Chinese Warehouses in Russia.-The results of the excursion of Chinese merchants to European Russia, mentioned in a former report from this commercial agency, is seen in the determination to open warehouses for Chinese products at St. Petersburg and MosCOW. They will bring their native commercial agents and business staffs along. The shops will be built in Chinese style. From St. Petersburg and Moscow branch establishments are proposed at Warsaw, Wilna, Helsingförs, Riga, Kief, and Odessa.-Richard T. Greener, Commercial Agent, Vladivostock, Siberia, May 28, 1903.

Emigration from Finland to the United States.-In his annual report, dated July 20, 1903, on the foreign commerce of Finland for the year 1902, Acting Consul Victor Ek, of Helsingförs, Finland, says that in the seventies, in East Finland, with its more active inhabitants, an inclination to emigrate manifested itself, although the emigration then was not of any particular extent. The beginning of the eighties shows a sudden increase in emigration, wherein a good many young men, 20 years and thereabouts, were represented. From this it was presumable that fears of being called into active military service was the chief motive for their leaving the country, but as soon as experience was gained and people got accustomed to the law the fears were dispersed, and in 1884 the number of emigrants went down to a minimum. It rose again in the years 1892 and 1893, in consequence of a failure of the crops, but from the year 1899 a new wave, higher than ever before, was rising. The emigration since then was as follows: In 1899, 12,537; in 1900, 10,397; in 1901, 1,256; and in 1902, 22,000.

Siberian Butter Trade.-In February there was a convention at Tomsk of those engaged in the butter business in western Siberia. The main point discussed was the method of extending the butter export to Dalny, Port Arthur, and the ports of China. Sakharoff, representative of the Chinese Eastern Railway, stated that there was a strong and constant demand for Siberian butter in East Asia and China. This demand would certainly increase, and steps must be taken to meet the demand. Hitherto Australian butter had been popular in the Far East, but a series of dry seasons had nearly stopped this export. Siberians must avail themselves of this opportunity and supply the deficiency. The ruling prices in eastern markets were very favorable. Vladivostock consumes annually about 60,000 poods (2,160,000 pounds) of butter at prices. ranging from 20 to 24 rubles per pood (30 to 34 cents per pound)

and upward. Should prices be lowered and the quality retained, the western Siberian exporters could easily count on a consumption of 300,000 poods (10,833,600 pounds) each year. At Harbin one firm sells at the present time 100,000 poods (3,611,200 pounds). The main thing is for the Chinese Eastern Railway to furnish facilities for the proper transportation of butter to the East, as is already done in the westward transportation. Mr. Sakharoff promised in behalf of the railroad that these facilities would be made-two butter cars (daily) and ice houses at several important stations. While the western traders look with interest to the expansion of their business, the rising butter industry of eastern Siberia will more likely receive the greater advantage from the shorter distance and cheaper freights.-Richard T. Greener, Commercial Agent, Vladivostock, Siberia, May 25, 1903.

American-Spanish Trade.-In his annual report showing the trade and industries of Carthagena for the fiscal year ended June. 30, 1903 (filed for publication in Commercial Relations), Consul Joseph Bowron, of Carthagena, Spain, thus treats of AmericanSpanish trade:

Letters, circulars, and catalogues are plentiful, but they will not create business until Americans are prepared to quote cost, freight, and insurance to Spanish ports, on the basis of English or French money, and give respectable customers such ordinary commercial credits as they can obtain readily from European shippers.

The enhanced cost of American goods, due to the absence of direct steam communication between United States and Spanish ports, has been referred to in previous reports. In this connection I may say that bread is essentially the staple of life throughout Spain, and that in this consular district the bulk of the bread is made from flour which is brought hundred of miles from Catalonia and the north. With a treaty of commerce and direct steam communication, I have no doubt that American flour could win and hold this market.

American Trade Opportunities in Southern Spain.-Consular Agent Walter Saberton, of Seville, Spain, under date of July 30, 1903, makes the following report:

A great opening exists in southern Spain for agricultural laborsaving implements. The farmers are beginning to appreciate modern machinery, but unless American manufacturers send capable representatives and appoint suitable, energetic agents the demand will. probably be supplied almost entirely by English goods.

Andalusia abounds in mineral wealth, but comparatively few mines are worked, chiefly owing to the want of capital. I am of

opinion that this mining district is well worthy of the attention of American capitalists. A new railway is in course of construction from Cala to Seville, opening up an extensive mining district, and this will have the effect of largely increasing the export of ores from this port.

The principal imports into Seville from the United States during the years 1901 and 1902 were:

Cadiz-American Trade.-Formerly the wine trade of Cadiz was very large, but it has greatly declined since 1900, though exports to the United States have increased during the past twelve months. The principal imports from the United States during the year 1902 were staves, machinery, wheat in small quantity, and flour. There is a growing demand for agricultural machinery and implements, and American manufacturers should send duly qualified representatives into Andalusia to select and appoint energetic local agents. Catalogues are of no account, as Spanish farmers operating on a large scale will not purchase without seeing the goods. Reapers, plows, and implements such as are required in southern California would find ready sale if properly handled, and would meet the requirements of this region.-R. M. Bartleman, Consul, Cadiz, Spain, July 15, 1903.

Commercial Museum in Cadiz.-The Chamber of Commerce of Cadiz is about to establish a commercial museum. The Central Government has already donated the sum of 10,000 pesetas ($1,930) toward the expenses of same for the present year. The museum is to be a permanent exhibition of natural and manufactured products, with a bureau of information, divided into three groups, viz: (1) Products of the province; (2) products of the rest of Spain; (3) products of foreign countries.-R. M. Bartleman, Consul, Cadiz, Spain, July 20, 1903.

Spanish Iron Pyrites for the United States.-Consular Agent W. J. Alcock, of Huelva, Spain, in his annual report covering the trade and industries of his district for the year 1902, says that iron pyrites is in very great demand for the United States, but as new purchasers

require the product f. o. b., and holders or present producers have already made their contracts, it is necessary for new companies. to enter into negotiation with holders of unworked properties, of which there are plenty in the Province (Huelva), and thus secure the large quantities still required for the United States.

Swiss Exports of Chocolate and Cocoa.-The exports of chocolate and powdered cocoa from Switzerland during the year 1902 amounted to 5,103 tons (of 2,204 pounds), valued at 15,500,000 francs ($2,991,500), an increase of nearly one-fourth on the exports of 1901. It is remarkable that Switzerland can export these as well as other sweet preparations to countries from which she receives the raw products, for all materials entering thereinto-cocoa, sugar, spices, etc.—are imported. The same is true of the greater portion of the exports of Switzerland. Later on, very probably, the countries producing the raw materials will manufacture and export the finished products.-Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, August 5, 1903.

British Chartered Company for Siberia.-Accounts from London report the organization of the Chartered Company of Siberia, an English enterprise to exploit mining and forest territory in the Altai Mountains and along the Amur River, in Siberia. The new company, which starts with a working capital of £1,250,000 ($6,083,125), has already secured tracts of land aggregating 40,000 square miles from the Russian Government. The company has obtained the privilege of manufacturing explosives and has free use of the water power of the rivers in said section of Siberia.-Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, July 23, 1903.

English Coal in Germany.-The following figures, showing the quantity of English coal imported into Germany through German ports during the first six months of 1901, 1902, and 1903, should be of interest to mine owners and coal dealers in the United States:

Surely, if England can make such a showing, the United States, with its enormous coal fields, should make an effort to secure a share of this trade.-Oliver J. D. Hughes, Consul-General, Coburg, Germany, July 24, 1903.

Pan-British Protective-Tariff Scheme.-Chamberlain's panBritish protective-tariff scheme excites considerable attention, mixed with anxiety, among German manufacturers, exporters, and the newspapers in general. Great Britain and her colonies are the most valuable foreign customers which Germany has, and the latter can not well afford to lose even a part of the present amount of British patronage. German newspapers try to soothe the ruffled feelings of their readers by telling them this pan-British tariff scheme, when put into practical effect, would hurt the export trade of the United States still more than that of Germany; but this is poor consolation, especially as the facts will not bear out the statement. United States exports to Great Britain and her colonies are either raw materials and food stuffs, which we produce cheaper and better than any competing country, or, if articles of manufacture, they are specialties in which we have decided production advantages. -Simon W. Hanauer, Deputy Consul-General, Frankfort, Germany, August 3, 1903.

Steam-Propelled Passenger Cars.-Consul Marshal Halstead, of Birmingham, England, under date of August 12, 1903, writes: At the half-yearly meeting of the directors of the London and Southwestern Railway Company the chairman stated that the working of steam motor cars had been a success.

In his speech, reported in the London Times of August 7, he said:

In conjunction with the Brighton Company, they had commenced working by steam motor car the line between Fratton Junction, which was near Portsmouth, and Southsea. Their general manager advised them to try what could be done by working this branch with a steam motor car. Not only had a large saving in expenses been effected by the adoption of this method, but an increased traffic had been secured at the same time, owing to the more frequent service which had been given.

Sheffield Exports to the United States.-According to report, dated July 20, 1903, from Consul Church Howe, of Sheffield, England, the exports from Sheffield to the United States during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, amounted to $3,053,674, an increase of $514,770 over the exports of the preceding year. For a clearer understanding of this trade, the following comparative statement,