The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-06
Washington News Letter

Washington, Aug. 4.-This IL the
time all the government departments
are engaged in making contracts for
fixtures, supplies, material. also for the
construction OF public buildings The
result OF the recent opening oe bids
demonstrates very clearly the condi-
ton of business throughout the coun-
try. There are a number OF big con-
tcerns, especially among manufacturers
Of steel. who never bid upon govern
ment work when they have plenty OF
commercial business to attend to, They
seem to go upon the theory that gov
eminent contracts are the least desir-
able for manufacturer and the rea-
son is that the technicalities which
surround most of the contracts are so
!, great and that the action of some of
the minor officials and employees OF the
government in enforcing these techni-
calities are SO annoying as to frequent-
ly deprive the contractor OF every par
ticle of profit. The most noticeable
, difference between bids this year and
those of previous openings is found in
the time of delivery for contracts rum
ming into thousands Of dollars. Last
year 1t was possible to secure bids
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000 for Ak
lures and supplies with deliveries days
of so or 80 days or at the farthesr four
months while in nearly every Instance
noted this year the concerns which are
recognized as the best and mast rell-
able will not agree to do such amount
of government work under 10 8
months. The inference drawn Ey the
department officials from this state OF
affairs is that manufacturing plants
are running to their full capacity and
that manufacturers do not care to In
volve themselves In q liability for
iiquidated damages by promising de-
liverieB within a shorter period In
other words they have plenty of busi-
ness aside from that secured from the
government and Uncle Sam must wait
his turn instead of being granted fav-
ors extended to the commercial world.
Uncle Sam is now annually pouring
money into the lap Of thesrest of the
world
In other words, the flow Is no longer
in the direction of the United States.
from abroad It is in the direction Of
the rest of the world, from the United
States.
The balance of trade on the face NJ
things is still in favor of the United
States, That is, the statistics of the
department of commerce and labor
show that we are exporting more than
we are importing. Figures recently
given out by the department of com
merce and labor showed the excess of
exports over imports was $18T,l11,349.
This, however, is an extremely small
excess, the lowest in recent years.
But the small balance OF trade In our
favor, as hown by the figures, is much
more than counterbalanced by the fact
that large sums Of money 60 out an
nually from America which are not in
cluded in the term of exports. These
sums go mainly to Europe. They con-
sist Of the following: Money expended
by American tourists travelling abroad;
money sent abroad to pay interest on
American securities held there; money
sent abroad by persons of foreign birth
living in the United States who con-
tribute to relatives; money paid to for
eigners for transportation.
Estimates as to the totals OF these
items carry widely. But 1t is said from |
good authority that from 800 900 600 to
$150,0oO,000 is carried abroad and left
there by American tourists; about as
much more Is sent abroad for interest,
and perhaps $100.000,000 Ia sent bv
those of foreign birth in this country
who give to relatives and friends |
abroad.
Within the past few weeks a great |
many young men, mostly students of |
high schools and colleges have been
employed by the geographical survey |
and have been sent to far distant posts |
where they are acting as rodnaen or
in the survey parties which
are plotting out the public lands of
the west and are making Typographical |
surveys Of the thickly settled states.
These boys are eager to secure the po- |
sitions which afford them an excellent |
summer outing and give them better
knowledge OF the country In which they