The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-06

Special Correspondence OF The Sunday Republic.
Washington. Dec. 4-Our Consul Gen.
eral at Merseilles. Robert P. 6ktassf, d
now on his way to Abyssinia. TO make a
commercial treaty with King Menel.k.
He goes as a representative Of the
American Government on an American
gunboat and with . company OF American
marines.
His route will be across the Mediter-
ranean to the Sue9 Canal and down
through the Red Sea to Jibouti. in
French Somaliland.
Here ne will take tho new railroad
which was completed last year from il
bout to Hafar. in Southeast Abyssinia.
q distance Of 1S3 miles.
At Harar he will make up caravan
OF mules and camels to 60 across the
country to the great camplike capital OF
Ads Ababa. where King Menelik has his
court
He win spend some time there making
the treaty. and investigating trade condi-
tons, and will then return to Europe or
the United States.
This expedition will be OF great advan-
tage to American trade.
1t is the first Government step in our
commercial invasion OF Africa. and it
will probably be followed by others.
which will give US our share in the for
eign trade Of that continent
Africa Is three times as big as Europe.
and its population, by some estimates. is
almost az large
1t already buys goods amounting to
many millions Of dollars. and prospec-
lively It is one of our best customers.
At present most Of our exports go via
Europe. but in the near future there Will
be lines OF American steamers to the
African ports and the trade will be direct.
American goods are already well known
In Abyssinia.
The people use American petroleum and
cottons to the amount OF millions OF dol
lars every year.
It is estimated that one-third Of all the
eoodA imported by the Abyssinians come
from the United states and ns 90 OF "a these the
cottorle alone amount to $5.0O6.OO
Abyssinia has q population Of three and
4 half millions.
The people wear sort OF tosa made
Of white or gray cotton.
1t IL about Q feet long and 8 feet wide.
They wear clese-ntting cotton trousers
and cotton shirts.
OUR GOODS SOLD IN
FORM OF GHIRTING6.
Much of our goods is sold in the form
OF gray shirtings. and there are certain
makes which are especially popular. being
known by their trade narks.
One Of the marks il a camel, another
tigers head, and third q Somali war
rior. At present the trade Is dominated
by a firm Of Greeks in Marseilies; VINO puy
directly from the Americans. They have
a branch house in Wall street and ship
from New York to Jibouti
They formerly bought most OF their
goods in Manchester. but the American
cotton was found to be stronger. cheaper
and more popular, and 1t now has the bulk
of the trade. Notwithstanding the English
and Indian cottons attempt to compete
with It.
The expedition to King Menelik is
happy thought.
country. He can put on tariffs or take
them on at will. and can give all sorts Of
rebates to his favorites.
He will probably make the treaty so
that a good share pf the pronts Of the
business will come u him.
I understand this u 70 Of most Of the
Abysstniap trade. TheA KING has an army
OF l50 600 men, and II tie clothing for the
soldiers could be made \,f American cot
ton It would materially increase our ex-
ports.
the patterns most liked BY the people, and
some OF our factories MAY work directly
for the trade.
The Abyssinian women 4 ae Q mixture |
Of blue and red cotton. III are fond OF
turkey red calico and have inted cotton |
handkerchiefs.
Some Of the Abyssinian ho1 e-made cot
tons are white with red k1pe twelve |
inches vide running through HE middle |
Of each piece. They could be ,sily imi-
tated and sold at a>profit. "a
The American invasion Of Sol h Africa
causes the British and German Exporters
many sleepless nights.
The London papers are full of ft3k and |
saw frequent references to 1t In thet lour-
halls OF Belgium. Germany and Franz
Our trade thsrs 10 growing about AZ p-