FOREIGN REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS.

German Exports to Tropical Countries.-The Moniteur Officiel du Commerce, Paris, November 4, 1897, quotes from a German newspaper as follows:

It would be useful if German exporters would occupy themselves a little more with commercial and economical geography, and not confine their knowledge to mechanical and chance information as to the articles that find a market in such and such countries, where they already have trade relations; let them become acquainted with climates and soils, as well as with the needs of the people. In this way they will avoid many mistakes, as well as loss of time.

Let us consider in detail some articles which may be exported to countries beyond the seas, notably into the Tropics. What machinery shall we send there? This is a most important matter for German industry. It is not a question merely of sending machinery, but of having it set up on arrival without the aid of European engineers and specialists. In the more advanced English colonies, as well as in the seaport towns, the necessary assistance in putting machinery together can be obtained. In the large cities of South America, such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Ayres, and even Valparaiso, we may be fortunate enough to find workshops and workmen capable of furnishing useful aid. In the interior there is no such chance. The German manufacturer who delivers machines there can count only on the ingenuity of employees. This is well known, and we need not insist upon it. In tropical countries civilization is partly—often even exclusively—centered in the towns along the coast. The ordinary native civilization, more free from European influence, is developed in the interior and on the highlands. A population has been found there adapted to the conditions of the country, and which may be composed of the descendants of Europeans, of Creoles, or of half-breeds. This is the case, for instance, in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, and different countries of South Africa. There are vast tracts of country which are not open either to navigation or railways, where transportation is still accomplished by means of beasts of burden or primitive vehicles. Often recourse must be had to porters. It is evident that under such conditions the transportation and setting up of machinery present great difficulties. When different associations in Germany agreed to provide with steamboats the lakes of interior Africa, they certainly had no idea of these obstacles, and it was due only to the extreme ingenuity, experience, and skill of Wissmann that at last, after years of effort and partial failure, a little steamboat was placed on the lakes. All machines destined for the interior of the countries above mentioned ought to be constructed to burn wood. Coal is rarely found far from the coast, and very seldom can gas motors be employed. On the other hand, petroleum motors are available, petroleum being now an article of universal commerce. Electric lighting and the production of electric force have a future, as the sources of hydraulic power are found in abundance in these countries. Electric apparatus can be transported more easily, being of less volume than steam machines, and consequently capable of being carried by several mules in file, connected by long poles, even over the mountains, when the curves are not too sharp.

Detached pieces, to be carried on mule back, should not weigh more than 100,

150, or 200 pounds.

sides of the animal.

Care should be taken to distribute the weight equally on both
Where camels are used, as much as 400 pounds can be car-

ried, with due regard to equilibrium. When men are employed, the weight ought not to exceed 100 pounds. Only with the progress of civilization will the present conditions of transport be modified.

These considerations are of importance to German exporters. We are more and more excluded from the North American market by the new customs tariff and by the increasing development of the manufactures of that country, and we are forced in Central and South America to struggle with the competition of the United States, as well as of England, Belgium, and France. The countries of South America are rich in natural productions of every kind; the Argentine Republic, for instance, is preparing to compete seriously with our own agricultural products. The people will employ distilling apparatus for maize, grain, potatoes, etc.; centrifugal apparatus for oil and butter, hand and force pumps, petroleum and gas apparatus, little ice machines for the preservation of perishable products, machinery for making cans, presses for cement and similar paving materials, portable railways, etc. The high temperature will also favor the importation of machinery for the fabrication of Seltzer water, and in the large cities small manufactories of chocolate can be placed. The numerous water courses in these countries will permit the installation of small mills for grinding the local products; also sawmills. The satisfaction of these needs will be slow, and the natives, taught by costly experience, will often hesitate to try new articles. However, the importation of tools is much more easy than that of machinery. Although the inhabitants have shown a certain conservatism in regard to the modern and perfected tools of the United States and Europe, this soon disappears when their practical value is shown, and no price is too high for an article once recognized as good. A certain model of German knives has been sold by millions in Central and South America. Axes, hammers, etc., have been sent there for use in the developing of forests and mines and the cultivation of the fields. Certain knives would suit one country and be of no use in another. The model sent to Pernambuco and the interior of Bahia would not suit Habana. The Spaniards want a long, large knife, resembling a saber, which can be used as a weapon as well as for cutting sugar cane on the plantations.

People do not willingly change an instrument that they have always known, and they are right in wishing to test the superiority of proposed novelties. The same applies to the tools which are used to cultivate the ground; for instance, the plows which Europeans are trying to introduce at great expense. It is very certain that better harvests would be obtained by the use of the plow than the spade. But what does that matter to the native? He has no capital to invest in the purchase of a plow. The harvests he obtains are amply sufficient for the simple needs of his family. He can live, and that is all he asks. More than this, the great distances, the bad state of the roads, together with the expenses of transportation, exclude all ideas of exporting the surplus of the harvests. Why should he apply an excessive culture, which would be without profit? With the development of civilization, especially with the increase of population, all this will be changed. To create needs is the task of the first pioneers of commerce in these countries, more than anywhere else. But one only succeeds by degrees, and it is in countries where new roads are opened that new wants will soonest be created. On the other hand, where there is no circulation, people will remain satisfied with colored beads and gay-hued cloths, and will have neither the desire for the products of luxury and civilization, nor the money to purchase them. To create the means of transport and to open roads for traffic must be the aim of the Germans, if they do not wish to arrive too late on the field of competition. If England and North America get ahead of us, these countries will be lost to our great commerce.

What has been said about machinery and tools applies also to many other articles. Small benches for planing and turning, light and as simple in construction as possible; drilling machines, traveling forges, cylindrical water pipes; sheet iron, plated or corrugated; presses for extracting essences and perfumes, machines for cleaning and decorticating coffee; crushing machines of all kinds for stones, sand, lime, and cement; small machines for rolling, etc., may be mentioned, as well as powder, dynamite, and cartridges for cutting rocks and blasting mines; wire and cables for the mines, and light material for building bridges, ironwork, nails, wooden screws, etc.

It should be remembered that the ports and towns along the coast have a considerable trade with sailing vessels and also with steamboats. The maintenance of the channel compels the use of dredging and other apparatus, and the construction of wharfs. Mechanical apparatus for repairs is also necessary. Our optical and surgical instruments enjoy an excellent reputation. Our veterinary apparatus and remedies are less known. Our arms are still very little exported, in comparison with English and French models. Whoever visits South America finds everywhere cartridges for the Lefaucheux guns, but none for firearms manufactured in Germany. English arms and cartridges are to be found in every part of the world, and Belgian arms and projectiles on nearly all the coasts of Africa. Why should not German manufacturers agree to produce a firearm at a low price, which, by reason of its quality and cheapness, would become universal?

As to furniture, the climatic conditions of these countries require an absolutely different construction of houses and consequently a different domestic installation. The inhabitant of the south lives less in close rooms; he must have air, and where the climate is healthy, he lives with open windows-out of doors, so to speak. Stuffed furniture is horrible to him, because he finds it too warm. He likes light and comfortable wooden furniture. Beds and mattresses must be differently constructed from those used in the north of Europe. Wall hangings appeal to him but little; people in the country prefer whitewashed walls; in the towns, wall papers and a few European hangings are used, but the custom is considered unsanitary, preventing the ventilation of the walls so necessary in warm climates. Stoves are rarely used; as a rule, only when the temperature drops suddenly in the night. Kitchen ranges must be of the simplest construction and adapted for wood, as the inhabitant of the south is not disposed to stand long over the fire during the heat of the day. Besides, his cooking is of the most primitive kind; not but that he has plenty of time to devote to it, for time is the least of his cares, and that is why he is not disposed to buy high-priced watches. These, as well as clocks, must be simple and cheap. He is fond especially of alloys of metal, which do not rust. Glass and cheap beer jugs are sought for everywhere, but the finer qualities find a market only in the large towns.

The fact must never be lost sight of that life in tropical countries is simple, and that luxury is found only in a small number of large cities. Upright and grand pianos find a sale in towns; the country people content themselves with guitars and mandolins. Blinds are everywhere used, but when one undertakes to furnish them, one should know whether the windows open on the outside or inside, as the construction and dimensions must conform to the mode of opening. It is generally believed that the people of the south wear only light cotton fabrics. This is by no means the case. Millions of people live on table-lands 5,000 feet high or more, where the nights are very cold, necessitating warm woolen coverings and mantles morning and evening. In North Africa, well-to-do people wear the most expensive cloths of French and German manufacture, and at Rio de Janiero beautiful furs are sought for by the women. Finally, in all these countries, they like fine white linen. It is also a widespread error that the inhabitants of the south do not use alcoholic

drinks. Nothing is more false. The temperature in the Tropics varies extraordinarily; the writer has many times noted a difference of 40° C. between one day and the next. To contend with the unfavorable influences of these variations upon the health, one must often have recourse to alcoholic drinks.

If we have not, in this article, enumerated all the points which interest exporters to tropical countries, we hope that we have at least shown the necessity of working with method, and that a technical preparation and the assistance of science is necessary if we wish to occupy these markets.

Progress of France in Thirty Years.-The Bulletin de la Société de Géographie Commerciale, Paris (vol. xix, 1897), in a résumé of the commercial progress of France, says:

Since 1869, the postal traffic has nearly tripled; the telegraphic net is almost nine times greater; the tonnage of the railroads has doubled; the number of travelers has tripled; the receipts of the railroads, which were 696,000,000 francs ($135,328,000), have increased more than 500,000,000 francs ($96,500,000); interior navigation has doubled; the production and consumption of coal has increased from 21,000,000 francs to 38,000,000 francs ($4,053,000 to $7,334,000). The production of cast iron has advanced 33 per cent. The discounts at the Bank of France have risen from 6,628,000,000 francs ($1,279,204,000) to 8,621,000,000 francs ($1,663,853,000). Personal property has increased immensely. Deposits in the savings banks, which in 1869 were 750,000,000 francs ($144,750,000), exceed 4,000,000,000 francs ($572,000,000). The number of account books (8,000,000) was never so large. The deposit of funds in banks and societies of credit exceeds 1,500,000,000 francs ($289,500,000). France, since the war, has been able to pay 32,000,000,000 francs ($6,176,000,000) for the public debt and donations; 25,000,000,000 francs ($4,825,000,000) for the army, navy, and colonies; 2,000,000,000 francs ($386,000,000) for public instruction; and 5,000,000,000 francs ($965,000,000) for public works. This does not include the expenditures of private companies. The 12,000,000,000 francs ($2,316,000,000) which the war of 1870 and the commune of 1871 cost have been paid. No country has given such marvelous proofs of activity and of progress, notwithstanding the heavy taxes.

Commerce of Madagascar.-An article in the Revue du Commerce Extérieur, Paris, December 4, 1897, says:

Most of the Europeans settled in Madagascar are of French origin; nevertheless, for a number of years, England has had a more active commerce with the island than France. Apart from the limited number of planters and European officials, the Island of Madagascar is peopled all along the seacoast by negroes. In the interior, the Hovas of the Malay branch predominate. The natives on the coast, whatever may be the names of their tribes, have few wants; they ask for nothing more than cotton cloths and rum. The Hovas of Emyrne are more civilized. Besides cotton fabrics (the only material used in the dress of the lower classes), they appreciate silk goods, toilet articles, and other luxuries of European life. But, as the rich are a feeble minority, the ordinary textiles, of which the natives make their lamba (cotton pantaloons), form the bulk of importations. In 1896, there were imported 6,252,000 francs' ($1,206,636) worth of cotton cloths, of which

Great Britain and India furnished the greater part. North America exports to Madagascar textiles of soft-finished cotton, which are highly appreciated by the natives. They are of a superior quality and have never yet been driven from the market, although the cost of transportation, added to their price, makes them dearer than cottons from other countries. In 1896, France imported textiles of cotton to the value of 551,628 francs ($106,464); and, with the aid of the protecting duties, the French manufactures should replace those from America. Quality and not cheapness should be the object. Weavers should purchase on the island samples of American cottons and try to produce an equal, or even superior, quality. It is worth the trouble, for the United States exported to Madagascar, in 1896, 2,150,000 francs' ($414,950) worth of cotton cloth.

Drinks form another important article of importation. Naturally, French productions are first in the market. Wines, especially good brands, are used by the Europeans and by some native dignitaries. At Tamatave, the great port on the eastern coast, where the foreign population is relatively large, wine sells for 60 to 75 centimes (12 to 15 cents) per liter (1.0567 quarts). The price in the other ports should be nearly the same; but in the interior, notably at Tananarivo (to which transportation must be effected on the backs of men), the price reaches 2.40 to 2.50 francs (46 to 48 cents) per liter (1.0567 quarts). The natives are great lovers of a detestable but very cheap rum, which comes to them from Mauritius. Brandies, absinthes, vermouth, bitters, and other liquors come from France. Counterfeits of French brands come via Hamburg. Beer is either German or English. At Tananarivo, a

brewery established by the Jesuits supplies a light beer, which is sold for 40 centimes (7.7 cents) a bottle.

The importation of articles of metal amounts to 1,142,000 francs ($220,406), divided as follows:

Hamburg monopolizes the production of saucepans, an essential article of Malay furniture. French manufacturers should turn their attention to this article, procure models, and profit by the new customs duty. English merchants find ready sale for galvanized sheet iron and tin plate, which are much used in tropical constructions. No other branch of importation reaches 1,000,000 francs. Farinaceous foods, of which three-fourths come from England, amount to 668,000 francs ($128,924).

The total value of importations is 12,787,678 francs ($2,468,021), as follows:

Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal figure for some thousands or tens of thousands of francs.