The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-26
DUTCH LIKE NEW
AMERICAN TARIFF
ROTTERDAM MERCHANTS SEE
YEAR MORE FAVORABLE TO
SHIPPING.
HEAR OF OPEN FIELD
HOPE TO EXTEND COLONIAL TRADE
TO POINTS WHERE ENTRANCE
FORMERLY WAS VERY
DIFFICULT.
HEAR OF OPEN FIELD

An interesting address was delivered
to the members OF the Rotterdam
chamber of commerce at the opening
meeting OF the year by the chair
man. f. Z. de Monchy, says Gazette
de Hollande. In the course of his
remarks he put forward many use
full facts and figures regarding the
great Dutch port Speaking first with
regard to shipping. he pointed out
that, although less striking than 1912,
the year 1913 would still be cdnsid-
cred a very favorable one. But all
must regret the diminished freights
Of the last three months. The po-
sition with regard to industry was
perhaps not so rose colored.
Dealing with the state of the mar
ket during che year Mr.. De Monchy
pointed out that coffee. Java and San
tos. dwindled from 81 and "A to ~
and 35 cents; Para rubber at London
from 4s, 3-4d. to 3s. Id, while the
quotation in Holland of Plantage rub
Der fell from 213 to 144. and at that
moment rested 124 1-2. Cotton. af-
ter fuctuation Of 10 per cent. was
somewhat lower at the end Of the
year than at the beginning. Banka
tin fell from 1873 francs to almost
1903 francs. The tobacco trade com
planned Of the sales, though there was
reason to be satisfied with the great
crop which had been produced in the
Dutch East Indies Over the quality,
however. the dealers were not entirely
satisfied, for the long drought had
inflicted considerable damage. 1t was
not only on tobacco that the weather
had exercised a prejudical influence.
Pleased With Bill.
After dealing In some detail with
prices in the other industries in which
Rotterdam is concerned, Mr.. De
Monchy had some interesting remarks
TO make on the influence of the new
American tariff law. He pointed out
that, although the sugar factories at
Java are aourishing, the influence of
the new tariff Will be considerable.
From March LIST the tariff would be
lowered by one-quarter. and on May
/. 1915, would be entirely done away
with. 1t would, the speaker said. open
field to the Dutch colonies which
formerly they entered with difficulty.
II was the general interest of the con-
sumer-the same as in Holland
which stands more to the, fore in the
new American tariff.
Already 1t has been expected in the
United States that an increase in the
imports of textile products. Of iron
and steel. of paper. glass and porcelain
and the exports from Dutch harbors
have shown that that was no idle ex-
pectation. Shipping ports could not
but gain by increase in commerce such
as that, and they must see to 1t that
they were not left behind.
+ New Waterway.
The Rotterdam chamber Of COM
merce was only too glad that the late
minister of waterways had taken into
consideration the deepening of the
new waterway. The minister had
conceived a project which would guar
antee them a depth at low tide OF ten
metres over a width of one hundred
metres. of nine metres over a width of
one hundred and fifty metres. and
eight metres over a width of two
hundred metres. The work would
cost 5000. 600 forms, towards which
a very substantial contribution would
have to be paid from Rotterdam's own
budget
But. added the speaker, he hoped
that the government would realize
that outlets TO the sea were not an
advantage to a particular harbor
alone, but to the whole inland in
dustry and agriculture But. in any
case. they must not let the matter
drop. Already the lowest depth of the
Suez canal has been increased dur
ing the past year to ten meters, while.
according to the plan formed In 1912,
there Will be In the course of five
or six years a uniform depth of twelve
meters, with a width OF one hundred
and sixty-two meters, right through
the canal
The Dutch should take to heart
what was said at a gathering of har-
Dor authorities in New York in De-
cemher. 1912. NO competition IS so
keen as that of the great ports; no.
where Is the law Of natural selection
The measure of success as In the strug-
gle of harbors No protective laws
can save harbor II 1t falls behind
in the competitive offers for the rapid
handling of trade"
And first OF all. they must GER
tainly place a sufficient depth of pas
gageway. Fortunately, they had at
the moment no reason to be diSsatis-
fed with the new waterway. The
lowest depth was S.3 meters as COM
pared with Sc in 1912. At high tide
the depth was $50 meters, as COM
pared with go in 1912,-Gazette de