Evening star., 1919-04-06

taking Srders from all over the world.
The nations are sending here their
raw materials and getting them
transformed by American genius into
food. clothing, tools and the thousand
and one requisites, aids and luxuries
that advancing civilization has taught
the people Of the world an ambition
I to have and to use.
This situation nightly pleases Uncle
Sam, for he appreciates that in this
way the wealth Of the world is be-
ing multiplied. There is a direct in
crease in value from the raw mate'
rails to the finished. manufactured
product, and that represents the tall
ent and technical skill of his boys
and girls. 1t represents their advance
ment in making something better out
of what is taken from natures store
house.
But Uncle Sam is not content with
merely running the worlds factory.
He is also sending to all lands the
agricultural products from the best
cultivated lands in the world, and is
preparing to facilitate such supplying
of the hungry Of the world from his
surplus crops. From the United
States bureau of markets several agri-
cultural trade commissioners are go
ing overseas as permanent representa-
tives to report on conditions and to
study the marketing and distributing
of American farm products. Hereto
fore the United States has done little
in the way Of economic study of de-
mands and methods in foreign coun-
tries and yet in 1913, a representative
year. agricultural exports amounted
to s1,904, ,oo0, 900. or As per cent Of the
total exports of this country.
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On account of the progressive spirit.
the brotherly, fair helpful disposition
which this country
Coming Here has always shown
the smaller nations
1Or help. are now coming to
Uncle Sam and saying: ''See what we
have. Can't you help us to develop
our possibilities and can't we carry
on a trade exchange that will be mu-
tually advantageous"
For example-only last week the
Republic Of Panama, a country Win
big temperate climate possibilities
and strategic location, that has lain
dormant for many years, suddenly
awakened to the tremendous prospect
for industry and trade that must come
with the use Of the canal as the great
est commerce highway on the globe,
has called DIR. Clarence j. Owens and
a corps Of United States experts TO
make an economic survey OF the re-
public and to recommend pro6idh
for development.
The United States is today dominant
in Panama trade. and stimulation OF
production and commerce VIII mean
Increased trade with the United
States. Panamas imports from the
United States have. increased from
s5,413,305 in 1912 to $6.674.990 In 1915.
and during that period the total I'M
ports dropped from $9.S11,617 to $9,-
197.454. In these same years the ex-
ports from Panama to the United
States Increased from $1.77s.66o to
S5.36O,7S8, while the total exports
were increasing from $2,064.64S to
$5,506,725.
X y
A mere glance at the principal ex-
ports and imports shows readily on
what healthy basis of
p.... exchange trade between
the United States and
1raAe. Panama is being devel-
oped. Panama takes from the United
States flour. potatoes. textiles, meats.
boots and shoes. structural iron and
steel, railway materials. lumber.
pharmaceutical products. machinery.
petroleum and gasoline. In exchange
cargoes Panama sends to US bananas,
rubber, cocoanuts. manganese, ivory
nuts, cocobola wood. tortoise shells,
mother-of-pearl,h hides and skins.
The opportunities for American cap
ital to develop the natural resources
and to take advantage of the condi-
tions for production are unusually
good. Crushing of cocoanut oil in
the United States was encouraged by
the food administration during the
war and the most modern plant in the
world has been established near Bal
timore. There are 1000 square miles
of cocoanut land in Panama, the an
nual product from which is estimated
at wholesale price of $200.000,0 900
per annum, SO that the present ex-
portation Of 100000 is only about "
IF 1 per cent of the immense field
omen to enterprise. Similarly about
81. 600, 900 worth of bananas were ex-
ported in 1917. while there are 5,000.-
900 acres Of land capable of produc-
ing $4o0.o00.000 a year.
~
American capital is going into this
country. Railroads are being pro-
jected, following the adj
Investing vice given by the former
director general Of rail-
capital. roads, William G. Nc
Adoo, on a recent visit to Panama
One of the strongest oil companies in
the world is making an examination
of the republic and IL sinking several
wells. The Panama national assem-
bly, is engaged on several reform bills
to afford governmental facilities and
guarantees to American capital.
During the week just passed the
Panama government ratified the Com
mercial Travellers treaty with the
United States to facilitate the opera
tions Of commercial travellers and to
foster trade. Panama is the four
teenth country to concur in such an
agreement, the advantages of which
have previously been explained in
these columns.
The unprecedented event Of the
week, when a people grown strong.
educated, progressive and industrially