New-York tribune., 1918-02-11

, quarter. In the unprecedented demand
Tor steel and engineering products that
Will spring up when peace comesin
making good the wastages and damages
of war and the arrears of constructions
renewals and repairs that are accumu-
lating-we can afford to neglect com
petition, but time may bring n race for
supremacy between ourselves and the
Americans. 1t is therefore useful to
examine broadly the comparative re-
sources of the United States and the
Onited Kingdom Roughly, there was a
worlds export trade in iron and steel
aaggregatIng 100000 tons a year be-
&2OO, 900, besides machinery valued
at another S120,oO0,OOO. In round fig
ures, Germany was exporting 100000
TONS OF iron and steel annually: Brit
ain, 100000 tons, and America, 1,50O,-
600 tons.
U. S. in Strong Position
After the war it is more than proba-
bic that this trade will be greater in
volume and much greater in value th:n
before the war. 1t is highly likely that
Germany's share will be much smaller
than 1T was before the war, which
means that more will stand to be di-
vlded between the United Kingdom and
the United States. BY the way, these
three untries-America, Germany and
Britaln-~produce somewhere about rs
per cent of the worlds total of iron,
steel and engineering products. Until
the outbreak of the war the United
States, although possessing a produc-
tive capacity equal to that of Britain
and Germany put together, never had
more than meagrc share OF The
worlds export business, as indicated
by the above figures. But the opinion
is strongly held in some quarters that
America will henccforth undertake an
export trade in some way commen-
surate with her capacity of production.
What are the prospects? Briefly, it
may be said that, in abundance of
natural resources and in amplitude of
productive capacity, the United States
is in position to undertake something
like the lions share of the steel export
business, easily beating both US aud
the Germans; but that in geographical
compactness, in the powers of cheap
production, and in shipping facilities,
Britain is much better situated The
United States has the most coal and
iron ore. The United Kingdom has the
best assemblage. manufacturing and
shipment accommodation.
American Efficiency Called Myth
American efficiency is only myth,
in the opinion of the London engineer
ing publication, which points out that
from time to time the English have
heard great deal about the superi-
ority of American labor, but the figures
given in this connection have been
misleading. "They make no allowance"
it continues, "for the vastly greater ex-
penditure on machinery and automatic
appliances in America, compared with
Britain. If half what we have been
told so often about American efficiency
and economy had been true, British
goods would have been swept clean off
the worlds markets long ago. The
simple fact is that the Americans can
not produce and ship general manu-
factured goods so cheaply as we can.
The war, with its imitation of wages
and cost of materials, coupled with alb
normal taxation. may considerably
modify international competitive condi-
tons. Some high authorities hold the
we" that one economic effect of the
war will be SO to enhance our costs as
to enable the United States to produce
and ship at least as cheaply as our
selves and the Germans. Many Ameri-
can enterprises and associations are
laying their plans in this belief"
English See Golden Opportunity
1t is admitted by the English that
much, if not everything, depends on
their own efforts They recognize if
they stick too closely to old methods
and policies they may be beaten both
by Americans and Germans, not to
mention other nations. "If our states
men me- VIII not protect our markets." saws
"Engineering,' "and encourage enter
prise more than they did before the
war, If our manufacturers and shippers
Will not organize better and if our