TRADE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10520, 17 December 1901, Page 4

TRADE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Two reports from the United States Donsul-General at Cape Town, which ire published by the Department of State at Washington in the issue of the Consular reports for the current month, :leal mainly with the aspect of trade in South Afdca as it concerns American merchants. Mr Stowe says that, in spite of the prolongation of war and the dislocation caused by tlie plague, American trade with South Africa was better last year than in 1890. Trade is not in-active, and many arrangements in anticipation of an early termination of the war are being made. Orders have been placed for steel rails and rolling stock, for bridge and building iron, and galvanized sheet iron, immense quantities of which will be needed. Meanwhile the cost of living has increased greatly throughout the country, and Government and other employes find it very difficult to keep out of debt. Increased prices are demanded for everything, and the range of selection has been lai'gely curtailed. American manufactures are making their way in the country — kitchen ware, furniture, agricultural machinery, organs, school decks, church pews, wagons, &c, of American, manufacture are being rapidly introduced. The old ' heavy ploughs and wagons, knives and axes, are disappearing. Mr. Stowe, however, does not think that the resumption of mining will lead at first to a great increase in the imports of machinery, because large quantities have been waiting at the coast towns for fci-ansporfc to Johannesburg. But he advises American manufacturers to be ready for the great increase in trade and prosperity which, is at hand. A Commissioner from Canada has lately been in South Africa to study how trade between the two can be improved, and he has stated that large quantities of Canadian goods, such as cheese, bacon, and timber, are coining on the South African market. " A country laid waste," says Mr Stowe, "with valuable mines long idle, public works much deteriorated, must recuperate, and it takes mon^y and products of other nations to bring about such recuperation." And whatever may be the desire in South Africa to place orders for articles required at home, " the best goods at the cheapest price cannot be kept out of the world's markets." Already railway stock has been obtained from the United States ; Lord Roberts has highly praised American wagons, the imports of Oregon pine have been very large, American cement is claiming its share of the large cement trade, and so the prospects of American trade with South Africa are very good.