Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-11
The CRATER u. S. Brand)-tfI could only handle that eighty million dollars!


the exploitation of the export trade
of all nations offered by the civilized
world.
Since 1881, when the commerce of
the kingdom first began to show an
awakening, the advance in its for
eign trade has been remarkable. In
that year the total commerce of Bel
GUM amounted to $37,766,165, $751;
995,775 representing the value of her
imports, and $18,770,890 that of her
exports. In 1905 these figures had
swelled until they reached a grand
total of 97S,S25,0 900, the imports
being ~S555,853,0 900, and the exports
$421,972,000. These figures cover
only the actual trade of the nation,
not including the transit trade, which
is very considerable. In 1905 Bel
GUM imported from the United States
merchandise valued at $~38,478,741,
and exported to this country goods
valued at $2~5,SS2,445, making the
total of her trade with this country
o than $64, 900, 900.
h principal goods which she i'm
ports from the United States are food
stuffs and raw materials for her in
dustries. In manufactured articles
her chief imports were agricultural
implements, machinery, metal and
woodworking, bicycl, builders hard
ware and tools, typewriters, sewing
machines, and boots and shoes, leath-
er and rubber. The American made
bicycle is in great favor in Belgium.
In 1904 she imported them to the
value of $52,988, but they declined
in / Qnh tn y q o >xytno- ~ ~ 400, ~
stocked market. The import duty on
these articles is IL per cent. ad val
orem, so hat prices have to be made
as low as possible to compete with
The domestic manufacturer, who is
able to produce his goods as a very
low cost, owing to the low rate of
wages paid.
American typewriting machines
nnd a fair market in Belgium, and
imports show an increase from $780,
1873 in 1904 to $140,519 in 1905. In
sewing machines the exports to Bel
GUM rise and fall, largely according
to the demand of the market. The
duty on machinery OF all kinds is,
when made of cast iron, 40 cents;
on copper or other metals, $2.40;
and of iron and steel, 80 cents per
100 kiles, a kile being equal to 2 Is
pounds. When made of wood the
duty is 10 per cent. ad valorem.
An unusually good market is Of
Iered for American made footwear.
me American shoe Is so popular In
the country that it is initiated by Bel
gan manufacturers. The limitations /
are sold throughout the country and
IN inc Netherlands under terms SO
misleading as to give the impression
ina the SHOES are made In the United /
states. In consequence of this i'm
preston he Belgian dealer is enabled
10 OBTAIN a price for them from so
cents to 81 per pair more than he
would be able to de were they adj
Vertised as a Belgian product.
III Is claimed that not more than
~ per cent. of the boots and shoes
SOLO as American make are really
sUcn; One necessity in the marking
y for the Belgian market is
Tue employment of good sole leather
me belgian stone 'pavements and the
oamp climate Of the countrv are CON
oltlons which should be kent con
stantly IN mind by the American man
ufacturer, The eharacteristie RaIl
gran shoe is long and narrow In stvle
but the American shane for mo
finds favor, on account of its com
Portable wearing qualities. pricas
range from SO up to Sc.
The hours of labor In Belgium arc
very long, the laborers bspinnina
work at s am. and ceasing Ill nm
with the usual breaks for meals. Haa
is paid according to the trade Z
which he is employed, on the average
from Z to 3 cents per hour for' len
hours. and for the two additional
hours rs per cent. increase, making
his daily wage from "a cents to S1.08
for tweve hours. Children begin their
life work at the age of ~, and ne
child under 16 years of age can be
kept at work more than twelve hours
a day. A Belgian statistician esti-
mates the average earnings OF an ar.
tisan at about $50 per year.
Open the bowels-DeWitt's Little
Trarfu DfrotoH "a ~ ooan4r40nIa ord