The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-06
We Lead the World.

How does the growth of our trade compare with that of other nations, Mr. Cortelyou?" asked.
 "Very favorably. indeed" was the re- ply. Our exports of domestice products are greater today than those Of any oth- CT country. and our exports are growing more rapidly than those of any other na- tion. In 1875 we shipped abroad in round numbers four hundred and ninety-seyen million dollars worth of goods, and in 1908 the sum had grown to one thousand four hundred and fifty-seven million dol- lars. In 1875 the United Kingdom export ed one thousand and eighty-seven mill lion dollars worth of goods, while in 1908 it's exports were one thousand four hun dred and fifteen million dollars worth. In other words, in that time we increased our export trade almost 300 per cent while those of the United Kingdom in- creased less than 40 per cent. In Is75 our export trade was not half as great as that of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1903 we exceeded the latter country by forty million collars worth of exports. Germany in 1875 had an export trade of ninety-six million dollars in excess or that of the United States. In 1908 it was more than two hundred and fifty million dollars behind the United States. The United Kingdom and Germany are, next to the United States, the largest of the exporting nations. So you see how we grow.''+
 Our Best Customers.
 Who are our best customers among the nations, Mir Secretary" II asked.
 The United Kingdom by far" was the reply. Tt takes more of our exports than any other country, although Germany and Canada take great deal. and the per- centage of increase in their case is larger We are increasing our trade to Russia, having more than quadrupled 1t in the last ten years. We are also selling more goods to Mexico than ever before" Skinner and Abyssinia.
 How about Mir. Skinner's expedition to Abysslnia, Secretary Cortelyou. Will that expedition pay?'
 "I think that closer business relation ships will prove valuable to our country in every case, whether they be with large nations or small ones. and especially with those nations whose consuming powers are in q stage of development. The wise and experienced nations of the world, which have been studying the art of de- veloping their export trade, omit no opportunity to cultivate commercial rela- tions with all countries. think the United States can with profit follow their example"
 Our Consuls and Our Foreign Trade.
 
 Mir. Cortelyou? How do they compare with the commercial agents of other na- | tions?''
 "Yes, they report to me through the State Department" was the reply. '"The comments by the newspapers and busi- ness men of other nations indicate that our consular service compares we'll with i that of other countries. but that Is not enough from an American point of view. | While the work of many of the consuls Is of a very high grade there can be much | improvement. This fact was fully recog- nized by the President and by those of | hcials who have immediate supervision of | the work of the consuls. The suggestions made by the business public from time to time with reference to the practical prob lems which confront them in their at- | tempts to increase their export trade will undoubtedly prove helpful in this direc- tion. The consuls are essentially com | mercial officers. They should play a more | vital part fin the extension of our foreign trade Their relations to the new depart ment are one of It's pressing problems. The Department of Commerce and Labor will do it's share in the effort to improve tbis service whenever improvement is
 shown to be needed.
 The Big immigration Question.
 "RAturning to the labor question, Mir.
 Secretary. Tell me something about our
 Immigrants. I understand we had almost
 a million last year?"
 .,,rhe actual number of immigrants who
 landed in 1905 was S5LOO0. That Is the
 rnost we have ever had in a single year.
 We came nearest it in 1882, when 7S9,0J0
 were admitted
 .sThat Is an enormous number Of peo-