows satisfactory Increase,
while the import OF pig iron dropped TO a baga-
i"He OF 800 tons. ana was replaced by an rN-
port Of 7,465 tons OF German PIX iron to the
nt'd States.
The imports of agricultural machinery
declined from lg,2l4 tons IN the first half
OF 1900 10 i5.i62 and II %, tons. respectively,
Tor the corresponding periods IN 1901 and
1907
INTO Germany. which reached its climax m
1900 has since then steadily declined the
aggregate imports "a all classes, VIZ, sewing
machines agricultural implements. ma
chm" tools. pumps and other machinery
having been valued at $3.50, 400 in 1895
81 lGi 900 in 1899. s. SOS 400 IN 1900. and 81 .oa
900 IN 1901
The machine tools imported from America
two and tire" years ago have been employed
to make Germany producer OF machinery
for export at prices With which the American
makers, rushed and driven IS they ar" 10y
demands at home. iind II difficult TO comIete
Speaking Of the underlying causes of
the present depression he SAYS:
The enormous transfer of productive la,or
from agriculture TO industries changed the
who. economic balance OF the empire and ia.
result was vast oNcrproductiou OF many
kind of merchandise, but an under produotio ion
OF food materials While IN" popuiat ion
OF the fatherland had increased 30 per cent
during the twont y-"iRlt years from 1872
to 1900, coal production had increased 2GO
per cent. pix iron production by nearly
$50 per cent shipping 10y 500 per cent rail-
way earnings. 400 per cent , and export al
though rapidly developing. had increased
only 100 per cent Another element in the
problem which must be taken into account
j. the fact tina the population of Germany is
increasing al the rate OF 100000 a year There
l. a steady. rapid growth in the number of
persons to be- sheltered, employed. clothed
and fed. Certain food materials, especially
meats. have recently grown abnormally
scarce and dear