The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-28

Three years ago nobody in America
is breaking August records of exports
would be possible this year, because
everybody supposed at Thai time that
American exports of food products
we're doomed to a tremendous falling
,ff. The foreign trade in meat was
light on the verge of Disappearance
The pessi1nists said. Every month since
then the crash has been postponed. In
August just passed, for instance, meat
tales abroad We're much larger in ev-
Try item except canned beef. Bread
,tuffs made Il big gain, as compared
With the two years Immediately pre-
:eding, but taking a survey of a con-
siderable portion it is shown that the
tendency is toward reduction in sales
ST %foodstuffs. Thus, in 1898, the high
point was reached in breadstuffs eN-
ports at 1898. 600, 000; since then, year
oy year. they have been dropping down
1ntil they got to s10T, O00,0 900 in 1905.
General Tendency Downward.
The fiscal year 1906 brought them
back up to $1S6, 600, 900, but the experts
Of the statistical bureau incline strong
" to the opinion that the general ten
1ency is downward.
For, they say, the time is past when
his country IA hope to have an in
,reasing surplus of things to eat. Not
only is population growing fast, but the
proportion of it in cities is growing
still faster-the proportion of people at
nome who eat but who do not produce
,ood. Because meat commands very
nigh and pretty steady prices abroad,
farmers are raising more and more
:orn and turning it into meat. This
meat is sold abroad, and the decline in
oreadstuffs exports is made up by u
gain in meat exports. But in this item,
Of increase have 0 been reached,
and that While the meat exports will
gain a little or maintain about a uni
form level for n number of years, yet
the possibility of further immense gain
IS accounted small. In fact, h bu-
ceau suspects that this country is now
close to the crest of this business of
food exporting. Either there must be
found something new 10 sell abroad, or
Else the tendency will be toward re-
ducing the favorable food balance.
What Will Substitute Be?
The. question then is, what will be
sold abroad in place of the foods? The
answer apparently is contained in the
manufacturing statistics of the last few
Years. IOI d uCCaue uOWll W 1885 0A.
ports of manufactures nae been for a
decade near a s%tandstill. In 1893 they
we're $15S, 000, 900. No particular effort
had been devoted TO increasing the fig
ure. Then in 1893 came hard times.
Factories closed. There was no money
In the pockets of the people; nobody
could buy. Manufacturers turned to
the foreign market. For the first time
1t looked attractive to them. They
made prices abroad that they would
have dreamed of in the preceding
years of prosperity. They hunted for
wants. and then invented things to
supply them. They made good. Sales
went upward by leaps n bounds. In
1900 they We're $433. 900, 900, and in 1905
s543. 000. 900. There is nothing to indi-
cate. as in the case of the fo%odstuffs,
that anything like high water mark has
been reached. On the other hand the
suggestion was made by an officer of
the statistical bureau that If another
era of domestic depression should force
American manufacturers to renewal Of
their former efforts at extension of the
foreign market, and if they should have
as much success as they did ten years
ago, the United States would soon rise
to Il complete and unquestionable SUI
premacy in the realm of international
trade.
Hanging On to Foreign Trade.
For the truth is that today American
manufacturers make small efforts to
enlarge foreign trade. They are taking
care of What they gained in the years
of depression, and keeping up with it's
natural growth. But they are too busy
at home to make great efforts for more
business abroad. Hard times at home
is what stimulates trade abroad. When
he really needs the business, the Amer
lean is the best drummer on earth.
The scientific German or the venture
some E~nglishman cannot compete with
him at all. And when another era of
hustling for foreign trade shall have
produced its inevitable effect. foreign
trade will reach up to SIS, OO0, 600. COO be
fore many years. That is the figure
now aimed at.