INTRODUCTION. ri 
received from those of our friends who employ us regularly to control goods supplied 
to them, we gather with satisfaction that our efforts are attended by success in many 
‘directions. We again extend an invitation to our readers to avail themselves of the 
free services of our laboratory, and we will only remark in passing that we are about 
to enlarge our scientific department considerably by the addition of a new floor. 
Our sales in Germany have moved within the limits of normal business-requirements, 
and we have been able to notice few signs of any reversal in the generally propitious 
condition of trade. The industries in which our manufactures are used have been 
apparently very busy, and although here and there some lack of enterprise was shown, 
trade in general may be described as normal and healthy. Naturally, the downward 
movements in the prices of our principal manufactures have not helped to stimulate 
sales, for of course most buyers take up an attitude of reserve, and only cover their 
most urgent needs. 
The respective shares of the four principal commercial nations in the trade of 
the world have been as follows: — 
_ GERMAN EMPIRE 
Beeps, value . >... «3... .«.« ... 10080,6 Mill. -Z (comp. w: 1912 +1123,8)- 
Imports _,, ne ar ia eee ne i OOO DIATE my Ak Goins t 1.0 ol Oape eerie ASO) 
20776,0 Mill. 4 (comp.w.1911 +1127,8). 
UNITED KINGDOM | 
Exports 525,46 Mill. & (comp.w.1912 +38,24) or 10719,4 Mill. -% (comp.w.1912 + 780,1) 
Baptiste. 03 22, (5. 1912,424,30) 150882. , (© 4, 1912 + 4976) 
26407,6 Mill. -Z (comp. w. 1912 --1277,7). 
FRANCE 
Exports 6875,40 Mill. fcs.(comp.w.1912 +162,8) or 5500,4 Mill. 4 (comp.w.1912 + 130,3) 
BepeeeeI aoe) 2th eis, 1912'4=277,0) 3 :0806,70 8 og Gu, 1912!-+4) 222 1) 
12307,1 Mill. eZ (comp.w.1912 + 352,4). 
UNITED STATES : 
Exports 2484,31 Mill. § (comp.w.1912 +85,09) or 10434,1 Mill. -@ (comp.w.1912 + 357,4) 
ment AIS CG te 19125-2580) F527 2 Be 1912") 1OSiA) 
17961,3 Mill. -Z (comp.w.1912 -+ 248,7). 
In respect of total trade, the United Kingdom has therefore made the greatest 
progress in the year 1913, but in percentage proportion, German foreign trade has 
grown more last year than has British trade. The increase in the turnover with foreign 
countries of the United States in 1913 was very much less than that of Germany and 
Britain, smaller even than that of France. It is not surprising that the imports of 
the United States should have fallen off after the exceptionally large increase in this 
department in the year 1912 (as a result of the impending changes in the Tariff), 
rather is the fact worthy of notice that the diminution has not been greater, because 
experience shows that the decline of a trade-boom in that country is usually accom- 
panied by a pronounced restriction of imports. The circumstance that in Germany, 
too, the imports have shown scarcely any increase in the year 1913 is probably 
chiefly attributable to the good harvest, but also of course to the restriction in the 
purchases of raw material which was the concomitant of the decline from boom con-. 
ditions. The state of affairs has been similar, although it has not been so unfavour- 
able, as in the year 1908 and 1901, two years of economic crisis, in which a decrease 
of imports was recorded in Germany. 
