The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-23
SECRETARY MErcALFs ADDRESS

u~facturers Association in Atlanta
Last Nisht-Slow Progress Of Ex-
ppIt OF Manufactured Goods Con-
sidcred.
Secretary Victor Metcaf of the de-
partment of commerce and LABOR begin
his discussion by declaring and es.ai,-
fishing his statements by figures, taa1
the south within the last decade and at
present tine has grown and is growing
in commercial Importance and manu-
lectures more rapidly than any other
section of the country. Her popnIa-
fticn showed a higher percentage OF in
ease than the United States rs a
whole.
Mr.. Metcalf said that the United
States leads the world as a manufactur-
ling country, the value of her products
being equal to that of Great Britain.
France and Germany combined. where
las in 1860 the United States was lowest
in this respect of the four nations. Tie
total value of heI manufactures In 300
twas approximately Ii, 900, 900. 900 dol
liars.
In spite Of this fact the United States
THE greatest manufacturing country,
lexpOrts but five hundred millions of
1.-THE four billions of dollars of manu-
fractured goods which enter into me
worlds trade. Since 1898 the United
Estates has led the world in the exrcrt
iof domestic products-the products Of
Jour fields and mines, %breadstuffs Is, meats,
local, cotton, timber, iron, copper, min
|eral oil for illumiration-and the world
takes all We produce in excess of our
demands. OF Our manufactured prod
lucts only about eight percent. finds
its way to foreign markets. The re-
Imaining go per cent. are consumed by
Jour own population. The production
Iof u manufactures is increasing more
rapidly than our population. Inc to-
Ital value of u manufactures for 1905
Twill approximate 5000, 900, 900 d~)lisls,
fifteen times more than in 1850; while
1.-THE population has hardly more than
lquadrupled since that year.
Mr.. Metcalf declared that Europe is
1.-THE great competitor of the United
Estates in the markets of the world,
Germany in particular, having an in
lcreasing hold on foreign markets, in
(which Great Britain is a close second.
HE stated that these markets are found
Everywhere, in the countries located
geographically ntarer to the Unitedt
Estates than to the countries which sup |
Iply them. He further stated that he
exports of the United Sttaes to many
Ef theSs COUNTLESS, notably to South
sAmericaM lands are much less than |
Iher imports from those nations, and
lthe preponderanae of imports is in-l
IcreaSlng at al alarming rate.
He them considered the causes OF
this slow progress; Of export of manu-
fractured goods from, this country, The
statement of which largely suggested
1.-THE remedies he pI opposed. These We're
first American manufacturers have
|mada little effort to- extend their mar
lkets abroad.
Second, thu Eu1one competitors of
THE United States produce and pack
their goods ia form and conditions
to the markets. which they are
intended to supply. This Isl notably
true of Germany.
Third, the lack. particularly In ASIA,
Oceanic. South America and. Africa CT
fnancian Institutions and machinery
through which BUSINESS transactions
may be conducted.
|. Fourth. the fact that the manufac-
turers of other competitive countries
the necessity Of 0ffer1ngI
their goods through persons; fant;liar
with the language of the country in
which Their goods are offered and Of
having their printed. matter il tlesei
Fifth, thee lack OF direcE sfiTQang fa-
to the countries where cornpet-
tive markets ara to- be- fBunH and de-
vetoped.
The United States. today is the great
esst producer of raw cotton England
is the greatest manufacturer Oh cot-
toa goods. She buys annually :hreel
million bales from this country, she
manufactures this with. English labor
into yarns and cloth and after supply
ing her hcme markets, she eXpurtsI
manufactured co.tom goods to the vail
ue of three hundred, and sixty mil
liona dollars. a product greater than
that of all the, American mills CONF
|bined. A large share of this product
back re, the United States. ?he
States produces three quarters
of the worlds supply of raw cotton
vet her exports of the manufactured
last year was twenty-five mil
limn dollars, a decrease Of ten million
from 1908 /
Following this comparison with oth-i
Iers covering different manufactures of L
this, country, Secretary Metcalf closedA
with a declaration Of the position oc-
'cupied by the department Of which heb
is the head of the manufacturing anthf
commercials interests of the Uniteaii
it's labor and shipping interes1sl
land the fostering care which IL s&-
tends over all.
Terrific Race With Death.
Death was fast approachlnS,
writes Ralph F. Fernandez, of Tampa.