Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-19
LARGER FoHE1eN MARKETS NEEDED.

LARGER FOREfGN MARKETS NEEDED.
Noting the fact that last year the
manufactured products Of the United
States were valued at $15,0O0,OOO,OOO
and that the exports OF such products
were only about 3 per cent of that
amount, the New York Sun points out
that we need larger foreign markets
and unless we secure them there must
come curtailment OF production, for
great as the domestic market Is 1t can
not indefinitely consume 81 per cent Of
the products of our mills and factories,
even though there should be no great
increase in productive capacity. That
paper observes that American manufac-
turers are coming into more and more
direct conformation with an ever
increasing surplus Of manufactured
wares beyond the requirements of the
home market and it says there are two
lines of possible determination Of the
question-one limitation of output, the
other an extension of markets.
The Sun points out the obvious fact
that there must be an even greater pros
perity than that of the last few years,
and even bigger crops, with a prohtnble
market for them, II the everincreasing
mills are to find domestic market for
their ever-increasing production. Large
as has been the increase in exports Of
manufactures In recent years, reaching
more than $400.OOO.O00 in 1902, foreign
markets must be secured for a much
greater amount than this in order to
maintain even the present production.
OF course American manufacturers
fully understand this and are actively
seeking to enlarge their exports. They
are represented in the foreign markets
by experienced and energetic agents and
statesmen, who are undoubtedly doing all
that is practicable to secure trade and
how effectively is shown in the fact that
our exports of manufactures have nearly
| quadrupled in the last dozen years.
This increase has been mainly in the
markets of Europe and possibly we shall
not be able to add to it materially. In
order to increase the amount of exports
we shall have to find the markets in
Asia and in South America. Trade
with the Oriental countries has been
growing, but with the countries south
Of US, with two or three exceptions, no
progress is being made To obtain the
trade of those countries several condi-
tions are necessary. Perhaps the most
important of these is direct communica-
tion. There must be American steam
ship lines running between our ports
and those Of the southern countries.
This was pointed out by President Nc
Kinley, who said: zone Of the needs
of the time is direct commercial lines
from our vast fields of production to
the fields of consumption that we have
but barely touched. Next in advantage
to having the thing to sell is to have the
convenience to carry it to the buyer"
Another requirement is that American
manufacturers shall more carefully con-
suit the peculiar wants Of the people of
the southern countries. European manu-
facturers make goods especially for
those markets and our manufacturers
must do the same in order to get the
trade.
That larger foreign markets are
needed, In order to maintain our in
dustrial activity and go on developing
our manufacturing resources, is per-
fectly obvious. To acquire the markets
we must be able to compete in the price
and quality of goods with any other
country. At present the cost of produc-
ton here is higher than with any of our
competitors in the worlds markets,
which necessarily places our manufac-
turers at a disadvantage.