People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1897 — American Grain In Africa. [ARTICLE]

American Grain In Africa.

The possibilities of a new and large market for American grain are thus suggested by the Washington Star: “In consequence of the failure of the Australian Indian and Russian grain crops there is at present an unprecedented demand in South Africa for American cereal, which is likely to result in a permanent increase of American trade of all kinds with the South African colonies. These colonies have heretofore depended upon the three countries named for wheat and corn which, with the native crop, have been suffiicieut for their needs, but they are now obliged to call upon the United States, and a fleet of ten steamships bearing large cargoes of grain is now on its way from New York to Capetown, Port Natal and Delagoa Bay. Besides cereals, these vessels carry merchandise, assortments of machinery and manufactured goods for the South African market.

“Other ships will follow, and the coming year promises to be notabie for the development of American trade in that section of the globe. So active has this trade suddenly become that New York shipping houses are unable to charter enough vessels to carry the cargoes consigned to South African ports, and those that are. sent are loaded to their fullest capacity. Among those now on their way to South Africa are several that have been regularly employed in the South American trade. The only vessels that ply between New York and South Africa are English boats operated by American agents of English companies, and they do not run regularly. The few American firms doing business with South Africa have no vessels of their own, but charter them as they require them, but if the greater demand in South Afj-ica for American goods continues and grows at the rate anticipated it may result in the establishing of one regular American steamship line beween New York and South African ports.”—Farmers Voice. f 1