The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-02
INDUSTRIES ARE MIGRATORY
DUE TO VARYING TARIFFS AND
OTHER ECONOMIC FACTS,
Excellent Prospect for Sales of Amer
lean Rope i'm China-Industrial
S~tagnation I'm Colombia.

other countries is admitted free. In this
line of goods lies the best opportunity for
the operation Of American manufacturers,
but this large import duty is a serious
handicap in favor of competitors. The prin-
cipal demand at present is for machinery
for coal mines. Coal mining in Siberia is
yet III its infancy, bur as the supply of
wood for fuel is diminishing the industry is
developing, hence comes a demand for ma
chinery and implements of this descrip-
ton. The sell nearly all of the
carpenters and b~lacksmiths' tools used in
Siberia, though the manufacturers of the.
United States have almost monopolized the
trade in firearms, and they keep large
stocks of goods at the local depots.
Eastern Siberia is sparsely settled, but
the territory east of Lake Baikal is esti-
mated to contain ten million people who
are making rapid progress in civilization
and whose wants are expanding In corre-
spending ratio. The introduction of i'm
ports is managed through native houses.
Germany seems to nave gone after the trade
in a most practical and thorough manner
and has a monopoly in many lines. The
discontinuance of a free port at Vladivos-
took and the increase of the Russian i'm
port duties have nearly ruined the English
trade in Siberia. This trade was most
profitable as it was largely in lightweight,
high-priced goods, upon which there was a
comfortable margin for the manufacturer.
X x
A notable feature of the present econom-
ical situation in the industrial world is the
migration of industries from one country
to another in order to neutralize protective
tariffs nr inf uarahIa labor cft,a+iorn
Many English firms are now operating
branch factories in the United States and
from Germany comes the news that rep
resentatives OF the great German chemi-
cal industries are negotiating with the Rus
sian authorities for the establishment of
works in Russia. This movement on the
part of the German manufacturers is the
direct outcome of the new Russian tariff.
which Is almost prohibitive on some nota-
BILE articles of commerce.
In This connection the possible effect of
the adoption OF a more or less protective
policy by England will be of great inter-
est, as 1t Is not TO be supposed that the
American manufacturers will quietly con-
sept to the loss of a large and profitable
market through the mere fact of location.
The purchase of British industries by
American capital and the establishment OF
branches OF American works in Great Brit
ain will undoubtedly receive a tremendous
impetus should England adopt a scale of
import duties sufficiently high to warrant
the investment. This probably would not
be regarded with entire disfavor by the
English people. for they would undoubtedly
consider it equivalent TO the DEVELOPMENT
or their own Industrial resources.
x x
The Birmingham, Eng, Chamber Of Com
merce has been investigating the iron trade
of that district for the purpose of determin-
ing the amount of import duty necessary
to protect the British iron industry from
American and other foreign competition.
They addressed inquiries to all the manu-
facturers and obtained a variety of replies.
Tn committee which was appointed to con-
slider the matter, however, felt justified i'm
concluding that an import duty Of from
So l-S to 81 per cent. would give the British
manufacturers a material advantage.
In reply to the inquiry as to the effect of
a preferential tariff with the colonies some
of the members were of opinion that for
eign countries would raise their tariffs
against British goods and others thought
these tariffs would be reduced, but a ma
jorlty, however, expressed the opinion that
the British trade with the colonies would
be benefited by preferential treatment. One
point was brought out in the course of this
inquiry which does not seem to have been
taken into consideration very largely. and
that is that the adoption of a protective
tariff by England would increase the
cost of production and thus Offset, to a
certain degree, the advantages to be de-
rived from a change of trade policy.
The increased cost of production, meaning
thereby the increased cost of food and the
probable increase In wages, is such an in
tangible quantity that no figures could be
given by the expert at work upon the
problem. The reply to this made by Mr..
Chamberlain and his followers is to point
to the United States. which country. with
its greater cost OF living and higher rates
of wages, is still able to produce goods
cheaper than the English manufacturers
who work under a lower scale of wages
and q lower, and therefore cheaper. scale
of living for their employees.
An industrial museum has been started
in the City of Mexico by the national gov
eminent of Mexico, and is under the d.
rect supervision OF the secretary Of coloni-
zation and industry. The museum is to
maintain an exhibit of all mineral, vegeta-
BILE and animal raw products which are
found in Mexico, and also exhibits of all
manufactures made from these materials
both in Mexico and in foreign countries.
The purpose of the administration of this
institution is to collect data for the in
formation of the public, relative to the
| methods of transportation within and with
out the country and Information as to the
tariff laws of all nations. A library of
catalogues from all parts of the world is
to be collected and the museum will furnish
applicants free of charge with all the data
4 IL possesses. lHle lucd Is eNluently an
| adoption of the Philadelphia Commercial
Museum, which has been used az a model
by the industrial interests of many coun-
tries.
Industrial conditions in the United States
of Colombia are thoroughly bad. owing to
revolutions. overproduction and other cir
c~umstances, mostly political. A number of
efforts have been made in the past few
years to develop the resources of the repub-
ic. but with little success. For a time the
exploitation of the gold fields promised i'm
portant results. but the returns failed 70
compensate for the trying conditions under
which operations were conducted and the
attention of investors and promoters was
turned TO the development of the quinia in
dustry, which. for a time. returned large
profits. Overproduction soon followed the
extensive operations III this field and the
rapid decline in price paralyzed the indus
try.
il is said that the most promising pros
pect st present for successful investment
and activity in agriculture is the develop
ment of the rubber industry. but here
again the boundary disputes between CO.
lombia, Ecuador and Peru make the enter
prise OF doubtful value, for the rubber tree
forests of Colombia are in this disputed