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igs. MARINE REVIEW. oe se BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES--MAN FOR MAN.* BY ANDREW CARNEGIE. For thirty odd years the writer has been visiting his native land, but never to find such despondency among his friends of the industrial world as this year. Even those are now pessimistic who have hitherto been staunch optimists, sound in the faith that the motherland would '"'some- how or other muddle through" and brilliantly emerge trom threatened disaster, as she often has before in her long, chequered and illustrious history. It is only. fifty-five years since Britain ceased to mine more coal than the rest of the world, and men still in active life have seen her manufac- turing more iron and steel, weaving by machinery more cotton, woolen and linen cloth, owning more ships and making more machinery than all others, and first in wealth and credit. The steam engine, bringing steam- ship navigation and railway transportation; the hot blast and puddling furnace--the roots of modern iron making; the Bessemer, Siemens-Martin and Thomas processes--the foundations of steelmaking; Arkwright and Hargreaves, the founders of machine weaving--all these, and others of like importance in other branches of production, the work of this land alone, no other making considerable contribution to manufacturing pro- gress; Britain, the lonely pioneer who guided the world and led her to modern industrialism. Turn now from the view backward, and behold present conditions, and, presto! What a change! the optimist exclaims. No longer Britain versus the world in anything, no longer even first among nations in wealth or credit, in manufacturing, mining, weaving, commerce. Primacy lost in all. In sea-going ships still foremost, but even there our percentage of the world's shipping growing less every year. It only increased 46,000 tons in five years, from 1894 to 1899, and was 9,000 tons less in 1898 than in 1896. Worse than all, supremacy lost upon the sea in fast monster steamships--those unequaled cruisers in war, which now fly the German flag, all built in Germany; not one corresponding ship built or building in Britain, the field entirely surrendered to her rival. In ironmaking Germany has risen from 1,500,000 to 7,000,000 tons per year, while Britain has stood still, her highest product being 9,500,000 tons. The United States made 13,500,000 tons last year, to be exceeded this year, while we are making less than last. In steel the United States made 10,638,000 tons last year, and have made this year, so far, more than last, while we are falling back from our maximum of 5,000,000 tons of last year. Financially we are also rapidly losing primacy. The daily operations of the New York exchange exceed those of London. Our loans at a discount find investors in the United States, which, so long our greatest debtor, is becoming our chief creditor nation. We offer everyone who has confidence to subscribe our national note for £100 if he will give us £93 14s. cash. Consols were at 113, and are now below 95. We shall not very long be allowed even the boast of having: the largest city of the world, as New York has today three and one-half against London's four and one-half millions; and the population of the area now New York increased last decade 95 per cent., while London's increase is only one-fourth as great. At the rate of the increase for the last five years New York in 1910 will almost equal London--in 1915 out- strip her. While we have stood still United States exports of manufactured articles have trebled in five years, and now reach eighty millions sterling. Our total exports in 1890 were £263,531,800, and never again reached that sum until 1899, when by adding six millions for ships built for foreigners, not hitherto included, the exports were £264,660,000. Our imports in- creased during that period sixty-five millions, partly because we became more dependent upon foreign nations for food. Until recently foremost. in machinery making, our tramways and subways are now equipped not only with electrical devices, but with the huge steam engines required, imported from America. France shows exports of motor cars, etc., last year valued at one million sterling; we export none, and even buy from France. The former optimist, now a miserable pessimist, continues his lament. As for ship building, how long is primacy even in that to be left us when ship plates from America reach Belfast and Glasgow by the thou- sands of tons, and today America is building two 18,000 ton ships?) The cable announces the launch of the first, and two others are contracted for, of 20,000 tons, equal to the monster Celtic. Our industrial army proves as much out of date as our war arimy is acknowledged to be; our railways at home and in our colonies order their rails, bridges and steel cars from America. Our men either cannot ur do not work like the American, as the Times special commissioner has proved, neither do our captains of industry compare with those of America. ; Such the choice of morsels from press and magazine upon which the discouraged Briton feeds. Yet, comfort is near, which, with your read- ers' permission, we shall venture to offer; but before the proper stage of receptivity can -be reached by our pessimistic friend one step is indis- pensable. He must adjust himself to present conditions, and realize that there is no use in these days dwelling upon the past; and especially must he cease measuring his one country with the forty-five countries of the American union, E pluribus unum. It is out of the question to compare 41,000,000 of people upon two islands, 127,000 square miles in area, with over 500 people per square mile (England and Wales) with 77,000,000 upon three and one-half million square miles, unequaled with natural re- sources, with only thirty people per square mile. Let us proceed, there- fore, upon the only reasonable basis, that of man for man, and see what follows, taking up the pessimistic points in order. First, loss of wealth and credit. Primacy of the world is gone in ag- gregate wealth only if the pessimist persists in measuring Britain and the American union, which does not approach Great Britain in wealth man for man; with nearly double the population it has only one-fifth more wealth in the aggregate. No other nation is in the race for primacy with Great Britain, even in aggregate wealth. Not much cause for pessimism here, surely. Even in credit there is only the United States whose credit is better, as shown by the prices of its bonds, but were it to go one-half the distance on the road to financial troubles, which Britain for years has traversed, *Prepared for an English magazine. it is improbable. that even she could borrow upon the terms of fast addi- tion to the British debt. Primacy in credit may yet be regained. In mining, weaving, commerce and manufactures primacy has gone only if the pessimist persists, as: before, ir measuring Britain: against the whole American union. No other nation robs her of primacy in either of these departments, nor is likely to do so. She has still. primacy in the aggregate, even against the union, in weaving,and foreign commerce, and in exports she is not much behind. Not much cause for discontent here, since against a union of forty-five states she still holds first: place, in two, and is abreast in another department. i In foreign shipping, it is true, Britain's former huge percentage of the world's shipping declines. How could. it be otherwisé? But° it still exceeds that of any nation twice over. 'Her ledd is so decided that no man living is likely to see it overcome. She had 9,000,000 tons of shipping in 1898; the American union had less than 5,000,000, Germany 1,700,000 and France less than a million. No cause for lying awake o' nights mourning over the position of Britain in shipping. So with the ship building industry. It is true Armerica is fast in- creasing and is building monster war and merchant ships, and Germany is also, and that both will prove competitors; but when Britain builds 865,000 tons per year (1898), and America only 249,000, and Germany-- although figures are not at hand--certainly: much less, probably not half, it is rather premature to take alarm. Britain needs:and uses more ships than any other nation, having coal and manufactures to export and bulky food products and raw materials to import. She need not be pushed out of primacy in ship owning, for, not needing to' import so much, America is at a disadvantage with Britain, who has better loads for foreign: ports throughout the world, out and home for her ships. Therefore, if Britain loses primacy in ship owning, she will well deserve to lose it. In ship building before long it is to be another matter. She must not fall asleep, for America, with her cheap steel and tithber and surprising workmen, is oo equipped. Here, if Britain hold supremacy, she will richly deserve the prize. In ironmaking Germany's fifty-six and one-half millions of people may probably ere long equal Britain's make, as Germany is gaining in population rapidly. But this "does not mean any reduction of Great Britain's output; it may even increase somewhat. Her make, man for man, will remain greater than that of any other country except the United States, and not much behind, man for man, a. remarkable fact taking conditions into account, showing the little giant that Great Britain is. No other nation compares with her in steel, even in the aggregate. No cause for pessimism here; but an unreasonable man can, of course, easily lament his country's decadence, because it produces five millions instead of ten and one-half millions, which half a continent produces. We now come to the question, "Is British foreign trade declining?" This has been the subject of much discussion of late, without result; be- cause the question has two: parts which disputants usually ignore. Ex- ports are one branch, imports another; the former have decreased: per capita, and the latter increased. The two combined show that British for- eign trade is not declining. Studying the subject carefully and avoiding the tendency to generalize from temporary causes and values covering only this year or that, the writer is. satisfied that the true answer to the question, "Is British trade declining?" is that it cannot be affirmed to be either declining or increasing, imports and' exports combined. It has apparently reached its limit, and is not expanding, having remained: prac- tically stationary for, say, ten years. It surprises the writer that so much importance is attached in Britain to the monthly statement of exports and imports, as if increase or decrease in these were conclusive proof of prosperity. or otherwise. Decreased exports may prove that hoéme. con- sumption is greater--the best of all conditions. -Thus the steel. exports of America this year will be less than last, because"her own demands are greater. Happy country that can use its productive capacity for its own farther development! oe a Last year was one of great prosperity for British muntfactures. © Ex- ports of these in many lines declined, but the. decrease -in quantities' of exports was the best proof of prosperity. There is another point. often overlooked in considering exports, viz., that these are in the aggregate not to be compared with the amounts consumed at home. It is estimatéd that only one-eighth of Britain's production is éxported. But if we consider only manufactured articles we find that in pig iron 9,000,000 tons are made and only 1,000,000 exported. In coal, less than one-sixth goes abroad; 220,000,000 produced, 36,000,000 tons (average) exported. In textiles, of linen, one-fourth exported, £20,000.000 produced, £5,000,000 exported; in woolen goods, product £50,000,000, £14,000,000 only exportéd. In cotton goods alone does the amount exported reach the amount con- sumed at home. The totalannual exports:average £235,000,000; if we esti- mate 12 per cent. profit upon these, the gain is £28,000,000. __. The backwardness of Britain in electrical machinery and equipment, motor cars, etc., is due to the natural conservatism of the race. The French are more disposed to experiment with noveltiés atid the maker there sees a. home demand which is, as just stated,-the surest. foundation for capturing the foreign market. Britain may still overtake her quicker neighbor--the new plants should soon drive out the latest industrial 4n- vader: then exports will begin. It is not always he whw starts first who ends first. The writer expects Britain soon to be in the front rank here. Thus the industrial situation, somber as it is, and dangerous as'it might readily become, is not the chief source of danger to Britain today, because, after an awakening more or less rude, and in all respects salutary, it can well be left to work out its own salvation by adopting the changes required both by employer and workman, and which are quite within their power, to enable the country to maintain its trade in competition with others. Contract for building the first seven-masted wooden schagoner has been given to H. M. Bean, Camden, Me. The owners of the new vessel are Thomas W. Lawson, J. G. Crowley and others. This firm is having a seven-masted steel schooner built at the yards of the Fore River Ship & Engine Co., Quincy, Mass. Has Buffalo and return $3.70, via the Nickel Plate road every Tuesday and Saturday. Three-day limit. Inquire of nearest ticket agent or E. A. Akers, C. P. & T. A., 189 Superior street, Cleveland, Ode Mal 218.