New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-03

American agricultural implements, their introduc-
ton has been attended with great difficulty in
Southern countries. In Mexico this class Of farm
machinery is coming into use, but in Central
and South America primitive methods Of agri-
culture are still in vogue. Captain Murphy MAIN
tains that the American goods will inevitably
displace European competition, since they are
already cheaper The sale of American carriages,
street-cars and railway roling-stock can DC
greatly enlarged IL facilities are afforded for seeing
them in wholesale warehouses American pianos
have no sale because the European manufacturers
nut them into the market at reduction oil 20
or 30 per cent in cost. English sewing machines
Of inferior quality are also sold in preference 10
American on the score OF cheapness, but are
generally found TO be unsatisfactory. American
patterns are slowly coming into the market
Belgian boilers are in common use, but are snort
lived. the tubes being badly set. II American
boilers were once fairly in the market, a sllght
difference in price, would not operate against them
There are large classes Of wood manufactures
in which the United States does not need TO iear
competition. Shocks, hogsheads ana barrels
mouldings, picture frames. sashes, ollnoS' doors
and other house furnishings and many othcr
articles can be sold at lower prices In the oouth
than European goods. Brooms and brushes are
already largely imported from New-York. Amerl-
can lamps and stoves are also in demand. Nor
weoian and German matches are without COM
petition. American paints are often called for
and not supplied with energy and enterprise
American cottons are imported In increasing
ouontitv in the face Of strenuous competition from
England. This is great field for enterprise, Tor
which the system of manufacturing in New-Eng-
land is well adapted. The cotton manufacturers
there are, to large extent specialists, like the
shoe manufacturers and they have marked ad-
vantage over European rivals, who employ less
lnborsavng machinery and produce larger
variety Of stock. Wholesale houses In which the
great specialties Of American manufacture can
be collected and exhibited in stock are lndlspens-
able for the development Of the export TRACE IN
cottons and shoes. single specialist cannot nope
TO sell his goods in this market, although be may
undersell all competitors. Wholesale merchants
dealing in all the leading specialtes and prepared
to furnish goods from stock actually In mana
can alone be depended upon TO open market
for many classes of manufacture unrivalled In
cheapness and excellence. For woollen goods
there is little demand in hot countries Only IN
the lighter grades will it be practical Tor Amerl-
cans to introduce goods of this class.
1t is most invigoratng to meet an American
merchant in these countries who can speak coiG
denty and yet @med i[T@ pT eIsoHa Of an
expansion of the export trade and active C c0ul-
petition with industrial Europe. captain NUT NUT
phys wholesale business has been so Pasto
are contemplating the establishment OF sIilitur
houses on the west coast and elsewhere; lie Tiul
cules the idea that the Amercan tarlI prevents
competition with Europe, and CONTENDS ulaO I Cno
long-credit system, Of which so mucn Iao
been said and written is of far less importance
than has been represented. The credits gwen DS
lonp
munerative trade. He has found the condlu9hS
of business integrity good wherever he has traded
in the West Indies and Central America anu 9oeS
not think that exporters need TO ne aIrald Oh
running I'D bad debts in the South. lie attaches
less importance to the necessity OF building up
an American commercial marine than other mer-
chants whom have met in Spanish America This,
| think is because he is more familiar WIN the
West Indies than with South America; mere
there is no lack Of steam communication WIN
the United States. There are always fifteen, ana
sometimes as many as twenty-five, steamers a
month between the island and American ports,
and not more than six to and from b Europe er
United States exporters. In South America the
transportation conditions are very different
In order to he quite just TO Captain Murphy,
must also add that he is not an enthusiast on the
subject Of reciprocity. lie does not CONSIDER 10
necessary to have special eommerclal arrange,
ments in order to develop the export trade OF
the United States ! think he is wrong IN tnat
matter, but let that pass. The main obstacle
he contends, is ignorance on the part OF manu-
facturprs and merchants. They DO not Kno" now
TO make goods for southern markets nor now, 70
shin. pack and sell them. When duties are levleo
np6n gross weight, TO pack goods in heavy boxes
Is TO add 90 per cent to the cost. Southern ueT
chants never know what American goods Will
cost until they have them on their counters for
thpv cannot forecast the blunders In invoicing
and hacking which inevitably are made. Here
comes in the great advantage Of American whole
solo houses established at the centres of Spanish
American population. Merchants on the ground
viii be familiar with all the details of customs
law. interior transportation, invoicing, and the
rennirpments of public taste and convenience;
They can carry large stocks from when retail
dealers can replenish their shelves whenever they
choose TO order goods, and there will he no de-
law in filing orders and no bunders in packing.
chants. but will enable them to buy American
goods from stock the ground as they wanO
them. ,...,,.ous
To American merchants and manufacturers
who are aspiring to take advantage Of the reel
nrocitv treaties and TO sell them goods in south
ern markets. I recommend careful consideration
of the plan Of establishing Wholesale houses IN
Havana, Matarzas, Cienfuegos, Santiago, Kings
ton, Barbados Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, Klo,
MontevideO Buenos Ayres, and all the important
ports of the west and north coasts OF South
cannot open a market by writing letters 70 Amerl-
can Consuls, by sending samples by mail, by So
Letting orders through commercial travellers, or
nv spaSmodic dealing with commission houses. y
few groups of a dozen such manufacturers, CO.
oneratinr in the establishment of series of whole
sale houses by which all classes of American goods
can be handled, will solve the. problem OF the ex-
| tension OF the export trade. j. ~ T.