The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-08
Manufacturers Wisely Try ing to Increase Trade
 With Dominion
AMERICANS ABSORB
 THEIR SECURITIES
Large American Population in West ern Canada Has Been Big Aid to Promoting Trade
 Relations
By HOLLAND

| New York, August 7.-(SpeciaL) )-Noi
 until an excellent authority upon condi. | tions in western Canada, c. c. Porter ot Winnipeg, summarized into a few statis- tics the trade relations between Canada and the United States, as he did today
 was there good understanding of the magnitude of this trade. Nor was it known that American manufacturers are wisely and vigorously occupied with an attempt to increase trade with western Canada. These manufacturers have suc- ceeded so well that the exports from the United States into the prairie provinces are so large as to make Canada the sec ond best customer of the United States. While war orders explain in great meas ure the increase of our exports, they play no part in our trade with western Can ada. This is all normal and healthful do- mestc trade There went into Canada last year American commodities whose money value was almost exactly $345, ,000, 900. That was in excess of the trade the year before by about S35, ,000, 900.
 Various boards of trade in western Can- ada report that traffic from the United States is not only being maintained, but is increasing in the year 1916, so that at the end of this calendar year it may be possible to report a money value of nearly S400, 100000 for commodities exported from the United States to Canada. The move ment is so great that the Canadian au- thorities are now taking earnest heed of it, and the government at Ottawa has ic fo Ia termine the character of the manufac- tured articles for which Canada is pay ing, principally to the United States so that 1t can be decided whether or not these commodities may sooner or later be produced in Canada.
 The late Lord Strathcona and his asso- ciate in the opening up of the prairie provinces of Canada, Lord Mount Stephens, would have been amazed had they lived long enough to read the official report which tells of the trade of western Canada with the United States and of the movement of American farmers into the prairie provinces These great men looked forward to a wonderful develop ment of these agricultural lands after the transcontinental railroad which they planned was completed. But they were not accustomed to think of a great trade with the United States. They looked into future which would show vast harvests of wheat, sufficient not only for Canada, but also providing a great surplus which could be exported to Europe in competi- ton with the wheat of the of the United States. In the past two or three years Canada has justified the wheat forecast made by these two men.
 OUR INDUSTRIES IN CANADA
 Within a few years some of the larger manufacturing firms of New England, Detroit, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Minne- -apolis have had their representatives, who are keen and able business men, in all parts of western Canada, where there is promise of business. Yet a few years American industry in that part of Can ada. Not in South America Is there greater energy or skill revealed in secur- ing trade for the American manufacturers than is the case in western Canada. One of the reasons why the representatives of these companies are so well received is to be found in the fact that the United States, especially since the European war began, has been willingly absorbing Can- adian securities. Americans have in vested millions in these securities at per cent and they are willing to take millions more.
 In western Canada much interest and qualification have been expressed over a recent piece of financing perfected on the one hand by Manitoba and on the other by a syndicate of which J. P. Nor gan & Go. are the head. This transac- tion, by not more than a stroke of a pen, transferred $53, 900, represented by