Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-19
EXPORTS % AFR|CA
Shipments by United States to
Africa Greater Than to
South America.
Remarkable Increase in That
Foreign Trade Over Previous
Years Is Shown.
Future OF South Africa Full OF
Promise for American
Producers.

increase IN the exports 10 Mica liS
already begun. The exports from the
United States to Africa in April, the
our exports have yet been received by
the treasury bureau of statistics. were
greater than those to all South Amer
lea. and We're more than so per cent
greater than those of April in the pre-
Icedins year. For the ten months end
ing with April 1902 they amounted
to s2s,956,179, against S22,O1O,l33 in
the corresponding ten months of tho
fiscal year 1901, and $15,S5S,2S6 in the
corresponding months of 1900 Tho
chief increase of course is to British
Africa, which takes about So per cent
( of our exports to Africa. To British
Africa alone our exports during the
month of April 1902 were S2,763,S33,
against S1,S17,101 in April, 1901; and
for the ten months ending with April
1902 were $24,7oS,612, against $1S,431.-
3l5 in ten months of 1901, and Sl3,-
| los, 062 in ten months of 1900.
The prospective growth in the COM
merce of Africa and the probable in
crease in it's consuming power with the
return to peace and commercial activ-
ity are discussed in statement furn-
ished to the British South African
Export Gazette by leading Anglo
African merchant who had recently
returned from a tour to South Africa,
TIL, l,ae t,,S- ph oI q
treasury bureau of statistics. In this
discussion the British merchant In
question says:
with regard to the future of trade
with the advent Of peace, there Will
undoubtedly be a great boom all thru
the country. A lull consequent on the
removal of part of the military forces
and the refugees may perhaps affect
the trade of Capetown, which is, and
always will remain, more or less local
and concerned with the western dis
tricts of Cape Colony; but no such
effect will be felt elsewhere, for it vii
be necessary for some considerable
time to keep a large military force
in the country, and this will as a con-
sequence involve continuance Of a
considerable amount of military eX-
penditure. Large camps will be set
up at certain points. l have no doubt
as to the certainty Of the boom which
will supervene after the war, but my
only misgiving is that, with everyone
rushing in to secure a share, it will be
overdone, and reaction set in.
"As regards the Transvaal, and more
particularly Johannesburg, no one
with his eyes open can doubt of the
great developments in mining and
commerce which lie ahead. 1t is Well
known that, before the war. many |
mining properties were held back by |
those who foreSaw what was coming I
and thought it better to wait until the |
trouble was over, rather than risk their I
chances under the then unfavora BILE +
economic and political conditions. The I
cancellng of all concessions and the (
of the price of dynamite will {
unqueStionably make it easier to work
the mines at a profit, and many of the
low grade properties will now be taken
in hand and, what is more. made tc
pay. The chief danger that has to be
feared is that arising from the opening
which will be afforded for the launch
ing Of bogus companies. which can
-
ment for bona fide concerns.
The Immediate future of the Or
ange River Colony altho affording
many hopeful indications, has, l think,
several problems to contend with. The
colony is a farming country in the
main, and for some time to come will
suffer from the depletion OF popula-
ton and the destruction of property
1,,1
ing capital. Government assistance
may do much to assure and help in the
earlier period, but recovery will be
work of time. Trade in the meantime
will suffer Rhodesa forms no excep-
ion to the rest of the country, and has
n my opinion a big future before it,
The question as to which of the
ports on the south and east African
seaboard will secure the bulk of future
South African trade is, I think, not
difficult to answer. My previous re-
marks as to the local nature of the
-rade of Capetown show that that port
s out of the reckoning. The situa-
ion of East London and Port Eliza
oeth places both OF those ports in a
more advantageous position to cater
or the interior trade than the metro
oolltan port. To Durham, however. |
hink will fall the bulk of at least tho
rransvaal trade, and that a very great
,uture lies before it is unQuestionabla
t is the nearest of all the South At
lean ports to the Rand, and owing
o the high rents ruling In Johannes
)urg, merchants prefer to keep theiy
stocks at the east in bond. BY this
curse they save the interest on the
disbursement of money for the duties
lrawing their goods from bond onlv
Is they want them. Delagoa Bay NAV
'ffer some rivalry on account of its
slightly shorter distance and its thru,
ate, and In the future will doubtless
make further progress; but it will
lever be chosen voluntarily by mer.
hant firms as a place of residence on,
ccount of the unhealthiness of tho
Innate, and because it is a foreipn
'ort. Johannesburg merchants Hka-
wise. | should imagine, will never usn
t, like Durham, as a place to store
heir stocks at. 1t will remain purely
forwarding port and a number of
irms for forwarding agents NAV he I,
established there. English merchants
nd | should judge, American Nor
hants also, will always prefer an Eng
sh port to foreign, and especially
Portuguese port, on account Of the
Unforeseen administration difficulties
Thich are continually arising. If. &c
hink, Johannesburg merchants viii
ontinue to store their stocks at the