The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-03
AMERICAS BUSINESS
ON FIRM FOUNDATION
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA
America Greatest Producer, Exporter
and Consumer In Many Hnes-Na-
tton-Wide Saving Gospel to Be
Prcachetl-Alaska Great Asset.

and Consumer In Many 1AneS-Na-
don Wide Saving Gospel to Be
Observation-Disclosures Great Asset.
In the face of grave International
problems and complicated business
conditions without precedent. the
country continues to progress steadily
and the people of the United States
refuse to become alarmed or to lose
their mental balance. One result Of
the common sense policy OF attending
strictly to business is indicated by the
figures recently made public by the
Bureau OF Foreign and Domestic Com
merce covering the exports OF the
world for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1915.
For the first time in history. the
United States leads the entire world
in exports, the United Kingdom taxi
ing second place. While, Of course,
when hostilities cease in Europe our
exports in certain lines wifi be ma
terially affected. yet distinct part
of the increase during the past year
Is on a Arm and permanent basis and
with care and energy on the part Of
our business men our export trade
should continue to lead the world.
Worlds Merchant Tonnage.
Few industries have suffered more
acutely through the war than mer-
chant shipping and II is, therefore.
interesting to note that In spite Of all
rawbacks the worlds merchant ton
mage during the eleven months since
July /. 1914. increased over one hum
dred and seventy-two thousand tons.
The largest increase was under the
American flag and amounted to over
half million tons or about four times
-ous-axerage annual increase -feE-tAe
past ten years Practically all OF this
increase Is due to the transferring OF
vessels to American registry under the
ship registry act OF August, 1914.
British tonnage for the year in
creased two hundred and thirty thous-
and tons as compared with an average
annual increase OF over four hundred
thousand tons for the past ten years.
As was to be expected, German tom
mage shows an enormous loss the de-
crease being In excess OF seven hum
dred and nifty thousand tons, as COM
pared with an average ten-year an
nual increase OF one hundred and
eighty nine thousan tons. *s
The worlds total tonnage II now
4e.261.76a tons, as compared with AZ.
ose,552 tons in 1914 These figures
cover vessels of one hundred tons or
over.
Trade With South America.
The trade Of the United States with
South America is showing a marked
Improvement. particularly In exports
from the United States II is a Pc
culiar fact that during the frst half
OF the war period. exports from this
country ee. the South American cont4n-
ent showed a marked decline. but In
no 10 rvnnAnrf.13
Improvement has taken place, and
starting with March. each month
shows a material gain over the COR
responding period OF last year.
With continued intelligent effort on
the part of American export and
financial houses. our exports In this
part Of the world should continue to
increase steadily month by month.
The shortage in shipping facilities is
being overcome and the outlook for
trade with South America Is distinctly
bright.
The Public Domain.
The day of the settler is far from
being past in this country. The gen.
erai land office Of the United States
in its annual report shows that during
the past fiscal year nearly eleven and
quarter million acres of land were
eliminated from the public domain by
homestead and other entries and sales
to individuals
There still remain. however, close
upon two hundred and eighty mil
lion acres unappropriated and unre-
served; and in addition to this
enormous area there are approxi-
mately three hundred million acres In
American citizens. There !s, there
fore, no Immediate danger OF any
overcrowding or lack OF land in the
United States
Tobacco Trade OF the World.
The United States Is at once the
greatest producer, exporter and con-
sumner Of tobacco. Our production OF
leaf Of all sorts averages over a bill
lion pounds year. having a value OF
about 500. o00.0nn-- During normal
years about one-third of the crop Is
exported. exceeding In value the ex-
ports OF such items as cotton manu-
features. electrical machinery. leather
and leather manufactures
The war has had the effect OF dis
locating the trade temporarily and
the sale Of manufactured leaf has
suffered most. because ii Is practical
~ impossible to ship to some Of the
Ibelligerents and In the second place
the shortage OF labor In the factories
Of other. countries prevents the usual
supply being handled.
In the actual war zone. the enor-
NOUS increase in consumption of to-
bacco by the men In the field is one
OF the most Interesting features Of the
situation, though 1t does not. OF course
by any means offset the general de-
crease due to other causes.
Nation Wide Saving.
The example OF Governor Ferris. OF
Michigan in designating the first sun
day in September as dav on which
the gospel OF saving shall be preached
is likely to be followed in other parts
of the country The Governors ides
lis that every year on this Sunday
icferxymeff. teachers ana others inter.
ested in church work. make = specia
effort to inspire youth with an appre.
citation Of tho value Of the hibits Of
thrift.
Tho lack OF thrift among Ameri.
! car youth" says the proclamation. Il.
an alarming symptom. Thrift doc
not mean stinginess. nor does 1t NEAR
undue regard for the dollar, Habits o,
thrift In youth would largely do away
So -