Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-18
The Export Glass Trade.
N. Y. Tribune.

Few people outside of the trade are
aware that the United States have
been exporting glass goods to South
America, Cuba and Australia in com
petition with foreign manufacturers.
The export trade in this line of
goods is still, however, in its infancy.
In speaking Of this subject to a
Tribune reporters leading exporter
recently said: Nearly eight years ago
representatives from a dozen leading
houses we're sent abroad to find a
market for the large surplus stock of
glass goods which had accumulated
during aperiod Of business depression.
They visited Mexico, South America,
Cuba aud Australia, and succeeded in
disposiDg Of large quantities Of these
goods. The prices obtained we're in
many instances below actual cost, but
at that time manufacturers we're
willing to unload their stock at a
slight discount. The foothold thus
obtained in the foreign markets has
been retained since then. With the
return Of prosperous times prices ad-
vanced, and with them there was a
slight declinein the amount Of goods
exported. The trade to-day, though
not so large, is more legitimate"
What is your best market?
Il think Havana is about the
best at present. Cubans use
about 10 per cent more glassware in
proportion to their population than We
do here. South America is also a
good market. There are some peculi.
a%rities about our trade with the latter
country which are interesting. The
market doesn't change down there as
it does almost everywhere else. The
people want the same patterns, both
in form and size, year after year. 1t
is very difficult to introduce anything
new. They are satisfied with what
their fathers used. 1t dosen't matter
how many improvements you
make both as TO quality and style,
they still cling 10 their old notions in
regard to the fitness Of things. II is q
common thing for vessels coming
north with cargoes Of coffee and dye
stufs to load with glassware for the
return trip. They buy the cheap
grades for about 50 a barrel and real
ize a fair profit from the sale on their
arrival at Rio Janeiro."
"How do you classify glass goods?"
There are two general classes, lime
and crystal. The lime glass is the
cheaper. We can give it all the ap-
pearanee Of the crystal, but the ring
Of the latter will be absent. The
crystal glass is brighter, harder, and
has the real bell ring. There is a
difference Of 40 per cent between the
lime aud crystal glass in the quality
Of the soda and other materials en-
ployed 10 their manufacture"
DO you think thatyou can produce
as fine goods here as they can in Eng.
land and France2"
Yes, | do. But the main difficulty
lies in the fact that we cannot manu-
iacture such glass as cheaply as they
can 10 those countries, where labor
may be bought for a mere song. There.
fore the American manufacturer has
no inducemeBt 10 encourage him d
produce a high grade Of goods. l an
sure our market would speedily ab.
sorb glassware Of this character If III
cost could be kept down as low as the
imported article. The old idea thai
all fine goods must be manufactured
abroad is fast dying out. All pressed
ware, tumblers, fruit dishes, tea sets
ETC., are made from the lime glass
Our exports are almost en-.
tirely confined to this class. Thii
seems To DO the only line Of goods in
which we can successfully compete
with foreign manufacturers. w,
make the most OF our sales through
commission merchants. They send
us their orders and We I'll them for
any part Of the world. Frequently
few houses abroad control the exclu-
siye right 10 certain patterns Of glass-
ware. We make contracts with man
u~iacturers for large orders Of goods o
a given design. We are obliged Il
carry a large stock Of these goods il
order 10 be ready to meet any demand
made upon us. Last year the expor
trade Of glassware amounted to about
el20,0 00.P
The reporter called upon severa
importers aud dealers in plate anC
window glass, and one Of them said
Our export trade don't amount h
10000 a year; England monopolizeI
IL all. Although 2,5O0,000 in capital
is invested in the manufacture
d plate and window glass il