New-York tribune., 1902-08-23
GREAT BRITAIN AND Der RIVALS.


One of the most authoritative and interesting
discussions of Great Britain's industrial and
commercial status and tendencies has recently
appeared in the form OF official publication
of the British Board of Trade. Ii is q report
dealing with statistics of the population. in
dustries and commerce of the four great indus
trial and commercial countries of the world
and analyzing them with a view 10 ascertain
ing their bearing upon the future. The period
covered is that of the last thirty years-the time
since the creation OF the German Empire and the
French Republic and since the restoration Of
peace and unity In the United States In respect
TO population, 1t is observed that that OF France
has remained almost stationary, while thar of
Great Britain has increased by more than 80 per
cent that of Germany by nearly 40 per cent and
that of the United States by fraction less than
100 per cent. In all four countries there has
been and still Is a marked increase of urban
AS compared with rural population. in Germany
the increase of population OF cities and towns
of more than 1000 inhabitants being equal to
the entire Increase of population of the Empire
Passing by the population statistics, then, as
being not particularly significant, excepting 10
show that the United States is growing more
rapidly than the three others put together, we
come next to the production of coal. the food
of industry. Thirty years ago Great Brtain's
output was 120,000,000 tons more than the
15, ,000, 900 of France the 81, 100000 of Germany
and the 100000 of the United States all put
together. In these thirty years Great Britain
has increased her output by scarcely 40 per cent
while France has increased hers by 100, Ger
many by 200 and the United States by 400 per
cent. The result is that, far from now surpass-
ing them ALL Great Britain scarcely more than
rivals the United States alone. In coal consump-
tion per capita. too. the other countries gain
ing upon Great Britain Hers has risen since
1888 from $40 to 4.0S tons. while Frances has
risen from 81 to 1.19. Germany's from los TO
LII and the United States's from 191 to 3.0S.
So with pig iron. In 1870 Great Britain pro-
duced more than the three others united. or
6.400,000 tons to Frances 100000, Germany's
], 800. 900 and our 100000 But in 1900 Great
Britain's 100000 did not equal the united
100000 of France and 100000 of Germany
while her output was far surpassed by the
II, 100000 of the United States. In the\ two
great industries of coal and iron, therefore, the
glory of complete supremacy has departed from
Great Britain.
In the value of foreign trade there has been an
increase all around, but it has been less in
Great Britain than in any other Of the big
Four" Between 1880 and 1900 the British
gain was only Ga per cent while that of France
was 81, that of Germany 23.1 and that of the
United States 42S. 1t is true that the value Of
British trade per capita is still much larger
than that of anv other country, being nearly
S3O against less than $40 for France less than
$15 for Germany, and less than SIT for the
United States But the figures for Great Britain
have decreased in thirty years. as have also
those for France while those for Germany and
the United States have materially risen. In net
imports there have been slight increases for
Great Britain. France and Germany but q very
large decrease for the United States-from
S14 GA to 50 97 per capita. None Of the tenden-
cIes of foreign trade, therefore, can be regarded
as auspicious for Great Britain. or for the main
tenance of her superiority, while they are all
particularly satisfactory and inspiring to the
United States.
Practically the same is to be said of the other
statistics given and analyzed In this interesting
report the conclusion being frankly expressed
by the author of it that, while Great Britain
is still ahead of Germany and the United States
in her power of manufacturing for export those
countries are rapidly gaining on her and her
lead cannot he maintained unless she makes
more strenuous efforts and makes also careful
and energetic improvements in her methods.
-
he soyerejpns Of Europe seem fo he doipp