The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-04

they must either be wasted or sold for
nominal prices. He would therefore prefer,
as the letter stated. to dispose of the
product in a country where a market al
ready exists rather than incur the expense
Of creating one at home. l can furnish the
product In any desired quantity up to h1ty
or 100 tons
This seemed reasonable; the letter was
turned over TO a merchant here, who organ
lied a company or firm for the special pur-
pose or importing whatever quantity OF eels
the Illinois dealer could supply. \ letter
was sent containing a small check TO evince
good faith and propositions asked for on a
large scale, but the supply of eels must
have failed. for the letter of the Berlin COM
pany was never answered nor its remittance
returned.
1T is unpleasant TO be obliged to report
that while American food products, almost
without exception, have been found excel
lent and have met with ready and profit
able sale in there is a very gen
eral complaint among importers about the
unreliability Of American exporters. Not
only are the goods sent often found to be
inferior in quality TO the samples on winch
the sale was based. but in numerous cases
shippers, who have meanwhile found a
market at home, not only neglect TO I'LL Eu-
rOpean orders, but forget TO notify wOuld-be
purchasers of their refusal or give any ex-
PLANTATION or reason for it. 1t has come to
be a rule Of the trade that the German
importer of food products cannot safely de-
pend exclusively on an American source OF
supply"
An English trade journal says that, while
it is true that considerable apprehension
has been shown by manufacturers in the
United States in regard to the advent in
America of German competition in iron and
steel work, il also appears that the iron and
steel producers of Germany are somewhat
anxious concerning the probability OF
American works offering severe compet1-
ton In Germany at an early date. To dissi-
pate this anxiety, the German government
hos nnNr 1GGlaH u EfnfnnnanT In tho Mach
richten fur Handel und Industrie, which
points out that an inundation OF the Ger
man market with cheap American produc-
tiOnS ~preSuppoSes that the American iron
industry can produce at less cost than the
German. This, ii is added, is by no means
correct with regard to the pig iron for the
manufacture of steel. The cost of produce
ing a ton of Bessemer pig iron at Pitts
burg, even for the United States Steel Cor
poration, amounts to no less than 80 TO 80
shillings &12.15 to $l2.6D, while in the case
of works less favorably situated the cost
cannot be less than 90 shillings G14.5S) per
ton.
only in the case of extraordinary high
prices are the American works able-and
especially the Steel CorporatiOn-to earn
dividends and interest ana obtain SURPRISES
for improvements and reconstruction of
plant and equipment. Thus, under present
conditions, it would only be possible to eX-
port American productions to Germany at
the actual cost OF production, but, while
present prices prevail, such exports could
AaA @L N@Aa1 IA&@&H Nas1 - E0 ~
steel, semi-tiniShed steel, rails, sheets, ETC.,
the statement AYERS that the American
cost Of production can scarcely be reduced
any further, as the labor item of these eX-
penses no longer plays any part, owing to
working operations.
++t
According to the Boersen Courier, a meet
ing was recently held in Vienna to arrange
for direct service between western Europe
and Picking, China. The meeting was at
tended by representatives of Russian, Eng
land, French. Bulgarian, Dutch and Ger
man railroads. 1t was decided TO run a
train de luxe from London and Paris via
Berlin and Warsaw to the Chinese capital,
beginning May, 1904. The Russian govern
ment will arrange to simplify passport and
customs regulations for through passen-
gers to minimize delays and formalities. 1t
is the purpose of those participating in
this movement TO make it possible for pas
sengers to book in London or Paris to
China without change. Another interesting
item connected with the arrangements is
the issuing of a round-trip ticket, first
class, for $2O4, which permits the traveller
to make the trip both ways by rail, or one
way by rail and the other by water. The
trip by rail is to be made in seventeen
days. The tickets are TO be good on the
ships of all companies voyaging around
Asia, and permission is to be granted to
stop off at any port at which the ship calls,
with the privilege of taking another ship.