The morning call., 1893-06-15
THE AMERICAN AK.

THE AMERICAN AK.
On April 80. 1892, the Senate OF the
United States ratified commercial treaty
with the State of Guatemala. by which
twenty nine articles, the growth or product
OF this country, were admitted into Guate-
mala. Among these articles are barley,
| beans, quicksilver, lumber and tim ber,
marble in slabs, material for railroad build
Ing. electrical machinery, steam and other
machinery for mining and agriculture,
manufactures of wrought iron, railings.
balconies and blinds. These articles can
all be supplied from San Francisco cheaply.
What Guatemala imports she must get
either from this port or by way of the
isthmus until her railroad is completed. 1t
is interesting 10 learn from the last con-
sular report from Guatemala City that the
ratification of the treaty has been fol-
| lowed by an increase in the imports from
this country to the leading Central Ameri-
can State. Mr.. Kim berly writes that for
the first time in history agricultural and
mining machinery made in this country is
finding its way into Guatemala.
The importations of Central America
exceed 500, 100000 in value yearly. Five
| The United States has share of the re-
mander. The foreign article of largest
consumption Is textiles, and next to that
is agricultural implements. The main
articles of dress used by the Central Amer
leans are made out Of unbleached cotton,
which is supplied by England and Ger
many, which is stiffened by an admixture
of earthly matter, which gives 1t an ap-
pearance of strength and durability. We
make in this country better article of
unbleaehed cotton. which sells for less
money, but the English have got the floor,
and they keep it simply because Ameri-
cans have thus far made no effort to dis
lodge them.
In manufactures of hardware the su-
periority of the American product Is tell
ing. From some cause or other the Eng
Iish have never been able to make an ak
or saw which will compare with our
axes and saws. The American AK is the
product of long years of study. Every
part of it is shaped to perform its work
easily and with the least expenditure of
strength. Each improvement in handle
or head was the suggestion of men who
were trained to the business of wood
chopping. English manufacturers have
never had the advantage Of such expert
ence. They make an ak which will do
everything but cut tree down. Yet they
send thousands of these axes TO Central
America. and the halfbreed cftan prefers
them to the American axes, though they
have TO be fitted with handles cut out of a
stick in the forest, while the American AK
handle is the fruit of high mechanical
skill and scientific study. What is true of
axes is true of spades, hoes and all kinds
of cutting tools. The American article is
cheaper and better. but the Central Ameri-
can clings to the one to which he is accus-
toned.
In the long run all races, even Central
Americans. will prefer the article which is
good to the article which Is poor. Central
America is flooded with English and Ger
man drummers who speak Spanish and
are hail fellow we'll met with the natives.
We send down few young men whose
knowledge of Spanish is limited TO ina
mana" Cases are constantly arriving at
San Jose de Guatemala and Corinto
marked "this side up; handle with care"
as though the laborers on the wharves
there understood English. Europeans
pack their goods in strong boxes, bound
with iron ribbons, so that they reach the
Spanish-American custom-h ouses in good
condition. Our goods ale often packed in
rude. fimsy boxes, so that they are liable
to be broken before they arrive and the
goods spoiled or stolen. The freight
charges on the Pacific Mail steamers have
until lately been almost prohibitory; the
Hamburg steamers take freight for San
Jose de Guatemala at 241s cents per cubic
foot The Europeans have acquiesced in
the Spanish mercantile custom of selling
on long credits. and experience proves the
wisdom of their course. We insist on SELL
ing for cash.
1t would seem that this trade is worth
getting and that it is worth the while of
our merchants to try to persuade Eastern
manufacturers to embark in it, via San
Francisco. If it is shippers should adopt
the rules which Europeans have found ex-
pedient and fight them ON equal terms