New-York tribune., 1910-01-31
AMERICAN MACHINES IN CANADA.

The progress which Canada is making
in canal building and perhaps ill rail-
road extension and other transportation
works may surpass, at least proportion
ately, that of the United States, but It
is worthy Of observation and must be
highly gratifying to Americans to Ob-
serve that the major part of the tools
and engines for the construction and
equipment of these works comes from
the United States. A remarkab BILE exhi-
bition of this fact is made by a CORE
spendent of "The London Times" whose
impressive figures afford a fine gloss to
the recent report that 1909 was the rec
ord year in trade between these two
countries.
There are specified thirteen important
classes of engineering appliances, in
every one Of which the United States
supplied Canada last year with far more
than Great Britain did in most of the
classes the disproportion being simply
Overwhelming. Thus in railroad loco
motives the United Kingdom supplied
only 500 9,235 and the United Stat tes So
O11,155 worth. In portable steam en-
gines the figures were $14,715 to $3,959,-
800. Steam shovels being so largely an
American invention. it is not altogether
surprising that. while Great Britain fur
nished none at all, this country sold
Canada $76O,135 worth. In gasolene en-
gines the figures were $50, $50 to 3d.
526.49O in favor Of this country; in
miscellaneous electrical apparatus they
were 1927 $50 to S7,151 ,415. and in auto
mobiles they were S39a,77O to S2.373-
1S5. The totals Of the thirteen classes.
comprising, besides those mentioned,
stationary steam engines. steam boilers,
other boilers, electric motors. electric
light carbons. coal mining machinery
and ore crushers, were 81 ,965. $50 from
the United Kingdom and $26,394. .2S5
from the United States.
This extraordinary predominance is
enjoyed by the United States in spite
of the fact that the Dominion govern
ment grants a substantial rebate of
tariff duties in favor of British goods.
factory generally costs less than Amer
lean. and that ocean freghts are SUD-
posed TO be lower than railroad freights.
1T does seem as if with the advantage
Of the preferential tariff British manu-
facturers ought to be able to compete
more successfully with Americans in
the Dominion market. especially when
we remember that with their strong i'm
perialist loyalty Canadians are inclined
TO prefer British goods to American
Yet the facts are as stated The chief
explanation essayed by the correspond
ent whom we have quoted is that Amer
lean manufacturers supply goods far
more promptly than do the British, and
also that American agents are usually
invested with greater bargain making
authority than British. That is TO say.
Americans win through their superior
enterprise and expedition. All this is
gratifying to Americans; but it does
seem anomalous that while we are
able TO beat British competition in the
British Empire itself. with heavy tariff
discrimination against us, we are un-
able to compete with the British and
Germans In the neutral markets of South
America. where we meet them on equal
terms. We fail i'm South America ap-
parently through lack of some of the
very qualities the possession and exer-
else Of which give us success in Canada !!