Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-01-30
American Goods Abroad.

A year and half ago, the Tribune
called attention to the fact that
American producers and ma nnfac-
turers had bsen long enough obsti.
nately blind or Indifferent to the
foreign markets ready for them. A
little energy would have open ed
those doors to wealth long ago. But
it was reserved for cretary Evarts
to utilize our consular system by
drawing from the Census, in their
statements concerning the opportun-
tiles at their respective points for
American manufactures, the most
valuable series of reports those off,
Gals have ever presented to their
Government; and the actual neces-
sites of trade are slowly pushing
our people into the new openings
thus disclosed-so slowly, however,
that it seems as if they went unwil-
lingly. American beef has been sold
in England for year 10 sufficient
quantities to influence materially the
market; American cotton goods are
found on the shelves of even the
smaller shops in London and Liver
pool; canned goods Especially
meata) are pushing their way with
force enough to compete with
France, not in quality but in price.
In cattle on the hoof and beef we
undeTssii Denmark in the British
market. Oar coal is now going into
Denmark and France. and even
pushing it's way as far as the Alps.
Our butter and cheese is cold cheap.
er 10 Copenhagen than that which is
brough. but half a dozen miles,
though if its quality were better it
would rate higher. Just there lies
the secret of success or failure in all
these attempts to take possession Of
foreign markets. If our people send
their manufactures at all, they must
be thoroughly we'll made. to over
come the repugDance which is Unborn
with every European to the trial of
new thing. Tainted butter and
half. worked cheese ia not going to
bring good price in the country Of
the first dairy-farmers in the world
neither will glued furniture nor
cheaply made agricultural machines
drive the old solid plows and tables
out Of slow. going Germany. We
should take hint here from our
quick witted Japanese brothers
They 40 successfully advertised their
goods 10 Paris during laat summer
that their sales through Europe al.
ready amount to millions of dollars
worth. They sold their wares be.
cause they were the best of their
kind, in color, in material, in thor.
onghness of finish. Now cheap good
meat and machinery are moro need
ed in Europe than pottery or cloi.
sonne enamel. But they must he
the best of their kind. Our efforts
to gain a foothold in foreign mar.
kets are not limited to Europe
American agencies are now estab-
lished in Rio de Janeiro and several
other South American ports. If
they fail in Brazil, we all know it
will not be for lack of hearty encour-
agement from Dom Pedro. A body
of Western merchants, from Chicago,
Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Wheeling, etc,
started last week for Mexico. taking
with them specimens of iron, glase,
machinery, canned goods. etc. They
go with the assurances of a cordial
welcome. There can be NO better
indication OF the certainty with
which our people are beginning to
feel the ground steady under their
feet than this ondeavor to open new
and untried channels of trade. To
open them successfully demands no
exaggerated capital, but a little
shrewd, practical knowledge. De.
pots for the sale of American goods
in the large capitals are the best
opening wedge, and may be easily
established by three or four COM
bining manufacturers but they
should be placed under the control Of
men thoroughly acquainted with the
language. wants and peculiarities of
the people with whom they have to
deal. Flattering statements, too, of
American correspondents abroad,
should be received with caution.
They are apt to judge of the wants
of the community by their own
homesick longings. 1t is safe TO act
on the presumption that our wares
must be forced on every foreign
customer against his prejudices, and
to force them by the sheer streDgth
of their own excellepce.-New York