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I have shown. But it is scarcely necessary 
to give further evidence as regards the 
general truth of the statements that the 
world’s trade constantly increases, that there 
are numerous fluctuations in the trade of 
different parts of the world, and that, broadly, 
these fluctuations are compensating. That is 
to say, a fall in the trade of one part of the 
world is accompanied by a rise in the trade 
of another part of the world, the demand for 
the production of commodities of all kinds 
being necessarily an increasing demand, owing 
to the constant increase in the world’s 
population, and in the activity of that 
population. 
But it may be useful to examine one or two 
of the raw products of nations, and to see 
whether in this most important direction also 
there is to be found the working of compen 
sating trade fluctuation accompanied by an 
increase of trade. 
Take, for instance, the production of Iron 
Ore. A most important raw product, because 
it enters so largely into processes of manu 
facture of many kinds, which, moreover, are 
not confined to a country’s export trade, but 
which relate also to a country’s home trade 
and manufactures generally.