The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23
American Merchants Pack Goods Care
1essIy, and as Result French Ex-
porters Control the Business.
CONDITIONS OF BRITISH TRADE
MARKED RECOVERY IN STATE OF
GERMAN INDUSTRIES.
Cost OF Transsiberian Railroad and
It's Rsnefit to the Country-Amer-
lean Emigrants to Canada.
to- the Indianapolis Journal.

WASdANGION, NOV. Zz--Al
affecting the government and material well
fare OF the people of the United States OF
Colombia seem to be very much depressed.
Torn by political dissensions, with ma
tional currency of which 500 is needed to
buy 81 In gold. and with a trade. domestic
and foreign, hampered by all manner Of
restrictions, 1t is little wonder that constant
Disturbances are recorded in various parts
OF that South American republic.
The United States does not supply as
large a share of the imports Of Colombia
as il takes Of her exports. Consul General
Snyder. of Bogota, says that 1t is difficult
to account for this discrepancy. He has
discovered some minor reasons, however,
much in evidence in the commercial CEN
tiers OF Colombia, and frequently commented
on by importers He cites two examples
which illustrate the fault OF the American
exporter, There is a great demand In Co
, lombia for furniture. France supplies the
greater part of this. while the rest comes
from the United States. There is no doubt
that the American manufacturers. owing
to their facilities Cor speedy transportation,
could control this trade in a short time II
they took the trouble to pack their goods
as the French do. but Mr.. Snyder says
that. while the French furniture arrives
IN perfect condition, the American furni-
ture frequently turns up useful only for
kindling fires.
The other example is that Of oatmeal and
other CEREALS. cakes. crackers. etc. He says
there has been greatly increasing demand
for this class of goods in the last year. and
that American merchants could absolutely
control the market with little or no trouble
II they would pack their goods in tins.
Goods of this character from all other coun-
tries come In tins securely packed. while
the American goods come in paper and
cardboard. with the result that fully 80 per
cent reaches it's destination Unfit for use.
Mr.. Snyder cites these two examples as
showing reasons which tend to keep down
our exports to Colombia, but he says the
reason Of our small trade is not so much
what others are doing IL is what our
own merchants fail to do. for he reports a
tendency to go to the United States for
merchandise owing to cheapness and short
er time required in transit; especially is
this SO in the coast cities The European can
here as elsewhere, make their merchandise
--nee+- eerdHions as they find them instead
OF trying to force conditions to meet their
Consul General Boyle. stationed at Liv-
erpool tae greatest receiving and exporting
port of the United Kingdom, says the gen.
eral condition OF affairs throughout the
United Kingdom is reflected by the Liver
pool trade He says the British Blue Book
for 1902 presented more satisfactory re-
port as to trade in the United Kingdom. but
that 1t is a matter Of common knowledge
that trade In 1902 throughout the country
generally was not good it was in
1901. That is to say. the home consump-
ton of manufactures fell off. fewer men
The government figures for the past cal
endar year show increase in the total
trade, both In exports and imports, and
also a marked increase in the trade with
the British colonies and possessions These
and value not only to people In the United
Kingdom itself. but to Americans, owing TO
possible impending change in the fiscal
policy OF England I'm which IL is proposed
to adopt system Of moderate protection.
The total imports into the United King
s2ss1, $3.50. against s.. 609 e50e90 In 1901
an increase OF So. oo5. $50; the total exports
were si,146.1ss.Ss6. against sl,7Ss, $40 in
1901, an increase OF $6.S72,5 55 Liverpool
shows It's proportion OF this Increase in
general imports and exports.
In regard to exports from the United
Kingdom 1t Is interesting 10 note that while
the exports to foreign countries decreased
In 1902 as compared with 1901 TO the amount
colonies and possessions increased s2i.sss.-
$50, leaving net increase OF s6,Syz,555
The total imports into the United King
dom from the United States in 1902
amounted to 1854. sos. oo5 while in 1901 they
amounted TO SO5.077.s25. a decrease OF
SIC. 26s. 800: the exports 70 the United States
in 1902. on the other hand. show al Increase
in isss and Vs. Sa in iso a.
United States was largely owing to to the the
shortage or the cotton corn and wheat
supplies and to the prohibition against cat
tie from New England on account OF foot
and mouth disease. AS to Gotten, Egypt
70 considerable extent. has supplied the
falling OF from the United States. and
Canada reaped the benefit of the curtailng
States.
Consul General Mason writes to the State
Department from Berlin that conditions i'm
Germany are improving in a marked de-
gree. and that there Is widespread belief
throughout that country that reciprocity
treaties with other countries arr the only
thing needed To insure continued improve
ment and entire relief from the severe in
dustrial depression which has been so keen
IL felt Throughout the entire German en-
pire for several years past
The United States again heads the list
Of countries which furnish the merchandise
Imported by Germany. with total for 1902
OF S216. 81, Soo or 49, per cent. ol the total
importations of the year. The United
States is Germany's third best customer,
utf tOtdi ilupoitS lfOlu THIS country being
Sl26,S7 800. The total trade OF Germany for
the past year was 81 226 $40. about equal
ly divided between exports and imports.
Mr.. Mason says that during the year end
ed June 80. f9oS German Industries and
commerce continued to recover slowly but
normally and surely, from the collapse and
depression which overlook them during the
summer OF 1890. In nearly every branch OF
production dividends. although In many
cases derived more or less from lartifciallv
stimulated exports. have continued to inn
prove. and the panicky apprehensions of
two years ago have been replaced by a Sc
cure confidence that the worst 81 over and
that the conclusion of the new commercial
treaties Is alone requisite To restore Ger
many 20 secure and lasting period OF
prosperity.
III this expectation is cloudsd by any
really ominous symptoms IL is the persist
ence with which certain leading Industries
continue 10 60 ON increasing their produc-
tive capacity. regardless of the fact that
the limit OF domestic absorption has long
been passed, and any augmented output OF
most manufactured or partly manufactured
products can only be disposed OF by in
creased exports. which are now pushed. as
many economists think. To TIE extreme
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