Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-14
Which Only Require of North Amer
lea TO Reach After Them.
WHAT VENEZUELA MAY DO FOR Us.
South America Wants Our Profitable Pro-
ducts Brought,
BUT WILL NOT COME HERE FOE THEM

but for numerous articles of commerce ant
manufacture which could not, from an,
other great manufacturing center, so readil,
reach South American markets, almost un
exceptionally without breaking bulk, as VII
the continuous waterway already at hant
for large part of the year between Pitts
burg and the South, and soon, undoubtedly
to be rendered navigable all the year rounC
except in midwinter.
For these reasons, among many others
Pittsburgers will find instructive, profitable
and congenial suggestions in the following
special article from the New York Boots
and Shoes Weekly, which is introduced with
the proposition that to ship only 500 worth
of shoes from New York to ST. Thomas at
present costs "more time, worrlment and
effort than would be involved in shipping
$1,000 worth to San Francisco"
HOW VENEZUELA WOULD PAY.
Venezuela is a country which the United
States should cultivate. Our products are in
demand there. Every year we increase our
exports in that direction. We ought TO monopo-
Iize the patronage of the 100000 souls in
Venezuela so far as imports into that country
are concerned. What is the reason why we do
not? Men who have given but superficial
study to this question will probably reply:
There are several reasons"
But there is but one reason. It is because
the United States has no regular means of
communication with the Venezuelan ports,
while England has.
A merchant of Laguayra wishes to buy some
foreign goods. He reasons thus: 81 will send
my order to England because l know that the
steamer which leaves Laguayra on a certain
date will be in Southampton by certain date,
and leave there on schedule time so as to again
be in this port on a certain date"
Suggest to that merchant that he can buy
cheaper in New York and he replies: ~ es but
if order from England know to certainty
when will get NV goods. If 1 send to New
York. the good Lord only knows when the
goods will reach me. )"
We are thousands of miles nearer the market
than our competitors, but IN point OF transpor-
tation facilities we are almost a century be-
hind England, Germany and France.
MI. Bliss, of the shipping firm mentioned.is a
man who has given many years of careful in
vesugation to the subjects here considered. He
has collected statistics and prepared some
highly interesting papers dealing with the de-
velopment of our trade with Southern coun-
tries. Mr.. Bliss, speaking to a representative
of this journal, said; Europe has for years
been practically nearer the South American
Republics than we are. Our position on this
matter of Southern trade
CAN BE ILLUSTRATED
in this way: We have been like drygoods
house which we will suppose is located upon
West Firty-third ST rect or in any nice quiet
OI Tie city. LIE proprietor mas q mag0lQ-
cent stock; he is prepared to sell goods cheaper
than any other dealer. He doesn't advertise
makes no effort to market his merchandise but
lolls back in his sott-cushioned revolving chair
and says:
40. I've got the best and the lowest-priced
goods, but if anybody wants to buy let them
hunt me up and come after them
This might do if foreign merchants and
manufacturers pursued the same policy but 1t
has long been notorious that they do not. The
fatal policy of indifference has characterized
the United States long enough"
'ls it understood by the merchants and
traders of Laguayra that the United States can
sell goods cheaper than England CAM"
Yes" replied Mr.. Bliss, ''very generally
But they want their merchandise on time and
they know that we have no adequate facilities
Tor filling their orders promptly. The strangest
phase Of this subject however, is the position
held by certain public men and legislators
congressman who should be ashamed to risk
their reputation on a false statement declare
that we must not expect to sell to South Amer
lea because we do not buy from these countries
Nothing can be further from the truth. Wedo
sell to the countries south of US, but it is only
small proportion OF what we buy from them.
Even Senator Beck, in a prepared speech in
Congress-, insisted that we could not exDect
trade with our Southern neighbors because we
did not patronize them. 1 insist that figures
prove conclusively that the distinguished SEN
ator is wrong. For the year ending June 20
1857, we imported from Brazil coffee for which
we paid S52,95Sl76. During the same period
the aggregate sales of goods by our merchants
and manufacturers to Brazil was sS SS7 IS3 In
other words, we bought six and one-half times
more than we sold.
DISPOSED TO RECIPROCITY.
Therefore hold that in view of the facts it
is the height of absurdity to claim that the
countries south of us are not disposed to recip.
rocitv of trade. Personally believe the coming
congress to be held in this country and to be
composed Of representatives of the South
American republics, will result in much practi-
cal good. Mr.. Curtis is the right man to manage
II, and the representatives of this country VINO
VIII participate are quite generally practical
men. We must get our Southern friends to
visit us-to see for themselves what kind of
folks we are and what our facilities are for
serving them. The congress will be decided
advance IN the right direction.
Zone other point: By all means let Ms mako
Ior 5he SCUM American countries exactly the
kinds of goods which they want. No matter If
they insist on having the poorest and what we |
consider the himsiest Fill their orders and |
after We have gained their confidence it will be
time to talk them into buying something bet |
ter, which they will assuredly find to be The |
cheapest IN the end. Take the matter of |
shoes. In many of the countries whose patron
age we want the people do not wear a new pair |
OF shoes longer than a month or six weeks THE |
quality and make of the shoe is so inferior that
il will not stand longer wear, For a lipht
ornamental but unseruceable shoe they will |
pay to France, let us suppose from 81 so to 50 |
in gold. After six weeks of wear it is thrown |
aside and new pair purchased. Shoe man |
ufacturers IN Ihe united states can turn out |
Just as handsome a shoe and can use a quality |
of leather which will outwear two or three |
pairs of the article made in France or Ger.
many But before you can secure the custom |
of the South Americans you must make urac-
tical demonstration of that fact. The most |
certain way to get an opportunity to do this is |
to make them a shoe exactly as they want it, |
First demonstrate to them that we can make |
as good a shoe as do the factories of England. |
Germany and France. That will be a great |
point gained. Then you will be In shape tn /
convince them that you have something better |
than they have been getting from the countries |
from which they have bought for generationsD /
AN AMERICANS sTUBBoRNNEss.
Said another gentleman in the same Office.
II have in mind an American gentleman who
does business not a thousand miles from New
York. He is known all over the world as a car
builder. To him went gentleman who has
spent years in South America and said: mfr
=. company has been formed in - to build
a line of street cars. The capital required has
all been subscribed and they have asked me to
come to you and ask you to build the cars tbey
require When the great builder ascertained
that the South American company wanted cars
with top seats he exclaimed Nonsense! WHY.
that's old style; build much better car now
for less money
..in short, he refused TO take the contract.
His visitor met bis REFUSAL IN this fashion:
what thew want. It will lead to something bet |
ter in the future. They wish to patronize this
country: they know what they want; suppose il
Ie not the best in its line; they want It. and shall
trade he driven away from this country lust |
because YOU are pig headed about the marterP |
The cars were made for the South American |
company. When they were shipped one car
was sent down on trial which was what the |
builder wanted to supply them with in the first
cars are not TO be found on the road in |