FOREIGN TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. 631 



markets, especially that of Russia, which may be partly attributed to the fact 

 that American firms are protected in their own market from foreign competition 

 and can thus sell their manufactures cheaper abroad than at home. 



A remarkable change has also taken place in the field of boot and shoe 

 production. Hardly more than ten years ago the United States imported shoes 

 from Europe — especially women's footwear from Austria, while other grades 

 were made of leather imported from England and Germany. To-day, it not only 

 makes its entire supply of leather at home and exports it in considerable quan- 

 tities, but it floods Europe with ready-made shoe depots in Paris and even in 

 the principal cities of Germany. 



That the United States, by reason of its richness in mineral oils and aided 

 by its unrivaled facilities for refining and transporting this international neces- 

 sity, controls the petroleum trade of the world and is held in check only by 

 Russia is well known, and the fact is only cited here in order to include this 

 weighty factor in the calculation. The experience of the past few months proves 

 that within a not far distant period, the coal of the United States will play 

 the same role in the markets of the world. The Union has reversed the old 

 adage, "It is ridiculous to carry coals to Newcastle," for to-day anthracite 

 coals from Pennsylvania are actually exported to England. 



Incidentally, it may be remarked that the typewriting machine with which 

 this article is written, as well as the thousands — nay, hundreds of thousands 

 — of others that are in use throughout the world, were made in America; 

 that it stands on an American table, in an office furnished with American 

 desks, bookcases and chairs, which cannot be made in Europe of equal quality, 

 so practical and convenient, for a similar price. The list of such articles, 

 apparently unimportant in themselves, but in their aggregate number and value 

 of the highest significance, could be extended indefinitely. But it would seem 

 more interesting and characteristic to cite the fact that an American syndicate 

 is now planning, and has even taken the initial steps in a scheme, to take 

 in hand the whole sleeping-car service of Europe, to improve it and make 

 it cheaper than is now possible. Moreover, American manufacturers of under- 

 clothing, gloves and men's clothing, as well as women's cloaks — all articles which 

 a few years ago were exported in vast quantities from Europe to the United States 

 — are already beginning to calculate how they can place their surplus output 

 in European markets. 



The 'FremdenblattV conclusion is that Europe "must fight Amer- 

 icanism with its own methods; the battle must be fought with their 

 weapons, and wherever possible their weapons must be bettered and 

 improved by us. Or, to speak with other and more practical words, 

 Germany — Europe — must adopt improved and progressive methods in 

 every department of industry; must use more, and more effective, 

 machinery. Manufacturers as well as merchants must go to Amer- 

 ica, send thither their assistants and workingmen, not merely to super- 

 ficially observe the methods there employed, but to study them thor- 

 oughly, to adopt them, and wherever possible to improve upon them, 

 just as the Americans have done and are still doing in Europe." 



SERVICES OF UNITED STATES CONSULS. 



Dr. Vosberg-Eekow, head of the German bureau for the preparation 

 of commercial treaties, attributes the remarkable growth of exports 



