Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
OUR FOREIGN TRADE
~
How Our Goods Are Pushed
in Other Lands.
SOME FURTHER FACTS
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT
WE OVERLOOK.
Enormous Fields That Manufacturers
and Exporters Have Not Yet
Touched.

Copyrighted 1904, by Frank G. Carpenter)
Written for The Evening Star.
In recent letter published an interview
with Mr.. Frank B. Loomis, the first as
sistant secretary of state, on what Uncle
Sam is doing to push our trade on the Euro
pean continent From the same source
now show you what is being done in Africa,
Asia, Australasia and in North and South
America. The State Department is thor
oughly alive as to our trade possibilities,
and our consuls have been instructed to
look up new openings and to do everything
consistent with their position to further the
introduction of new lines of goods. 1t Is
believed that our trade can be almost in
definitely increased, and that there are
enormous fields outside of Europe which
the American manufacturer and exporter
have as yet left practically untouched.
Northern Africa.
Taking up the continent of Africa, Secre-
tary Loomis says trade with Algeria
and Tunisia is increasing. These coun-
tries belong to France, and by rapid steam
ship connection are now closely associated
with that country. 1t is only twenty-four
hours from Marseilles to Algiers and the
trade with Europe is steadily growing
Many American goods are now being used
in Algeria. We are sending something like
million dollars worth there every year,
and much of this is in machinery and farm
tools The French are opening up the grain
lands and American harvesters are emf
ployed to gather the crops. American
sewing machines are to be found in the
Algerian and Tunisian bazaars, and the
chief light used throughout the country is
from American petroleum: The trade of
Algeria now amounts to about $5o.OOO,OOO
year. and that of Tunisia is large and in
creasing. We are annually sending several
hundred thousand dollars worth of goods
to Tunis, and of this $125,OO0 is in agri-
cultural machinery
Our trade with Morocco, Secretary Loom
is tells me, is small, but in the closer as
ISOLATION of that country with France and
the better Industrial protection which will
be afforded thereby it is sure to increase.
We have also some trade with Tripoli,
sending 100000 worth of goods there every
year, and our trade with Egypt is large aad
steadily growing. Much of our Egyptian
goods go through England, but some, es-
pecially machinery, are now shipped direct.
Several hundred American cars were put
on the new Egyptian railroad only year
or so ago, and other kinds of American
rolling stock and railroad materials are be-
ing used. The English are pushing their
railroads farther north and cotton fields
are being developed along the Nile and in
Egyptian Soudan. Americans are interested
in some of these new developments, and
the prospect is that there will be an in
creased sale Of American goods.
Our Trade With Uganda.
In connection with this part of Africa 1
asked Secretary LOOMS as to our trade
with Uganda, the great British province
above Lake Victoria, at the source of the
Nile
Eve are doing very little there as yet"
was the reply. British East Africa, of
which Uganda is a part is but slightly de-
veloped in the way of foreign commerce.
In 1902 it took only 100000 worth of for
eign goods, of which a little more than
$4,000 was American. Uganda is, how
ever a country with a future. 1t is
a very rich region which until now has
not been accessible to the seacoast except
by caravans of porters Within the past
year or so railroad has been built inland
from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. Mombasa
is seaport not very far above Zanzibar.
1t is a little island lying SO close to the
shore that a bridge has been made across
to the mainland and on this bridge the rail-
road go. The railroad is almost 600
miles long, and it takes passengers and
goods far into the interior of Africa as
Cleveland is distant from New York. 1t
opens up all the vast territory about Lake
Victoria. for the steamers on that lake con-