Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1901 — Exports of Manufactures. [ARTICLE]

Exports of Manufactures.

Treasury officials say that the record of exportations of American manufactures for the current fiscal year probably will not equal that of the preceding year, but that the falling off will be more apparent than real. It will not be the fault of foreign manufacturers and, to some extent, of foreign governments if there is not a real falling off in the value of American exports of manufactured products for the next fiscal year. The American manufacturers must not expect that their English competitors will reihain passive. They will lower their prices, which have been unusually high as regards some products during the last two years. To do this may pinch them or their workmen, but they will do the best they can. The iron workers at Cleveland, England, have just consented to a wage reduction of 13% per cent. The German manufacturers are asking their government for increased protection against American products which compete with theirs, and in some instances, no doubt, they will get the higher tariff rates they demand. The German paper manufacturers, for instance, who have organized a trust and raised prices from 25 to 40 per cent, ask that the duty on print paper, which is now $1.43 per 220 pounds, be raised to $2.38. They say that if this is not done the American papermakers, who have cheaper raw material, will flood the German market with their product and the home industry will be ruined. The question whether Russian beet sugar shall pay a countervailing duty is now before the board of general appraisers. If decided finally in the affirmative there will be a serious impairment of American trade with Russia. That trade has been larger than would appear from the official returns. A large indirect business, carried on chiefly through German merchants, has been built up. it will suffer if commercial relations with Russia remain unfriendly.