Vol. VIII, No. 85. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[January, 1902.] 21 
MONTHLY COMMERCIAL AND 
INDUSTRIAL SUMMARIES. 
GENERAL COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
British Corn. — The following statement gives the average 
price of British Corn during the four weeks of December, 1901, 
as compared with December, T900 : — 
Wheat. 
1900. 
Barley. 
Oats, 
Wheat. 
1901. 
Bariev. 
•» 
Oats. 
26/10 
2 5/1 1 
17/4 
27/1 
26/7 
19 /- 
26/9 
25/7 
17/1 
27/2 
26/8 
I 9/3 
26/7 
25/7 
17/2 
27/7 
26/8 
19/8 
26/4 
25/10 
17/2 
27/7 
26/8 
19/10 
Enquiry into Foreign Methods of Commercial and 
Industrial Education. — A movement is on foot to send out a 
commission of enquiry to investigate methods of education on 
the Continent and in America, with special regard to their 
bearing on questions of commerce and industry. Mr. Alfred 
Mosely, C.M.G., who has been struck in the course of his busi- 
ness experience by the fact that Englishmen are very frequently 
less well prepared than Germans or Americans for the tasks of 
commercial and industrial life, is disposed to attribute this 
inferiority of equipment to differences of school training. 
Conscious, however, of the great complexity of the problem 
and of the variety of factors which need to be taken into account 
in any consideration of it, he proposes to defray the whole 
expense of a commission of enquiry, which would visit parts of 
the Continent and of America to study the question. 
A number of gentlemen met under the presidency of Lord 
Reay, Chairman of the London School Board, to confer with 
Mr. Mosely as to the organisation of the enquiry; amongst 
them being Sir Joshua Fitch, Sir A. L. Jones, K.C.M.G., 
Mr. Sidney Webb, and Dr. W, Garnett (Chairman and 
Secretary of the Technical Education Board of the London 
County Council), and Mr. Graham Wallas (Chairman of the 
School Management Committee of the London School Board), 
It was decided that the enquiry should take place in the autumn 
of 1902. It is understood that the promoters of the enquiry will 
endeavour to secure the co-operation of a number of public men 
representing various types of educational authorities and also 
the interests of industry and commerce. 
COLONIES. 
Canadian Tinned Fruits. — Reuter states that the Canadian 
Packers’ Association has determined to adopt active measures 
to develop the trade in canned fruits and vegetables of Canadian 
growth and manufacture in Great Britain. Stores for their sale 
will be opened in the leading centres in England, Scotland, and 
Ireland, and energetic efforts will be made to briug Canadian 
canned goods to the attention of British buyers. 
Canadian Wood for Paving. — There seems likely to be 
a demand in the near future for Canadian wood for paving 
in England. The city engineers of Westminster and Liverpool, 
as a result of recent experiments, have pronounced in favour 
of Canadian tamarac and white spruce, and a number of 
authorities in other cities endorse their opinion. Canadian 
red pine is also recommended, and is pronounced to be equal 
to and cheaper than Baltic red wood. Some Canadian blocks 
laid in Trafalgar-square in 1896 have been found quite sound 
after five years, and worn away only ^ of an inch on the 
average. Mr. Rust, city engineer for Toronto, says cedar has 
been found the best adapted of Canadian woods for street 
paving, but the tamarac and spruce of the maritime provinces 
are harder than what is found in the West, and the supply 
for export to Britain would naturally come from there. The 
wood is treated with creosote before being laid . — Canadian 
Engineer. 
Export of Canadian Horses. — The export of horses from 
the United Slates has risen in value from 3^ million dollars 
in 1896 to 7^ million in 1900. Commenting on this rapid 
growth, the Canadian Gazette remarks that Canada has the 
same number per thousand of the population as the United 
States, and should have sent abroad during the last six years 
in round figures 245 thousand horses and have received 
30 million dollars for them, or, according to Premier Ross, 
half the value of the horses in Ontario. Our contemporary 
urges that more attention should be given to the export of 
horses from the Dominion, aud suggests that the Canadian 
Government should introduce legislation for the improvement 
of horses and cattle, in Canadian no less than in Imperial 
interests, by giving prizes and subsidising Canadian bred and 
imported stallions and sires of registered stock of other breeds ; 
also, wherever necessary, by placing these or their progeny at 
free service in those districts where the stock is bad or where 
the farmers are too poor to help themselves. Although late 
in the day, by putting a stop to the use of “scrub" the trade 
may yet be rescued. Canada's only chance of successfully 
competing with other countries is by improving the whole of the 
live stock of the Dominion. 
INDIA. 
India and East African Trade. — Exhibition in 
Bombay. — With a view to bringing before those interested in 
the Bombay cotton and spinning industries the desirabilities of 
accepting the East African coast as a new market for their 
wares, the committee of the Bombay Millowners’ Association 
held an exhibition of textile fabrics imported from East African 
ports. The exhibits comprised sheetings, and a large variety of 
plain and coloured prints used for the making up of such cloth- 
ing as is worn by Somalis and other races inhabiting the coast 
and the neighbouring islands. The fabrics from these markets 
were mainly of American and German manufacture, with here 
’ and there a sample of goods exported from England or Holland. 
The sheetings shown were almost all of American make, while 
the Germans were shown to have the best hold of the coloured 
print trade. Each exhibit was carefully marked with its source 
of manufacture, the purposes for which it was used, and the 
selling price in the particular market from which it had been 
obtained, which details afford those connected with the Bombay 
mills an opportunity of arriving at a conclusion in regard to the 
point now being brought to their notice, namely, that there is an 
opening for them to manufacture locally articles similar in 
design and workmanship to those on exhibition, and at a price 
that, after allowing for freight across the Indian Ocean, should 
enable the goods to be landed in Africa at prices much lower 
than those ruling in those markets for American and Continental 
fabrics. 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
American Bank in St. Petersburg. — For some time 
there have been rumours of the founding of an American Bank 
in St. Petersburg. These rumours have now been substantiated. 
The syndicate of American capitalists will supply the new bank 
with a capital of 6,000,000 dollars, and the bank will be called 
the American Bank of the North. — Constantinople Chamber of 
Commerce Journal. 
American Trusts and Mexico.— The North American 
Trusts are making themselves felt in Mexico in a most im- 
portant fashion. Since the beginning of autumn of this year 
proposals have been made by New York firms to the most 
important mines in Mexico for handing over their business to a 
syndicate, which has already absorbed most of the smelting 
works ; the breweries will also soon be monopolised by an 
American company, and the same also applies to the Mexican 
tobacco cultivation, the products of which are largely used in 
Hamburg and Belgium. In petroleum, shoe manufactories, 
tanneries, etc. , the American interests are the most powerful, 
and, lastly, the English owners of shares in Mexican railways 
are in negotiation with an American Trust which desires to 
possess their shares. — Handels Museum . 
Argentine Republic. — Industries. — It appears from the 
Buenos Ayres Herald that Argentina has advanced beyond the 
pastoral stage, and is manufacturing a fair quantity of the goods 
it used to import. Now it not only grows wheat for export in 
great quantities, but it has flour mills which produce a good 
article for the home market. It has not only the wool, but 
wool fabrics as well. To-day blankets made in Argentine 
factories from Argentine wool are really the standard article in 
the market, and the imported article finds a sale only among 
those whose pocket-books are long. The country is making 
cotton fabrics, it having been found profitable to import the 
fibre or yarn for that purpose. Both in wool and cotton pretty 
nearly everything in the line of underclothing may now be had 
of Argentine make. Imported duck, indeed, is now almost an 
unknown quantity, having been widely supplanted by the home 
product. But the list of new and multiplying national in- 
dustries does not end here. Breweries and distilleries are so 
numerous and self-evident as not to cause a special mention. 
Argentina is even making the bottles and demijohns in 
which the products are distributed. It is making the greater 
part of the porcelain-covered iron ware that is so common in 
every house. It is becoming a large manufacturer of boots and 
shoes of all kinds, though as yet it has no records to boast of in 
the way of tanning leather. Its hides go abroad, are there 
tanned, and the latter comes back to be made into shoes. Even 
ice, which formerly was imported by the shipload, is now an 
artificially produced home product, and that at a price much 
less than what it used to be. 
Bulgarian Commercial Correspondents. — It is reported 
from Sophia that the Bulgarian Ministry of Commerce has 
resolved to appoint Commercial Correspondents in the great 
European trade centres, and as soon as possible in Austria and 
Hungary. These correspondents are to be selected from the 
well-known and respectable commercial classes. Some are to 
be appointed directly at Buda-Pesth, and it will be their duty to 
keep the Bulgarian Government informed as to the course of 
trade, and to forward the use of Bulgarian products. The 
Government has already appointed such officials in Paris, 
Odessa, and Antwerp, under the name of Bulgarian Trade 
Agents, and the present Minister of Commerce proposes to 
considerably extend their number. — Handels Museum. 
Japanese Cotton Examination Bureau.— The Chamber 
of Commerce in Kobe has made a proposal to the Japanese 
Government to establish a bureau for the purpose of examining 
and classifying cotton. Amongst the hundreds of thousands 
of bales of cotton which are annually imported into Kobe there 
are a large number of inferior quality, and the difficulties which 
importers are caused in consequence, are proposed to be 
Lessened by the work of this bureau. — Handels Museum. 
Japan. — Shipbuilding. — The Japanese shipbuilders have 
made a favourable advance in recent years, as demonstrated 
by the fact that they build ships riot only for use in their own 
country, but also some of large tonnage for foreign nations, as 
for instance a steamer of 700 tons register for the Customs De- 
partment at Shanghai. Still, in 1899, the number and tonnage 
of ships built in Japan (112 ships with a tonnage of 20,375) was 
smaller than that of those which were constructed abroad for 
Japan, namely 271 ships with a total of 39,847 tons, — Handels 
Museum. 
Mexican Commerce. — Recent reports show that the com- 
merce of this country is making rapid strides. The total value 
of the imports and exports has risen from 397,139,582 fcs. in 
1894-95 to 683,506,882 fcs. in 1899-1900. During this period 
of six years, imports have increased 44 per cent, and exports 
39 per cent. Most of the imports come from the United 
States, with an amount of 31 million gold pesos, then from 
England with 10 ‘5 million, then come France and Spain. It is 
evident that Mexico, with a population of 13 millions, which has 
enjoyed peace for 25 years, has a great future in store. The 
trade in six years has nearly doubled, and the financial position 
is good. There arc 14,572 kilometres of railways and numerous 
important towns with a large demand, and also several good 
harbours on the sea coast.- — Handels Museum. 
Samples Museum in Brazil. — Official reports state that in 
the year 1902 a permanent Sample Museum will be established 
in Bella Xovizonte, in the State of Minas, which is considered 
one of the most important in the Brazilian Union; it will 
contain agricultural and industrial products, and foreign 
countries are to be allowed to exhibit. — Handels Museum. 
Soap Trade in Tripoli. — The large demand for soap in 
Tripoli is mostly supplied by imports from France, Italy, Tunis, 
Malta and Crete. French soap costs 36, and Italian only 
28 '50 francs per 100 kilogs. Whilst formerly Marseilles was the 
principal source of supply, Italy now competes very successfully, 
owing to its lower scale of prices. The quality from Tunis is 
also too dear to compete advantageously with the Italian. The 
quantity of Maltese and Cretan soap is not very large. — Handels 
Museum. 
Sugar Refinery in European Turkey. — In the neighbour- 
hood of Adrianople a sugar refinery is being erected, the 
concession having been obtained by a high Turkish official 
(Reouf Pacha). All materials necessary for building and 
machinery are to be admitted duty free. Also it has obtained 
at the same time a concession for opening a deposit of coal which 
has been discovered in the vicinity of the refinery, and which 
will furnish the necessary fuel. The beet-root will be grown on 
the lands adjoining. The necessary machinery has already been 
ordered from European factories. — Handels Museum. 
Trade in the Philippines. — A German trade society reported 
that although the pacification of the Philippine Islands has not 
yet been accomplished, still the news of its commercial pros- 
pects are so favourable that exporters cannot be too strongly 
recommended to pay attention to these Islands. During the 
period from July, 1900, to March, 1901, the imports have risen 
52 and the exports 34 per cent, as compared with the previous 
year, and it cannot be denied that the American Administration 
have had great success in improving the trade. It is of im- 
portance for exporters which system of duties the Americans 
will adopt, and whether American goods will have a preferential 
tariff— Spain had arranged formerly for such a preferential 
tariff- — America has not adopted one at present, but whether 
it will ultimately do so remains 10 be seen. It is, however, 
important to note that the proposed scale of tariffs submitted 
by the commission in Manilla and approved of by the War 
Department in Washington has retained the same scale of duties 
for American and foreign lands. 
Trade Openings in Siberia.— The Canadian Pacific Rail- 
way recently sent a representative to make a complete tour over 
the Siberian Railway in order to investigate the possibilities 
which the country affords for the development of business, 
particularly in relation to manufactured goods. Mr. Whyte, 
who was chosen for the task, shows in his report that oppor- 
tunities for trade are restricted considerably by the prohibitory 
import duties. Agricultural implements, however, find a ready 
sale. In fact, the Russian Government is itself introducing 
them in certain sections which, having been long settled, exhibit 
an adherence to primitive methods of agriculture. Axes and 
other cutting tools have a large market. Electrical apparatus 
also finds a sale in Siberia. Another feature of Mr. Whyte's 
report which deserves attention is the section devoted to the 
question of Siberia's fuel supply. Although a heavily w'ooded 
country extends along nearly all the route traversed by the 
Siberian Railway, that country contains large deposits, of eoal, 
which are already mined extensively both by the Russian 
Government and by private enterprise. The Siberian railroad, 
notwithstanding the abundance of wood for fuel, is mainly 
operated with coal, which is described as being of excellent 
quality. It is also worth noting that immigration from European 
Russia to Siberia is being carried on with considerable energy 
by the Russsan Government. Its agents go about among the 
more thickly populated regions of Western Russia, make up 
parties of emigrants and dispatch them eastward along the 
railroad, where they are received by other Government agents 
and placed upon the lands granted to them. The Government 
allots a free grant of fort}- acres to each male emigrant, and 
sells supplies and implements on comparatively easy terms. In 
a Government publication, printed at St. Petersburg, it is stated 
that the Government expect to settle 5,000,000 people in Siberia 
during the next five years, aud it is also claimed that by that 
time Siberia will export fully 30,000,000 bushels of wheat pdr 
annum. 
Trade relations between Russia and America. — How 
evident it is that the present tariff war between Russia and Jhe 
United States is only to be regarded as temporary, is shown by 
several opinions of the North American Press. They state that 
the future will show a more lasting basis than that with England. 
It is stated that the 640 kilometres of railway which, during the 
last ten years have been constructed annually in Siberia, have 
been made almost entirely with American materials. Rails, 
screws, waggons, etc., came from the United States, and 
principally from Pittsburg. The same applies to the East China 
line in Manchuria. At present passengers travel from Yladi- 
vostock to Chabarowsk, 763 kilometres, In Pullman cars from 
Chicago, and continued the journey by the Amoor and Schilka, 
by steamers, which are made at Pittsburg. 
All along the Siberian railway numerous American posters 
are to be seen, advertisements of machine factories, etc. It is 
characteristic of the friendly feeling of Russia towards American 
exporters, that no advertisements besides Russian are allowed 
on the Siberian line. It is easily understood under these circum- 
stances that this railway has carried in one lot 1,000,000 lb. of 
American machinery, and that from Pittsburg factories one 
million tons of railway materials were delivered in Russia during 
the year 1900. In the last few years two steamers have been 
despatched every week from Philadelphia and Baltimore loaded 
with American machinery for Russia. 
In the meantime, however, North American journals com- 
plain that in Manchuria Russia is acting in an unfriendly 
manner, especially with regard to the imports of petroleum. 
The Russian Governor of Talienwan has forbidden the erection 
of warehouses for North American petroleum, with a view of 
rendering the importation of North American petroleum difficult 
in comparison with Russian. 
United States. — Coai, Production in Pennsylvania.— 
The production of coal in Pennsylvania will, without doubt, be 
larger this year than ever, and is estimated as io,ocfo,ood tons 
higher than in 1900. The output in 1900 was 45,108,484 tons. 
In the first nine months of this year 40,309,786 tons have 
already been disposed of, against 34,202,710 in the same period 
of 1900. These figures represent the actual deliveries, and do 
not include the quantities used by the mines and coal companies. 
The demand is this year greater than ever ; the production is 
quickly absorbed, and it is only in consequence of the want of 
transport that any stocks are left in the hands of coal 
compan ies. — Ha ndels M useu m. 
United States. —Export Trade. — There are several ‘ ‘ soft 
spots," says Bradstreet' s, in the export trade of the United 
States which promise to still further accentuate the slight falling 
off already shown in the total volume of this branch of trade 
from a year ago. While the smaller takings of corn and cotton 
in themselves have been serious of late, the movement of these 
goods earlier in the year, and of wheat and wheat-flour all 
through the past summer and fall, were so large as to ensure a 
net gain in the export of agricultural products for the calendar 
year. In the exports of manufactured products, however, - the 
same favourable report cannot be made, but when the reasons for 
this are examined into it is found that it is to the decline in the 
shipments of iron and steel and copper that the reduction in the 
exports of manufactures is due. For instance, the reduction 
in the aggregate exports of these two products is about 
$46,500,000, about equally shared by iron and steel and copper, 
while the net reduction in exports of all manufactures is less 
than this, or only $44,162,856. The export returns compiled by 
the Treasury Department Bureau of Statistics show that copper 
shipments for the ten months ending with October were 45 per 
cent, below those of 1900, and the value of iron and steel ship- 
ments is 21 per cent, less than last year. In the case of iron 
and steel the reduction is partly due to reduced prices per unit 
of quantity, in part to a reduced demand abroad, and in part 
to forced sales at low rates in certain foreign countries. In 
copper the reduction is not due to reduced prices, the average 
value per pound of the copper exports of the ten months of 
this year, being the same as that of the corresponding months 
of last year, viz., 16 ‘3 cents per pound. The reduction in 
copper, therefore, is in quantity, the exportation of ingots, 
bars and plates falling from 300,160,141 pounds in the ten 
months of 1900 to 162,728,397 pounds in the corresponding 
months of 190 c. This falling off in the case of copper is due 
in part to a reduced demand in the European countries which 
were the chief foreign market for American copper, and in 
part to an increased production in other countries and reduction 
of prices by foreign producers. The only other important 
article showing a material reduction is mineral oil, which is 
about $3,000,000 less than in the corresponding months of last 
year ; but this decrease is solely due to reduced prices, the 
number of gallons exported in the ten months ending with 
October being 60,289,023 greater than for the corresponding 
months of the preceding year. 
