Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-02
Swedish Business
Feeling Slump
Opposition OF Norway Results In
slow Movement OF All Commodi-
ties, Says Investigator.
By Isaac Gregg


who returned to Washington today
from > trip through Europe.
Mr.. Lundquist states that this de-
preston is due in part to the fact that
important Swedish products, such as
lumber, paper and steel are moving
very slowly in the face Of competi-
ton from Norway, Finland and Ger
many. whose deprecated culTencies
give them a more favorable position
i'm the world trade i'm such lines. Di-
rect competition from German manu-
facturers within Sweden itself has al
so been felt By the manufacturers IN
Sweden to a small extent, the makers
Of supply lines, wire and speclaltieS
being the ones mainly affected.
In England also the industrial
slump has been very hard on cleo
trical manufacturers, according to
agent Lundquist. and several Of the
larger companies are doaing no more
than 20 per cent of their normal ca
pacity, while many electrical dealers
are still in straitened financial CON
ditions.
The American consui at Zurich re-
ports to the Department of Com
merce that the Swiss watch industry
is at low ebb. Exports for the
first half of 1922 are less than for
the same period in 1921. The number
of pieces dropped from 4,4O0,02l in
1922 % 4,i71.23S in 1922, while the
expor; value, including watches and
parts fell from Sl7,lSS,5SO IN 1921 to
Si3,941,924 in 1922.
In this connection it is interesting
to know that Germay has bought with
i'm six months Swiss watches worth
S64S,s60, which amounts to 3OO.OOO.-
OOG paper marks at the rate of eX-
change average Of the first half OF
1922.
That Great Britain seeks to become
independent so far as her oil supply
is concerned is evident from reports
received at the Department of Com
mcrce from our representatives IN
that country. .
In addition to the rapid increase Of
refinery and storage capacity IN the
United Kingdom and the recently -
ported American project at Cardiff,
the Pentney Syndicate is said to have
received a license from the govern
ment to drill for oil in certain areas
of Norfolk. which indicates British
determination TO become independent
i'm the petroleum world as rapidly as
possible.
Another manifestation of this de-
termination is the action Of number
of leading companies engaged i'm the
oil industry in contributing a large
sum of money to the University Of
Birmingham to build up great
chool of oil engineering
The levying Of a gasoline taX Is
receiving very wide and careful DIS
cussion, the suggestion having been
made that all petroleum entering the
United Kingdom be taxed upon its
motor spirit content regardless of its
intended use with the idea of impos-
ing the tax burden more fairly upon
motor car owners and other users Of
motor spirits.
The quality of American canned
goods leaves little room for improve
ment and one seldom hears in Eur
one anv complaint on that score, says
sDncial agent Dennis in report TO
the Department Of Commerce made
public today. American timed meats,
unsweetened condensed milk and the
California sirup fruits enjoy repu-
tation for excellence In all the prn-
cipal European markets.
According to agent Dennis Amer
lean trade can be developed consld-
erably in all the European countries
provided advertising campaigns are
undertaken along lines followed by
the cooperative association IN the
limited States. it would be matter
of considerable time and expense,
and work of this character could only
be carried on through the cooperative
efforts Of American Gamers assocla-
tions. Agent Dennis says that less
advertising is needed in the United
Kingdom than on the continent Amer
lea products are well known IN the
British market, and while tastes are
somewhat different, the British re-
/ U1irements are nearer 10 American
/ than are those of continental coun-
( tries. Germany is considered lhe best
( field for pioneer work on the contl-
nent.
In view of the fight now being
waged BY President Harding in ia
vor Of the establishment of an Amer
icar. merchant marine, figures made
public today by the Department OF
/ Commerce respecting the number 81
merchant vessels now operated by the
Italian government are interesting:
According to the Italian official fg-
ures, on December 81, 1911. the mer-
chant marine of that country lnclud--
ed 544 ocean steamers of 1,5$4'1$S
gross tons. On July /. 1922 the
same records disclosed S69 steamers
in oneration Of 2.539, 1913 gross tons
And this growth has taken place il
face of the fact that 2l8 ltaliar
steamers with a gross tonnage ot
G7L2O7 were lost during the WoriC
Wa.