The Washington times., 1915-01-24
TRADE ENCOURAGED
BY EVENTS OF WEEK
Increase In Exports Last Month
Proves Great Stimulus to In.
vestment.

industrial, commercial and financial
interests have found in the happenings
OF the last week both encouraging and
depressing features. with those of the
former nature, however, vastly pre-
ponderant.
Probably the greatest stimulus to in
vestment. and the most encouraging an
nouncement generally was the reported
month Of December, totaling sisi, ,S6s, zoo.
Inis was an increase OF $42,0OO.OOO over
the previous month, and fell only a.
wU:UV0 .,cs short Of the high record fer the
The increase in cotton exports went far
20 ouluing up this vast trade balance,
tne expectations Of the Southern staple
Se,nS %nsS N7.oooooo In excess Of those for
Food stuffs, however, constituted the
MAJOR part Of this export trade. and
with each succeeding month Of the war
Ris excess should continue to increase
- long as America has food to fur
Would Reach Germans.
In the past this great trade has been
confined primarily to the allies and
neutral countries. The attempt has now
neen made to reach the German mar
kets. The first American vessel carry
ing rood to Germany to leave an
American port since the war began
cioared from New York last Wednes-
Gay. This ship. the Wilhelmlna. was
ried 10000 pounds of wheat. $4,000
pounds Of corn, and 10000 pounds Of
pork, other meats and pickles.
such q cargo is termed conditional
ship. Of enemies Of the country to
which consigned shippers must make
clear that It Is not to be utilized by the
armies. The consignors of the cargo
LOOK the precaution to name as the con-
signee an American citizen at Ham
burg, and to secure from the German
government q promise that the food
would be confined to distribution among
non-combatants, and would not be al
lowed to fall into the hands of gov
ernment contractors, nor be seized for
the army. The st. Louis firm has an
n0unced that II Great Britain or her
allies seize the Wilhelmina. they will
cali upon the State Department to
Meanwhile. large orders continue to
be placed In American markets by the
warning nations for military muni-
tlons, and large credits are being es-
country by the foreign governments.
Henry Ford. president of the Ford
motor company, announced in New
York Friday that 10000 automobiles had
been ordered for immediate shipment by
one OF the European nations for war
The only really depressing develop
ment OF the last week is the situation
arising over. American shipping. Tho
sui at New York had issued a certiti-
cate. and the lowering Of the Ameri-
can flag by the crew Of British
declaration that the formerly German
owned Dacia, q vessel which has re-
Gently taken American registry. would
be seized should she attempt to trans
port a cotton cargo to Germany. has
can business world.
The Washington Government has al
ready demanded an explanation of the
Greenbrier incident, and the fact that
Government insurance was granted the
Dacia would indicate that President
Wilson and the State Department au-
thorities are determined to force Great
Britain's hand.
Affairs Near Crisis.
In Ensland the situation is regarded
even more seriously than in this coun-
try. II one may judge from the tenor
Of the editorial comments of the Lon
don press. The Spectator a few days
ago frankly stated that the diplomatic
preaching a crisis. and deplored the
fact, but attributed it wholly to Ameri-
cas- eagerness to amass profit
While the Administration Is confront
ed with the untangling Of complica-
tions arising on the high seas. 1t is at
the same time meeting with serious op
position to its efforts to promote Amer
lean commerce through a Government
owned merchant marine. 1t has al
ready become quite clear that the op-
position to this measure in the Senate
will precipitate the hardest fight that
President Wilson has been confronted
with since the beginning Of his Admin
istration. and the talk of an extra ses-
sion Is daily becoming more general,
despite Democratic Leader Underwood >
emphatic statement in the House Of
pening would be fraught for the Demo-
James J. Hill. the Western railroad
magnate, in a paper read before the
foreign trade convention in ST. Louis
Friday, strongly condemned the plan
cited q statement by Capt Robert Dol
lar, who is engaged in both domestic
and foreign carrying trade, to the effect
that 1t costs $17.236 per year moro to
operate q 3.00O-ton vessel under the
American flag than under that of Great
Britain.
Welding Ring. Of New York. speaking
before the same meeting, gave figures
to show the practical impossibility of
competing with the British in the build
ing Of ships. Two ships of $3.50 tons
dead weight capacity; 5 ,o,I he said; We're
ss3i .7sl.I1 and $50, ,4s7.a5. while to build
two vessels of $3.50 tons dead weig ht
capacity in Philadelphia in 1913 cost
$3.50 ,371.31 and $3.50. SOL 95. These ships
Mr.. Ring declared. We're practically of
the same type and would enter the same
Throughout the United States. par