Amador ledger., 1907-12-27

care VI IepdlrS. duu comparatively
little expense would greatly increase
it's facilities. 1t is therefore pro-
babIe that for the present the govern.
ment will devote itself to these two
yards where, every dollar expended
will be Immediately available for
work. But, to bring the matter to
the attention of the navy department
in such manner that it will have to
act, it is possible that congr essmau
Smith will introduce bill making
direct appropriation for a dry dock
and naval station at San Diego. which
will have the support of senators
Flint and Perkins in the senate.
The conference of delegates of vari-
GUS commercial bodies of the United
States, called by secretary Straus of
the department of commerce aud
labor, held last week, promises to be
of great benefit to the foreign COM
MERGE of the country. The secretary
is greatly pleased at the manner in
which his invitation was received,
and with the earnestnsss with which
the conference went to work on his
suggestions. In a letter to senator
Perkins he specially commended the
attitude of the San Francisco, cham
Der of commerce, on which he relies
for hearty Incorporation, which will
be extended. The scope of the plans
which the secretary has in mind is
very broad and comprehensive. What
they mean may best be set forth by
summary of what European nations
are doing in the same direction.
Germany is typical in this respect.
1t has a department of commerce,
with director and several council
ors, each of whom confines himself to
some one commercial division of the
world, and to whom comes all in
formation and reports bearing in
any way on the trade of that patti
cular section. Thus the whole COM
mercial world is covered, and there
are created experts in regard to the
trade relations of Germany with:those
with whom it does business. But the
work which brings the department
into closest touch with the people is
the furnishing of information and adj
vice to the German business world.
Information regarding tariffs, con-
sular reports, statistical information,
etc.. on all subjects, agricultural,
manufacturing and commercial, is
published and sent to those interest
ed, free of charge; or, in some in
Stances at very small cost. In
formation as to foreign trade. open
ings which are of Immediate practical
value to business men is issued in
confidential communications to cham
bers of commerce by whom it is kept
nvolate, and the facts given only to
its members. No Individual or bust
ness firm can secure the information,
except from the chamber of commerce
of which they are member. Thus
the fruits of the labor of the depart
ment are preserved for those for
whom they we're gathered. The
sources OF information of the depart
ment are as wide and varied as it is
possible to make them. The foreign
office gives it every scrap of infoIma-
tion bearing upon commerce, and
every foreign commercial publication
is regularly subscribed for. Attaches
to German consulates are appointed
to devote themselves exclusively to
this commercial work which has
proved to be valuable in the extreme
and is kept secret. The chambe of
commerce of Germany are semi
official bodies and are required to
make annual returns to the depart
ment of commerce, and thus they be-
come very valuable as sources of in
formation from the different business
districts, and every fact thus obtain
ed is properly utilized for the benefit
of the producers and commercial men
of the empire. Thus there is com
plete cooperation between the
government-aud the members of the
German commercial world, with, as
all know, the most surprising result.
Secretary Straus seeks to establish
here similar cooperation, and it is
to be hoped that congress will also
join in the work he has so auspici
ously begun and will do all that is
possible 10 promote the plans which
mean so much to our foreign COM
merce, and therefore necessarily to
the productive interests of our