Vol. VIII. No. 90. IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. [June, 1902.] 161 
MONTHLY COMMERCIAL AND 
INDUSTRIAL SUMMARIES. 
GENERAL COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. 
COLONIES. 
British North Borneo.— 1 Telegraphic Communication. 
— The directors of the British North Borneo Company have 
received a telegram from Governor Birch, stating that the 
extension of the telegraph line to Kudat has been completed. 
Direct telegraphic communication between that station and 
London is thus established. 
Jamaica.— The Mercantile Intelligencer reports that trade 
has been quiet except in banana districts, where brighter pros- 
pects prevail owing to the good prices now obtained for this 
fruit. The news that a grant-in-aid will be made by the British 
Government to the West Indian colonies has been received 
with much satisfaction, though the sum — £250,000 — mentioned 
appears small. The manner in which this grant-in-aid is to be 
applied is a matter of much consequence, and the final decision 
is awaited with keen interest. If the amount is divided in 
Jamaica on the sugar manufactured, it is considered as likely to 
be of no avail if the sugar is shipped to the United States of 
America — now the chief market — whereas, if a bounty is given 
on the sugar exported, the bounty will in the first place be a 
larger one, by virtue of the fact that Jamaica consumes about 
one-fourth of the sugar manufactured in the islands, and 
shippers will still be able to ship their sugar to whichever 
market they think best. In the case of shipments to America, 
this bonus would, however, be countervailed. The delay in 
sending news as to how the “grant-in-aid” is to be applied is 
occasioned, it is believed in the island, by the British Govern- 
ment trying to negotiate with America not to take the grant into 
consideration in levying duties on British West Indian sugars. 
New South Wales. — Mining Industry. — According to 
the preliminary figures issued by the Under Secretary for Mines, 
the value of the total production of minerals for 1901 was 
£6,006,636, a net decrease of £564,184 on that of the previous 
year. The total number of men employed in and about the 
Mines of the State during the year under review is computed as 
36,615, and shows a decrease of 7,130 persons on the year 
1900. 
Gold. 
The gold yield for the year 1901 was 267,061 oz., equal to 
216,888 oz. fine, valued at ,£921,282, as compared with 
345,650 oz. (280,214 oz - fine), valued at £r, 194,521 for the year 
1900 — a decrease of 78,589 oz. and ,£273,239 in value. 
Silver, Lead, Zinc. 
The declared net value of silver, lead and zinc exported during 
the past year was as follows : — Silver, silver lead and ores, 
£1,854,463, lead (pig, etc.) £100,501; zinc (concentrates), 
£4,057; a total value of £1,959,021, showing a decrease of 
£‘828,429 on the value of the output for the year 1900. The 
bulk of the output is contributed by the Broken Hill mines, 
and the fall in prices in silver and lead practically crippled the 
industry, and caused the closing down of all but three of the 
principal mines. The drop in values also affected operations at 
other places where silver-mining is followed. 
CoprER, 
The value of the copper produced in 1901 was £413,302, showing 
a decrease of £14,734, for which the fall in the market value of 
this metal is likewise responsible. 
Tin. 
The production of tin during 1901 is valued at £77,315, which 
is a decrease of £43,617 on the previous year. Most of the tin 
is obtained from alluvial deposits, and the severe drought has 
greatly interfered with washing. 
Coal, Core and Oil-Shale. 
The most gratifying feature in connection with mining during 
the past year was the sustained activity in the coal trade. The 
quantity of coal raised during the year was 5,968,426 tons, 
valued at £2,178,929, being an increase of 460,929 tons, and 
£510,018 in value over the previous year, and is the largest 
output recorded. The number of persons employed in the 
northern district during the year was 9,157, in the southern and 
south-western districts 2,499, and in the western district 535, a 
total of 12, 191. The value of the yoke manufactured during 
the year was £105,665. This shows a decrease of £3,955 as 
compared with the previous year, for owing to the fall in the 
price of metals, the demand for this commodity was smaller 
than in the previous year, and consequently some of the coke 
ovens were forced to close down. The value of the coke 
manufactured to the end of 1901 is estimated at £586,391. The 
value of the kerosene shale raised during 1901 was £41,498, show- 
ing an increase of £20,838 on that of the previous year, which 
is due chiefly to the activity of the export trade. 
Iron. 
Considerable attention is still being directed towards the 
question of establishing ironworks in this State capable of 
supplying the requirements of Australia. Two important 
schemes are being advocated, one to smelt ore at Lithgow from 
deposits in the western district, and the other to bring ore over 
the sea from the Blyth River, Tasmania, and smelt it in the 
vicinity of Sydney or elsewhere upon the seaboard. The 
indications all point to the fact that extensive iron smelting 
works will, at no distant date, be established in this State and 
employment found for a great number of bands. The value of 
ironstone raised for flux during 1901 was £3,765. 
Other Minerals. 
In addition to the minerals already mentioned, the value of 
others raised during the year is as follows : — Diamonds £9,756 ; 
opals £120,000; alunite £9,438; antimony £1,138; bismuth 
£6,665 ; chrome £7,774 ; cobalt £1,051 ; limestone (for flux and 
lime-making), £22,041; platinum £779 ; sundry minerals, etc., 
£125,151 ; bringing the total for all minerals for the year up to 
£6,006,636. 
South African Trade.— A committee has been formed to 
enquire into and report on the state of, and openings for, trade 
in Cape Colony, Natal, Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal, 
and to despatch to those colonies a deputation of experts to 
report on the same. The committee includes the following 
names Colonel R. E. Crompton, Mr. John Lockie, J.P., 
Mr. John Thomson, Mr. Charles Wills, Mr. Ben H. Morgan 
(editor, Engineering Times), and others. The three experts 
will leave for South Africa about the end of the present month : 
one, Mr. Ben H. Morgan, has been nominated to represent 
engineering interests ; a representative of the Manchester 
Charnber of Commerce for textiles and soft goods, and Mr. T. 
N. jetikin to represent miscellaneous trades. Facilities for 
travelling through the military lines throughout South Africa 
will be granted by the Colonial Office, and on the return of the 
deputation the information collected will be published. 
Mr. John Lockie has guaranteed the whole of the expenses 
which the deputation will incur in order to expedite their 
departure to South Africa. Those interested in South African 
trade can address their enquiries to the offices of the National 
Industrial Association, 124, Palace-chambers, Westminster, 
S.W. 
Victorian Tobacco. — The Minister of Agriculture has 
determined that Mr. Temple Smith, the Victorian tobacco 
expert, shall visit Queensland at the end of the present month. 
Me says the objects of Mr. Smith's mission will be to ascertain 
the quality and constituency of the soils on which the best 
tobacco leaf is grown in that "State, and the methods of curing, 
grading, and packing the leaf. Mr. Smith will also obtain the 
latest figures in regard to the quantity of tobacco grown, and 
the demand for the same. He will then enquire into the 
diseases, if any, that attack the plants in Queensland, and 
ascertain the results of using commercial fertilisers, and whether 
Europeans are taking up the work of growing tobacco. The 
prices at which it will pay growers to produce tobacco will 
furnish another subject for Mr, Smith’s investigation. 
INDIA. 
Export Trade in Cottons. — The report of the Bombay 
Millowners' Association, presented at the recent annual meeting, 
furnishes much interesting information on the trade in cotton 
yarns and goods of Indian production. A serious endeavour 
was made during the past year by the Association to promote a 
trade in cotton piece-goods of Bombay production in markets 
where they appear to be less known than they ought to be. 
Bombay millowners fairly well understand the extent and nature 
of the demand in the Further East, but they are less definitely 
informed as to the possibilities in the considerable markets of the 
Asiatic provinces of Turkey. As regards East Africa also, 
though the major part of the trade of the ports for that region is 
done with India, the United States have obtained a virtual 
monopoly in regard to certain descriptions. The Association, 
therefore, some time ago, addressed several enquiries on these 
matters to the consular officers at Constantinople, Smyrna, 
Beyrout, Alexandria, Zeila, Mombasa, Pemba, Zanzibar, Dar- 
es-Salaam, Chinde, Beira, and Madagascar. Application wits 
made for samples of particular articles sold in the markets 
mentioned which Bombay might be able to supply in competition 
with the existing sources of supply. The enquiry, however, was 
not limited to possible openings for an increased trade in Indian 
piece-goods ; it was felt, if new or larger markets were to be 
secured on favourable conditions for such goods, a substantial 
total volume of trade must be established by creating a demand 
for various other articles of Indian production, and also a 
return trade in the produce of the regions thus opened to Indian 
exports. In other words it was felt that a large trade in a single 
commodity supplied from India was practically impossible. 
Confidence is expressed, as a result of the enquiries, that trade 
between India and East Africa will develop naturally, but as 
regards Syria and Asia Minor the results proved less encouraging. 
It seems to be admitted that Egypt must necessarily be the 
entrepot for Bombay goods destined for Turkey and Levant. 
As regards East Africa, the Bombay millowners appear to have 
chiefly taken into consideration the possibility of more effective 
competition with American cotton piece-goods in the markets 
there. There appears to be some uncertainty, as to whether a 
quality of woven cotton goods which would compete effectively 
with the so-called “ American i ” can be produced in Bombay 
mills from the short Indian staple. The business in grey 
shirtings and sheetings along the East African coast is described 
as enormous, and hence Bombay is the more anxious to enlarge 
her share of trade. Some hope is based on the fact that the 
American cotton goods have been used as practically the sole 
currency of the region in question, and as the rupee is now, 
apparently, being gradually introduced into Uganda and else- 
where, the disappearance of the prestige of American goods may 
not unreasonably be expected, and the substitution of the rupee 
currency in itself may assist the introduction of Indian cotton 
goods. Enquiries into the question of the alleged displacement 
of the British and Indian goods in the Aden markets have 
indicated that the rate of progression in American goods is not 
increasing, but they leave no doubt that the progression is 
maintained. 
Indian Mining Association. — Coal Trade Com- 
petition. — At the annual meeting of the Indian Mining 
Association it was pointed out that the recent invasion of the 
Bombay and Colombo markets by English coal was due to 
abnormal causes, one of which was phenomenally low freights. 
On the other hand, Bengal coal had been handicapped by the 
inelastic transport charges obtaining on the railways serving the 
collieries. It was proposed that a special commissioner should 
be sent to Egypt to investigate and report upon the coal 
market there ; at the same time enquiries should be prosecuted 
in the Far East, and a vigorous effort be made to repel the 
invasion of Japanese coal, and to replace it by Indian coal as 
far as Singapore. 
Sugar Industry. — A large sugar plant at Ohur, in Behar, 
was recently started by the India Development Company. It 
has been erected in five months, and is regarded as a record of 
engineering achievement The triple crushing mills will deal 
with 30 to 35 tons of cane an hour, the centrifugals are worked 
by water motors, and the other machinery is of the most 
modern type. Additional plant for erection in other centres 
has been ordered. The prospects of the industry are regarded 
as most hopeful. 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
French Trade. — The monthly circular of the British 
Chamber of Commerce in Paris gives a general rtsumi of the 
import and export trade of France. The imports for the first 
three months of 1902 were, in value : — Alimentary produce, 
172.902.000 francs ; raw materials, 926,665,000 francs; manu- 
factured articles, 191,333,000 francs ; being a decrease in 
alimentary produce and raw materials of 9,327,000 francs and 
5.593.000 francs respectively, and an increase of 88,054,000 
francs in raw materials. The exports were, in value, as 
follows : — Alimentary produce, 169,314,000 francs ; raw 
materials, 299,885,000 francs ; manufactured articles, 
519.147.000 francs ; postal parcels, 58,401,000 francs ; an 
increase in raw materials, 65,883,000 francs, and in manu- 
factured articles, 66,025,000 francs, and a decrease in alimentary 
produce, 24,198,000 francs, and in postal parcels, 3,384,000 
francs. With respect to interchange with the United Kingdom, 
imports from the United Kingdom of coal, cotton yarns, silk 
goods, cast iron, iron and steel showed decreases, and wool 
and woollens, machinery, chemical products, and cotton goods 
showed increases ; whilst exports to the United Kingdom of 
wines, sugar and brandies, showed decreases, and woollen 
goods, silk goods, wool, yarns, and cotton goods showed 
increases. 
The April ti-ade returns are of a mixed character. The 
imports of raw materials are 136,000,000 francs, against 
160.000. 000 in 1901, and the imports 77,000,000 francs, against 
73.000. 000 francs ; while the imports of manufactured goods 
are 65,000,000 francs, against 59,000,000 francs, and the 
exports 192,000,000 francs, against 210,000,000 francs. The 
revenue returns for the first three months of the .year have 
also been issued. They show a falling-off of 27,000,000 francs, 
almost entirely due to the re-modelling of the spirit duties, 
which took effect in January, 1901, and still continues to 
produce a deficit, though the increased spirit duties were 
expected to compensate for the remission of the wine, beer and 
cider duties. Tobacco shows an increase of 2,250,000 francs, 
and the death and stamp duties an increase of 6,000,000 francs. 
Sulphate of Copper in Greece. — In view of the numerous 
reports that have been printed regarding a demand for sulphate 
of copper in Greece, the following remarks by the British Consul 
in the Morea are of interest : — Sulphate of copper has proved 
the only efficacious preventive of the peronosporos malady, 
which has caused such damage to the currant and vineyards 
during the last few years, and particularly in 1900. Mixed by a 
solution of water with slaked lime at the rate of 1^ to 2 per 
cent., it is sprayed over the vines four or five times during the 
spring and summer months. The area under currant and 
grape culture throughout Greece is reckoned at about 400,000 
acres, and 50 lb. of sulphate of copper being required per acre 
for the proper treatment of the vines, about 9,000 tons would 
be required annually for this purpose, but it Is doubtful if over 
3,000 tons are imported altogether annually, as many of the 
poor class of proprietors, particularly in northern Greece and in 
the Islands, are unable to bear the expense. The Currant Bank, 
Patras, is the principal importer of sulphate of copper, and last 
year it accepted British tenders to the extent of 2,000 tons at 
the price of £23. 10s. per ton, c.i.f., Patras. A portion of the 
supply required for the present season has been purchased by 
the Currant Bank from the American Metal Company, Limited, 
at the price of £18. 10s. per ton c.i.f., Patras. Small sample 
shipments of various chemical powders and manures of British 
manufacture, intended to combat the peronosparns oidium and 
other maladies of the currant and grape vineyards, were im- 
ported last year, and tried on a small scale, but as all vineyards 
were unusually healthy throughout the season, it was not 
possible to judge of their efficacy. Greek growers, as a rule, 
are averse from any experiment of this sort ; still, should any 
of these preparations, especially if cheaper than sulphate of 
copper, prove beneficial, there is no doubt that a large trade 
would result in time. 
World’s Consumption of Tea and Coffee.— From the 
second number of a Board of Trade memorandum dealing with 
the production and consumption of tea and coffee, it appears 
that the total consumption of tea in the United Kingdom 
exceeds that of all the European countries and the L’nited 
States put together. During the seventeen years from 1884 to 
1900 it has risen from 175 million pounds to 250 million, an 
increase of forty-three per cent. Out of about 600 million pounds 
exported in 1900 from China, India, Ceylon, Japan, and Java, 
nearly half (including seven-eighths of the Indian export and 
three-quarters of that of Ceylon) was imported by this country, 
and only a comparatively small proportion of this quantity was 
re-exported. The consumption per head is greater in Australia 
than in the old land. In Western Australia, w here the record 
is made, the consumption in the year 1900 was more than 10 lb. 
per bead, against rather over 6 lb, in the United Kingdom. 
As to coffee, Holland takes the lead in consumption per 
head, with the United States as a distant second; the United 
Kingdom and her Colonies come low down in the list. As 
regards total consumption, the United States stands pre-eminent, 
the quantity of coffee there consumed being nearly as great as 
that of all the other countries taken account of in the statistics 
put together. 
The quantities of tea and coffee imported for home con- 
sumption per head of the population in various countries is 
shown in the following table : — 
Countries, 
Tea. 
Coffee. 
| 1895. 
1900. 
1S95. 
J9OO. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
United Kingdom 
5 ‘67 
6 'io 
070 
071 
Australia . 
7 ’ 4 8 
7*8r 
049* 
0-58 
New Zealand 
. 6 ‘46 
678 
040 
0-27 
Canada 
4‘°5 
4-64 
o-68 
100 
U nited States 
1 '40 
1 '09 
9‘33 
9 ‘8 i 
France 
004 
o - o6 
4’ T 3 
4 ‘66 
Germany . 
OMI 
0’12 
5 -I 5 
6 ‘29 
Austria-Hungary 
. ; — • 
— 
1 ‘94 
2 ‘06 
Russia 
074 
°‘93 
- — 
— 
Holland . 
• 1 ‘ 3 2 
1*48 
1 6 - 49 
i6’57 
Belgium 
8 ‘23 
8-50 
* 1896. 

LABOUR MARKET. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Factories and Workshops.— Keport for 1901.— It appears 
from the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and 
Workshops for the year 1901 that the number of factories on 
the register at the end of the year was 97,845, and that of the 
workshops 143,065. These totals include laundries, but not 
men’s workshops, docks, or warehouses. There were received 
322,000 statutory reports from the occupiers of the premises 
under the Acts, 83,760 reports of accidents, 936 of poisoning 
(contracted in a factory or workshop), 167,000 of overtime. 
Fatal accidents were rather fewer than in 1900, this being the 
first interruption in the increase which had gone on year by year, 
from 455 in 1895 to 1,045 * u 1900. But the accidents which 
were not attended with fatal results increased from 77,975 in 
1900 to 82,725 last year. It is found that workmen often 
reject or misuse the guards provided for their safety, and that 
employers, while willing to comply with instructions given by 
the Inspector as regards the individual machines or parts of 
machines which he finds unguarded on his visit, commonly fail 
to adopt the same precautions in the case of new appliances of 
the same kind, and comparatively rarely take the trouble to 
require that new machinery shall be fenced by the maker. Legal 
proceedings were found to be necessary in no less than 3,770 
instances — 483 more than in the previous year. Four cases of 
phosphorus necrosis were reported in connection with the manu- 
facture of lucifer matches. The twelve notified instances of 
arsenic poisoning included seven probably due to arseniuretted 
hydrogen, which occurred in galvanising works. In hatters' 
furriers’ premises the conditions have improved since the issue 
of the departmental circular to occupiers in 1900. In connection 
with the hide and skin trades, the reports of anthrax rose from 
nine in 1900 to 20 in 1901, and this afforded an additional reason 
for the further action under special rules, directed more especially 
against the dangers of handling hides and skins from China and 
the West Coast of India. Manufacturers of horsehair have, for 
the most part, given up the use of China hair. It is pointed out 
that there are now in force 26 codes of special rules for different 
dangerous trades, and the enforcement of these in the 7,833 
works in which they are established has called for a large and 
increasing number of special visits. In the main, the reports as 
