Arizona republican., 1904-10-12
AFRICA DEPRESSED
A Steady Decline Reported
 From All Parts
The Effect Felt in Slight Degree by the Merchants and Manufacturers of This Country.

Washington, Oct. 11.-Exports from the United States to British Africa were about II 1-2 million dollars in the eight months ending August 31, 1904, as compared with over 20 millions for the corresponding period in each of the two years preceding. Of this S11.- 451,O9h exports to all British Africa, S9,659,000, or S5 Der cent, went to Br!- tish South Africa; and it is a note worthy fact that South Africa is our only foreign market in which our sales do not seem to be increasing. The de- partment of commerce and labor through it's bureau of statistics has re- gently received some foreign periods calls which show that the decrease is due to general reduction in imports Iof South Africa from all countries. The African Review for August con taiDs an article on the industrial de- pressinn in South Africa, from which the following is extracted:
 As all roads led to Rome, so all South Africa fiscal and industrial sta tistics lead to the great centrar~fact- south African depression. It is natural Tn these Micawber-like days, when south Africans are awaiting the turn
  hope and bid despair avaunt: but at the same time it is conducive of n most serviceable frame of mind in dealing with the problem to face the situation as IL is and thus gain a broader and more accurate estimate. Figures from all parts of South Africa point to steady declines, and the question which arises is, when this decline is going to stop. how far future budgets will be affected by the less prosperous returns. and what measures should be taken to arrest the adverse movement? Re viewing the situation, it is seen that for the financial year at the Cape Colony, ended June, the imports decreased. compared with the previous wear. from SlS2.492, 750 to $133.S28,75O a tremend- ous shortfoll; yet against previous years the deduction is not so ominous Tor last years total exceeds that of 1901 by S29.199, 900 and of 1899 by S5S.- 39S.0 .000.
 The retrogression is therefore merely a reversion to the lower plane of an- tebullum trading, and, though embar- rassing for the treasurer general in es- timating the budget, yields no appear ance of fundamental decay. In Natal. the imports for the first half of the current year exhibit the alarming de-
 
 $z6, 165, ,I50-compared with the cores bonding half of last year, and the GUS toms revenue, in accordance. registers a decrease of nearly 50 per cent. The imports into the Transvaal Cexcluding government and military stores) have declined from $3O 113, OCO in 1903 to ST. 164.G .GoO in 1904. a fall of nearly one-haIf: but the exports, characteristfcaIlv. in view of the economic situation in South Africa, have risen from $13,O71 900 in 1903 to s19,SS5,C0O in 1904, of which in crease gold of course provides the bulk. $5,353,O GOO.
 As more emphatically marking the extent of the depression inhicting the population, as registered by this de- cline in imports. we find in the Trans vaal Postoffice Savings bank that for the second quarter of the year 1904 the deposits amounted to S1. .360. eco and the withdrawals to S1,564QOO. as compared with $1,559,O0O and SS92. .O3O respectively. in the corresponding quarter of 1903. We thus see, on the surface, the curious anomaly of an aIarmingIy decreasing import list in nOnproducing land (ex- elusive of nining) and an increasing sum of mineral exports. This situation is, of course, due to the disturbing fn- huence of the war butting a period to 5pAA AAiAAAAliSs WHICH utAli to fettSSeFL It. self, while leaving all the demands for administration and population not only entire, but enlarged.
 It is obvious that until the gold in dustry produces it's pre-war figures. l and in fact exceeds them, the apparent anomaly of falling trade with increas- ed~expOrts will continue. The absolute dependence of South Africa upon the mines has beeH often pointed out in these columns, and nowhere more tersely and explicitly than in the cir constance that, while the Cape Colony | in 1903 imported goods to the value of | S152, ,935,00O its exports to pay for these | goods consisted almost entirely of gold | and diamonds. The failure of the fis- | cal returns may be easily traced as due | to two causes-firstly, the natural re- | turn to normal times afte ra couple | of years of denudation of stocks. fol- | lowed by haste to repIenfsh; secondly. | to the failure of the mining industry | to fill, within reasonable period after ] the war; that sphere of reproductive and radiative activity made vacant by it's sudden cessation.
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