New-York tribune., 1902-01-09
SOME MAGAZINE NOTES.
INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE CUR
RENT NUMBERS.

INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE CUR
RENT NUMBERS.
The pages of ''Scribner's" this month contain
the usual tempting miscellany. in which there
are light contributions like Mrs Whartons
pleasant paper on Parma. and handful OF good
bits of fiction. But the best thing here is un-
doubtedly the first instalment of THE Ameri-
man Commercial Invasion Of Europe by
Frank A. Vanderlip. formerly Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury a compilation Of hard
facts The author alludes the difficulty of
telling any detailed story of American CONNER
cial expansion without making 1t read like
trade catalogue; but he has conquered the OBJ
stacles and is as readable he is instructive.
He begins by quoting a generous testimonial to
our success in commerce from NJ de Witte. the
Russian Minister of Finance. He quotes other
favorable remarks by eminent Europeans. and
he gives chapter and for his enthusiastic
conviction touching the greatness of our posi-
tion, and in the future. in the markets of
the world. Some curiously apt illustrations
showing the products of American mechanical
skill in distant places enforce the points which
he makes in the text with facts and figures. But
Mr. Vanderlip does not ignore the grave prob
lens which still confront us. He reports as
much bewiderment abroad in this country
as to the question of how the yearly balance
due to US from Europe is TO be paid One solu-
ton that he found was being talked of is the
probable entrance Of American capital into the
foreign investment field a much larger scale
He notes a remarkable diminution in the num-
ber of American securities held by European
investors. While he is. the whole, sanguine.
he does hesitate to offer some words of
advice as follows:
The industrial world as yet is by no means
re at ouf Ne before us a
campaign Of hard work and intelligent prosecu-
tion of every advantage which we have before
reach such position of industrial suprem-
acy as occasional newspaper writer's on both
sides of the Atlantic have given us credit for
road TO the commercial domination of the world
Is not a clear one for US, and that as yet we
a long way from the end of it. Evidences
of that will be found in studying current sta
tistics of our manufactured exports The rapid
increase which has been going on for num-
Der of years has halted, and for the last hscal
year reports show a decrease. That decrease
be accounted for by the fact that our ship
ments 20 Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philippines
are no longer counted foreign exports, but it
is, nevertheless, evident that a halt has come
in the triumphant march of American manu-
factures toward European markets.
In a good many directions have much to
learn in regard to a successful prosecution of
foreign trade. The Germans could give us valu
able lessons. They are strong in two particulars
strong in the line of technical education,
though perhaps not superior to us. and strong
in commercial training specially adapted to the
needs of their representatives in foreign coun-
tries. In this last particular are lamentably
weak. We do not learn languages readily, ana
have been too busy with our home affairs TO
cultivate what facility We have.
Unfortunately the bad equipment of many Of
the commercial representatives who are sent
abroad is not confined to their lack of knowl-
edge OF languages Frequently they have but
vague ideas of the commercial geography or
Europe. They not all clear as to what
particular sections given over to this form of
manufacturing that field of production More
than half the failures that have come to manu-
facturers who have tried to extend their foreign
business have resulted from the lack of qualih
cations in the representatives they sent abroad.
Another condition that is not favorable to our
development is one that is being thought OF
good deal more in Europe than at home. We
longer are occupying the leading position in
scientific investigation having special CONNER
cial application. Many Of the most notable dis
coveries of the last few years in commercial
chemistry, electricity and other fields of scien-
tihc work having direct relation with industry
have been made by foreigners. The X-ray and
would occur TO every one, but there have been
numberless important discoveries of great value
in industrial operations for which obliged
TO pay royalty to foreign inven tors The Un.ted
States Government is to-day paying a royalty
10 a German inventor for the in the mints
of a method of refining gold by electroysis
method which proved much cheaper than that
which had been in common use In the govern
ment and commercial refneries up within a
year or two ago Many such illustrations could
be given.