Evening star., 1914-10-25
American Machinery
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Opinions ventured that the European
war would greatly enliven American
business and result in a decided en-
hancement of our industrial and com
mercial welfare have been received.
in many instances. by "big busi-
ness" 1eaders-naturally conservatives
with considerable tolerant skeptf-
cism. Among these leaders some have
insisted that the war could bring US
nothing but disaster; that any efforts
to find advantages for ourselves grow
ing out OF Europe's melee were mis-
directed enthusiasm. And, during the
early days Of the war, the various
commodity markets did go through
many strange, depressing maneuvers.
The feeling of crisis quickly passed.
however Certain realization followed
that, while the war might work us
loss in some directions, there was no
reason why several European wars
should be able to block our progress
or wreck our prosperity. AS one of the
nations, as one of the richest farm
and mineral producing nations. we
could satisfy from native sources most
every one of our legitimate needs. For
prosperity Of but very few Of our in
dustries, while in great many
branches there was the stiffest kind
Of foreign competition in our home
markets. which would be removed, or
greatly lessened. by the war. 1t was
with these facts in mind, and without
consideration of the possible develop
ment of our foreign markets, that
many students of trade conditions made
hopeful predictions during the first
weeks in August.
The way in which the country re-
covered from the war shock seems to
have justified
Justifes Hopes completely the
Of the Prophets. cts More there
are beginning to multiply unn,is-
tkaable. practical indications of an
impending, unusually brisk time of
foreign business, and this foreign busi-
ness must react upon the fabric of our
whole home commerce to a result of
general enlivenment. While there is
temporary difficulty in financing the
cotton crop, export sales of wheat and
-four from this years crop thus far
are estimated at 140.000.000 bushels, or
nearly one-half of the available sur
plus, 300,000,0 900 bushels. a new record
surplus for export.
Examples of exports beginning to
feel the stimulus of the great war
might be multiplied through a fairly
important list. but that it is the pres
ent purpose to consider the American
machinery market. Leading countries
of the world by magnificent margins
in the manufacture of machinery are
the United States. Germany and Great
Britain. Among themselves they about
divide up the honors for especial excel
lencies in the makes of the various ma
chine sorts. In other words, there are
certain types of machines which the
the United States. while in certain
other types the patronage goes to
Germany or Great Britain. Rarely is
it necessary, however. to go outside of
these three markets.
So, In the machinery trade. the most
important competition for the worlds
markets was among the manufacturers
OF the United States. Germany, and
Great Britain have been giving US the
hardest kind of competition. Now, re-
sourceful German competition has been
all but eliminated. while England's
endeavors have been made more diff
cult. Germany has been almost iso-
lated from foreign business, and the
German government has issued an edict
prohibiting all shipments Of machine
tools and small tools from the country,
except by special permission. 1t would
seem that a great part of the German
trade and some of the English trade
in machines and machine tools must
fall to the American manufacturer
Moreover, the warning nations will
themselves, be forced to turn to our
pro u C ers to |
Warning Nations cover their in
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of machinery. In fact, important war |