The Washington herald., 1920-04-05
PRINCIPAL FOREIGN TRADE CEN7ERS SHOW SIGNS
OFRECOVERY FROM DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY WAR

wool sales started on
March 1s. High prices were real
ized.- .s-E
The large Ignite deposits in Dew
onshire are to be developed to help
supply the neighboring towns and
Industries with cheap electric cur
rent. A copper refinery to cost f10,-
100000 will be erected upon the site
of the Ignite deposits. and Ii is
hoped the new refinery will pro-
duce 100000 tons Of copper annual
ly. At present 90 per cent of the
copper used in British industries Is
imported from the United States.
Sheffield manufacturers are find-
ing IL impossible to keep up with
the enormous demand for ShefYield
steel and steel products, both from
domestic and foreign sources, In
spite Of the fact that the producing
capacity Of the plants Is larger than
ever before. as huge extensions
were carried out during the war
and after.
A pronounced scarcity of Port
land cement exists in Great Britain,
where the annual output is only 50
per cent Of normal. which means
that It has decreased by i've million
tons.
Home-g grown pork and pork prod
ucts will be de-controlled from
March 81. and other home e-grown
meats from July 4. 1890. British
native cattle hides were freed from
control March 1.
New retail -yrices Of rice in Great
Britain range from I'd to SID per
pound. Owing to the whole or par
tial failure of the Siamese and Bur-
mese rice crops. imported rice Is
expected to cost more than double
that of rice previously imported.
The Wheat Commission is arrang-
ing to pool part of the new crop
with the balance of stocks on hand
to stabilize retail prices.
The British hosiery trade Is very
prosperous. A good demand Is said
to exist for American-made fne-
gauze knitted fabrics.
Extensive irrigation schemes are
being undertaken in the state Of
New South Wales. The largest of
these Is the Militia Militia Dam,
which will conserve and distribute
the waters of1the River Murray. and
when completed will rank as fourth
largest dam in the world. 1t is ex-
pected that from five to six million
acres will be watered. Another
dam 164 feet in height is
to be constructed for the Macquarie
Valley. The Militia Militia dam Is ex-
pecteds to cost about f5,000.000 and
the second dam approximately f1.-
100000. These irrigation schemes
kNaN a.
large quantities OF construction
machinery. pumps and
equipment
The branch OF agriculture which
promises the best returns for the
season Is fruit and vine growing;
the yields are promising. prices re-
main abnormally high, and cold
storage facilities have been greatly
improved. Orders for dried fruits.
jams, etc, from overseas continue
good. and the preferential treat
ment accorded Australian wine by
the British government is a great
aid to Australian vine growers and
exporters
The Australian representative of
the Guaranty Trust Company re-
ports that Australia is suffering
from a general shortage Of Port-
land cement.
The scarcity OF rice Is becoming
serious, as Java, Siam and China,
the usual sources Of supply. have
prohibited all expectation OF rice.
Powdered milk is in good demand:
also American canned goods. par
canned fish, II packed in
oil. Pure salad oil should be used.
as II is difiicult to place blended
lines on the market.
The new wheat crop Of Australia,
now being harvested. IL estimated
at 42.700,000 bushels. as against an
average crop Of 10,360. 900 bushels.
The estimated surplus. consisting
Of old and new wheat. has beenbut
at 75,7S0.000 bushels.
The Australian government has
removed the export restrictions on
the following: Tallow, edible fats.
furred skins other than rabbit skins,
cocoanut oil, margarine, rubber.
precious stones and frozen meat.
The restrictions on wool. butter and
cheese will end June 30, 1920. un-
less new measures are adopted.
A new Canadian bankruptcy law
is to come into force from July 1.
1920. One provision Of the new act
Is that all persons in business must
keep books showing records of all
transactions.
The control over newsprint prices
In Canada Is to cease next June,
and the power exercised by the
different paper controllers has been
conferred upon the Board OF Com
merce.
About 100000 900 worth of furs
were offered at the fur auction
sales in Montreal starting March
%. This is the FIRST big auction
Of it's kind ever held in Canada.
Two million dollars have been
Appropriated. by the Imperial Oil
for oil explorations in Al
berta during 1920.
The Canadian mineral output for
1919 shows a record value Of $20,-
zoos: about half Of the total was
for asbestos.
A chain of plants for the manu-
facture of oxygen Is to be estab-
lished across Canada.
Canada's first mill for ship plates
was officially opened at Sydney, N.
The mill has q fve-year con-
tract with the Canadian govern
ment for $4,000 tons year in addi-