Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-04
SUGGESTIONS TO EXPORTERS.
Extract from a Letter Written by M,r-
chant of Honduras.
HOW TO SECURE SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE
Steps Taken Looking to an Intcrna-
tional American Medical Con-
ference During the
Worlds Fair.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The bureau Of the
American republics furnishes the following
extract from private letter from an old
merchant in Honduras, which contains sug-
gestiOns to exporters IN this country "Therc
exists another reason that could be well added
to those YOU gave for the failure of the mCr-
chants of the United states to capture the
Latin American trade-that they do not send
out reliable agents who can speak the lam
guage and are well acquainted with the hab-
its, tastes and wants of the people. English
and German houses avail themselves OF the
services of such men, and the consequence is
that they get business. AS an Instance OF
this few months since commercial traveller
came to this city. lie represented several
manufacturers and shipping houses
three German and two English. He
stayed in the city two weeks
and sold $4,000 worth of goods. He had
| been about twelve months on his journey
through Venezuela, the United States of
Columbia. Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Hon
| duras, and in that time he sold more than
| 81 ,OO0O 5000 worth of goods, as he proved by
| one of his order books. He was going from
| here to Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico and
| he said he expected by the time he reached
the end of his route to have sold 100000
more. There is a great request for such a
man-ability to speak and write the Spanish
| language, knowledge of the tastes, wants,
| manners and customs of the people, knowl-
| edge of the style, classes and value of the
| goods suited to the various markets. These
| are very variable Often in the same coun-
| try particular pattern on a class of goods
| that is preferred in one district is unsaleaOle
IN another. Above all he must have all the
packing required for the different countries,
as it differs with the transportation and
what the people have been accustomed
| to. Even the coorS and STYLES of labels on
| some goods have a great influence on the
sale | have never heard OF an American
| commercial traveller visiting this part OF
Honduras, aud many that | have met in
Mexico, Central and South America were
utterly untitled for their position by impcr-
feet knowledge of the language, manners
and customs of the people and the principles
of business existing In these countries and a
| complete ignorance of the style OF goods
most salcable. | think it would be most
valuable and useful addition to your bureau
If you could establish a sample room
or what might be more properly
| termed a commercial muSeum ol
dispiay-first, patterns of manufactured
articles and goods are most saleable in the
different countries and districts, with statis
| tics of the average amount of each imported
and consumed, the prices obtained and th'
sources from which present supplies are pro
cured, manner of packing, any suggestions
that could be offered as to the best means o
divertiug to or obtaining for the Unite
States trade: second, samples, specimens
etc, of the products of the various countrie
and districts, paying particular attention Z
new aud rare products at present little know
in the United States, prices and place of pre-
duction, facilities for exporting, etc.