Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-15
TIT: RAPIDLY GROWING TRADE OF
CANADA.

Canadian trade returns Tor The five
months ending with November Both. now
at hand, show n volume of sos 2el ,3i5, re-
presenting an increase OF S26.2iilld. or
l3.6 per cent over the corresponding period
of 1901. says the Financier On the entire
trade the total is divided almost equally
between imports and exports although
the latter item has gained SS.S3$.3i3 as
compared with 1@li while imports have
increased only s7.a.171 ~, or the export
gain tlie single month Of NoNenbor ac-
counts for more than II million dollars,
dun, probably, To tie outward movement
Of grain and agricultural products. 1t is
int eresting to note that of tho entire vol
'une of EXPORTS for five months, the great
bulk is to be classified as domestic pro-
ducis-that is. minerals, fisheries, forestry
agricultural ami Ike products nidnufac-
lures exports contributing the tnsiGn!i-
cant sum of s922, ,02. In Other words Cana
da is developing her natural resources,
and so rich are these. and so diversified.
that the Dominion will for many years
furnish labor market that will absorb
a considerable portion of the surplus
energy of contiguous and non contiguous
territory. At the same time it is not to he
expected that Canada will continue to
export in the rough the bulk Of the ma
tural riches which she is taking from
the soil. 1t is only logical to assume that
will increase in due proportion. The ridi-
ioulously low percentage Of manufactured
exports to domestic shipments report ed
in current trade returns does not mean
that Canadas manufacturing enterprises
are AT a standStDl. On the contrary.
statistics show that the Dominon'S manu-
featuring facilities are growing l'T
leaps and bounds, but 50 great is the alb
sorption capacity of her people that an
| instant market is found at home for every
article turned out-this in face of the
superior competition Of the United
States and Great Britain. Not for II num-
Der of years, perhaps, Will Canada figure
among the several national purveyors
! OF made articles, but the day is bound
| to came when Canadian competition
will count for something in the commerce
! of the world. In the interim the Domn-
ION VIII continue 10 supply gradually
IenlarginE percentage of her own needs,
lust as the United States. until within 4
! comparatively recent period figured al
most as n noAenity as an eNnorter of
lmanuia ctures. Given nation with sup
ierabundance of cheap food products, Il
IfortihtY of natural resources and q
lciviliZation and government which stand
for the best, and We have condition
which cannot bur make for growth. ca
lnaaa possesses all these. and her future
las therefore along the lines which have
made the United states such Il power ii
the modern world. Her destiny, as 81
Wiilud Luuricr has 50 well stated, is OF
the twentieth century.
The average reader may he misltd by
simple comparison of trade totals as he
tween the United States and Cauada
Our own 300 million dollars ntcrna
tional trade movement makes Canada =.
tpossible iTJ millions look small in con
trast. hut on n per capita basis the Unit
led states total is probably S@ to So com
Ipared with $50 or over for the dominion
no put the matter IN another way the do
mostic products exports of the United
States do not average much over so pc
lcaDita as against probably $50 for Ca
NADIA. The United States is large con
sumner of its own products, by reason 0
Its great manufacturing population.
Canadas greatest need--that of rail
lroads-s being met in manner that i
little less than astonishing. These com
pIetcd her resources, both agriculture
and otherwise, will expand indefinitely
In the meantime, as the largest seller c
goods to the Dominion; the Unite
States has a direct interest in her future
and any legislation that will bind the tw
sections together in trade sense Ough
TO be encouraged.