The principal nations are represented in the following table:

Movement of Trade in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in 1902.The tonnage-4,573,834 tons-that passed through the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal during 1902 covered 32,010 ships. The passage money paid for them was 2,217,483 marks ($527,760). In comparing the figures of 1902 with other years, one finds a satisfying if not gratifying increase. The figures for the preceding year were: Ships, 30,314; tonnage, 4, 347,989 tons; receipts, 2, 149, 708 marks ($511,630). This year, for the first time since it was opened, the receipts of the canal were larger than the expenses. These latter run up to 2,082,225 marks ($495,570), leaving a balance on the right side of the ledger of 125,000 marks ($29,750). The rights of tuggage are comprised in the total of taxes or receipts, and it is not certain that their total is put down to the credit of the canal. Among the 32,010 boats registered, 14,289 were steamers. The nations represented by these were: Germany, 27, 174; Holland, 1,419; Denmark, 1,217; Sweden, 982; Great Britain, 505; Norway, 338; Russia, 301; Belgium, 24; France, 13; all other, 37.

Binding Material for Briquettes.-The following article was translated in the Bureau of Statistics from Das Handels Museum of July 23, 1903:

A long time ago a process was discovered and patented by which the lye of paper pulp or cellulose could be used as a means of binding together the materials used for making the various kinds of fuel briquettes. The process was one by which the lye was brought to the consistency of pitch or in some cases to dryness by means of steam. This process had one great fault—a skinlike covering formed on the surface of the briquette which hindered the escape of the gases during the application of the steaming process. To carry out the steaming process, therefore, a higher temperature had to be secured, necessitating the use of a considerably larger amount of coal. There were also other drawbacks. To prevent the formation of this skin another process was invented and patented. By this, excellent results are secured by mixing tar, pitch, asphalt, wacke, etc., with the mass during or just before the briquette making begins.

Stone from Sand.*-African Commerce, a monthly magazine. published in London, contains in its July issue a review of an invention of Mr. L. P. Ford (attorney-general of the Transvaal in 1887, now a resident of London) of silicate-of-lime stone, from which the following paragraph is taken.

Silicate-of-lime stone is made of silica and lime, subjected to heat and pressure, whereby a silica-of-lime stone is formed as a matrix. Mr. Ford's patent is not a concrete but a chemical combination which has the appearance of a fine-grained sandstone and can be carved easily and cheaply, with as good results as natural stone. It has all the advantages of natural stone and in addition its crushing strength is superior to Portland stone, and it has other points which commend it highly to the building trade. Stanger & Blount, the well-known analysts, say: "Its regularity of fracture indicates great uniformity of texture and strength.” It resisted frost and corrosive atmospheres. Those in the business are thoroughly satisfied with its carving qualities, which they say are as good as those of the best natural building stones. It is suitable for use in salt as well as in fresh water, and it hardens with time. By the addition of coloring matter it can be made in colors. In the development of building estates where sand and chalk deposits are more numerous than either natural building stone or brick clays, the silicate-of-lime stone has decided advantages. Bricks, tiles, and paving stones can be made by the process, which is extremely simple. Demonstrations have been made from sand in the various industrial centers. In Johannesburg, Durban, and other parts of Africa, where natural stone and brick earths are rare, the silicate-of-lime stone will be invaluable.

Wages Abroad as Influenced by Legislation.-España Economica y Financiera, in its issue of August 2, 1903, says:

The Chamber of Commerce of Essen, Germany, has just published an interesting memorial on the influence of protective tariffs on wages and on the conditions of the working classes. Referring to the district of Essen, the chamber establishes the fact that the average wages, which were 3.30 marks (79 cents) in 1871, were 3.89 marks (93 cents) in 1875, but again went down to 3.30 marks (79 cents). In 1879 a system truly protectionist was inaugurated. From that time on wages went up from 3.57 marks (85 cents) in 1882 to 3.71 marks (88 cents) in 1888, 4.06 marks (97 cents) in 1892, 4.10 marks (98 cents) in 1895, and 4.78 marks ($1.14) in 1900. The conclusion drawn by the chamber of commerce experts from the facts cited is that wages remained practically at a standstill during the years 1875-1879, just preceding the protectionist era, while the advance during the later, or protection, period was fully 58 per cent. To meet the objection that foods. have gone up faster than wages, thus neutralizing the increased purchasing power of the laborer, the chamber shows that the foods consumed by the laboring classes dropped as follows: Bread, 20 per cent; potatoes, 29 per cent. Beef increased only 5 per cent; veal, 21 per cent; and pork, 27 per cent.

* See also "Galalith, or milk-stone, manufactures" in MONTHLY CONSULAR REPORTS No. 276, p. 73, and "Manufacture of calcareous bricks and stones" in DAILY CONSULAR Reports No. 1767.

No 278-03-12

Foreign Trade of Mexico.-A résumé of a report of Mexico's foreign trade published in El Economista Mexicana of August 22, 1903, shows the following facts:

The imports during the fiscal year amounted to $63,264,500 in gold, of which the proportion from the United States was 58 per cent, from Great Britain 13 per cent, and Germany and France 10 per cent each. Nearly every European country lost ground, while the United States gained, and in about the same ratio that Europe lost. One reason advanced for the European decline in Mexican trade is the improved native manufacture of textiles. Local factories are now making very good woolen suitings, both for men and women, and less of these goods will be imported each year. This year a new departure has been made with a view to develop the Mexican textile trade. The Government has sent a commission, consisting of two merchants and an expert from the customs department, to South America with a view to opening up trade with those countries in Mexican products. The United States leads in furnishing both the machinery and the raw material for this new industrial development in Mexico.

The exports, outside of metals, amounted to $63,332,631 in gold, of which the United States took 81 per cent, while all Europe took but 15 per cent.

The British consul resident at Veracruz suggests to the manufacturers of Great Britain that they appoint regular agents, more travelers, and employ lists and catalogues in the Spanish language, and make the articles the people want.

Brazilian Imports.-Das Handels Museum of August 6, 1903,

says:

Brazil imports pig iron from Belgium and Great Britain, cast-iron sewage pipes from Belgium, galvanized water pipes from Germany, rails from France, while iron bridges, which the Government uses in road building, come mainly from Germany. The steam engines used on the coffee plantations come mostly from Great Britain. In imports of unmanufactured iron and industrial articles, such as iron rails, Germany leads. The better qualities of hoes come now from Great Britain, and the better grades of axes are imported from the United States. Shovels and spades come partly from Germany, but mostly from Great Britain; hammers and tongs, from Germany; the cheaper grades of wood knives from Great Britain, while the better qualities are imported from Germany. Zinc and soldered sheetiron buckets come from Great Britain; enameled iron utensils and sheet-iron wash basins, from Germany; while metallic and enameled plates and galvanized kitchen utensils are imported from Great Britain. Enameled cast-iron pots come from Germany. All kinds of iron house fixtures were formerly imported from the United States, but now come from Germany. Bolts and nails come from France. Formerly barbed wire was imported from Germany, but now comes mostly from the United States, Great Britain, and Belgium. Wire nails are no longer imported, but are manufactured in the country. Tinware is imported from Great Britain, iron wheelbarrows from the United States, while plows are partly German, but mainly of American manufacture.

Argentina's Meat Supply.-In ADVANCE SHEETS No. 1602 (March 24, 1903), the Bureau of Statistics published the terms of the Argentine-Uruguayan convention as to sanitary inspection of live

stock, the completion of which was necessary to bring about a reopening of the British ports to Argentine stock. To that convention is due, perhaps, the recent increase in the meat production of the Argentine Republic, as shown by the following statistics taken from the South American Journal of August 29, 1903:

Extraordinary progress has been made in recent years in Argentina in the production and export of beef and mutton. Whereas in 1895 it was difficult to get 40,000 steers in all Argentina that were fit for the British market, the output since then has increased by 40,000 head per annum, and last year it totaled 250,000 head. Argentina's export of beef and mutton will continue to go up by leaps and bounds. It is not unreasonable to believe that by the end of the present decade Argentina will be able to export to the European market-which practically means the British market-no less than 10,000,000 cwts. of beef and 5,000,000 cwts. of mutton. The resources of Argentina are practically unlimited, and they have been immeasurably developed in recent years by the wholesale laying down of Argentine lands to alfalfa, a very nutritious leguminous crop, which enriches the land with nitrogen accumulated from the atmosphere and is, through its deep-rooting habits, practically uninjured by drought. There appears to be no reason to doubt that the exports of beef and mutton from Argentina will continue steadily to increase. Indeed, it seems clear enough that between Canada, on the one hand, as an exporter of wheat, and Argentina, on the other hand, as an exporter of meat, the British farmer will before long have to face a keener and more cutting competition than ever before.

Brazilian Trade and Finances.-The South American Journal of August 29, 1903, says:

A consular report from Rio de Janeiro states that the present Government has successfully continued the policy of maintaining the country's credit abroad and reducing the amount of paper currency in circulation. The amount of paper money in circulation on December 31, 1901, was 680,451,058 milreis* ($136,090,211); that in circulation on March 31, 1903, was 675,411,021 milreis ($135,082,204). The foreign debt in January, 1902, stood at £49,881,677 ($242,749,182). An additional issue of some £14,000,000 ($68,131,000) rescission bonds for the purchase of subsidized railway was made during the year. The internal funded debt payable in gold was 27,529,000 milreis ($14,883,314) and that payable in paper was 543,410,537 milreis ($108,682, 107), while the floating debt was 167,083,912 milreis. For the necessities of the Government the amount of taxation at present collected is not heavy. For the most part and of necessity taxation is indirect, but it is the system of taxation which in many ways is injurious to the country. Duties are levied on exports, which tends to restrict production, which is further restricted by interstate and consumption duties and by taxes on passenger and freight traffic. The crisis in the coffee industry may prove a blessing in disguise to Brazil. At one time coffee was so remunerative that other productions were neglected and the country became dependent on importations of food stuffs; and while money was plentiful from the returns of coffee high prices were not felt, but at the collapse of this industry and the diminished purchasing power of the public these high prices and the scarcity of money have caused considerable distress throughout the country. By the collection of 25 per cent of the customs dues in gold, Government

*The paper milreis, at latest consular advices, was valued at 20 cents.

remittances are more independent of the market and no longer cause violent fluctuations; but, on the contrary, in conjunction with the Banco da Republica, the Government exercises a steadying influence on exchange. This state of things has been advantageous to trade, especially so to the import trade, though the position of coffee has been aggravated by the high rate.

Beirut as a Trade Center.-Foreign papers are publishing reports of trade possibilities in Beirut. Among the articles for which that market is open are iron pipes, which sell well. English wares are winning their way against others that were found to be shamefully thin and weak. The pipes are sold according to diame

ters. Those of ordinary diameter, from one-fourth of an inch to 2 inches, bring an average price of 11d. (22 cents) per meter (39.37 inches), provided the average weight is 3 pounds per meter. The total imports are put down at 500 tons. There is also a field for sewing machines. The number imported is gradually increasing. Enameled ware is also wanted. Beirut's commercial importance is constantly increasing. In very early times, when the Romans held sway in Syria, it was the seat of a flourishing silk trade. Since the Suez Canal cut off the caravan trade that once went by way of Aleppo and Damascus to Bagdad and Mecca, Syrian commerce has turned naturally to Beirut, the safest of her harbors. Back of the city rise the mighty forests and hills of Lebanon with the fertile plateau of Keboa behind them, and behind that the Anti-Lebanon hills before one touches the plains of Damascus. In Beirut trade found only a fair harbor, but it found a population that had grown from 25,000 in 1860 to 140,000 in 1900.

It is the home of the Maronites, a people who are familiar with agriculture and house industries of all kinds, particularly silk spinning and weaving. The French began to build a magnificent road from Beirut to Damascus in 1857 and finished it in 1863. In 18941896 a railroad (the Beirut-Damascus) was built to Hauran, 248 kilometers (154 miles), 56 kilometers (35 miles) of which were over the Lebanon Mountains, by means of an inclined railway (toothed rails, etc.). From Hauran, as a center, other roads were run off into the interior, one of 188 kilometers (117 miles) to Hama, thus uniting the Bekaa plains with the sea. In 1893 an artificial harbor was built at Beirut, which was joined with the Damascus Railroad in 1903. The high charges for port and quay duties are damaging Beirut beyond its power to remedy. Other ports are coming into prominence. Tripoli, a few miles to the north of Beirut, with good roads into the interior, is advancing.

country is opening up and offers excellent opportunities for parties interested in the sale of many kinds of agricultural and industrial labor-saving machines.