Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-21
MIGHT GET THE TRADE
Japan Eager to Deal With United
States.
Thy AMERICANS LOSE BUSINESS.
The Manufacturers of this Country are
too Suspicious-All the Good Con-
tracts Go to Europe.

United States has so small share of
the import trade of Japan. During
the last ten years we have purchased
from Japan raw material to the value
of 264,417,237 yen, and have sold
her merchandise to the value OF 81.
$50, 908 yen. At the same time Great
Britain has sold Japan merchandise
to the value of 236. 415, 892 yen, and
has purchased of her only 52,641 1903
yen worth of her products. A yen is
worth about half dollar. The reason
of this is that Englishmen are willing
to meet the requirements of the mar
ket, and observe the arbitrary condi-
lions of the trade, while our people in
sist that the japanese shall adopt our
methods and accept our conditions.
In other words, the Europeans have
been willing to do business upon the
terms of the japanese, while the Amer
leans have insisted upon fixing the
terms to suit themselves.
Here is an illustration Of what has
happened continually for years: The
city of Tokyo is introducing modern
system of water works and will re-
quire pumping machinery costing about
$1,000, 900 and about $4,000 tons of
iron pipe. A company of local CAPT.
talists was organized to make the pipe
and put up plant on the banks of
the river near Tokyo. The machinery
was all first.class, of English manu-.
facture, and about $500, 900 was in
vested. But the pipe they turned out
proved to be poor stuff and very ex.
pensive. Nearly half of it was con-
demned as worthless, which made the
remainder cost from 500 to $50 ton,
while much superior quality could be
imported for $50. This was due to the
poor material used and to the ignor-
ance and inexperience of the managers
and the men employed. The machin-
cry was set up and put in operation by
young engineer who graduated from
the Troy polytechnic school, but had
never worked in foundry. and the
superintendent and his assistants-jn
fact, all hands about the place-under
took to make pipe as cook would
make a cake, from description of the
process they found in a book. Not
one o. them had ever seen the opera
ton.
The local enterprise having failed.
the city authorities called for bids
from pipe manufacturers in England,
Scotland, France. Germany. Belgium,
and the United States upon carefully
prepared specifications. Three firms
in the latter country were asked to sub
NIT proposals, but only one is each of
the others. One of the firms in our
country, Philadelphia concern, de-
clined to consider the matter at all. An
other manufacturer made estimates,
but did not submit them, while the
third was the lowest bidder and was
awarded the contract, but he refused
to make deposit of $40, 900, or 10 per
cent. of the contract. as earnest money,
to be forfeited in case of his failure to
fulfill the terms. The contract was
therefore awarded to an iron company
at Liege, Belgium, at price which
gave them an enormous profit COM
pared with what American manufac-
turers are in the habit of enjoying
when they do public work.
The second letting, for IA, 900 tons,i is
just taking place. Although the city
officials were very much disgusted at
the lack of faith shown by the Ameri-
can firm that was awarded the last
contract, they invited the same people
to bid again, and the same bidder. ar
Alabama company, was by far the low
est again. which shows that we can
compete in prices with the world. But
this proposal was rejected without cere-
mony or consideration, because it did
not comply with the specifications.
1t stipulated that the pipe should be
inspected. delivered and paid for before
it left the United States. Another
American company requested that the
specifications be changed to read that
way. but the city authorities politely
declined to make such concession.
They explained that whenever the gov
eminent of Japan had purchased foreign
supplies during the last twenty five
years it had always been upon the same
terms and conditions-that is, payment
in cash within three days after inspec-
ton and delivery in this country, and
it could not change its methods with
out much trouble and expense. If it
accepted the pipe in America it would
be compelled to send agents and in
spectors over there and pay some com.
mission house for looking after the
chartering Of vessels and attending to
the details of shipping.
Both of the America firms invited to
submit proposals sent agents here to
make inquiries. One of these agents
was the vice president Of the company
he represented, and he was assisted by
a representative of their New York
selling agents, who do large export
business. These gentlemen made a
thorough investigation and reported
stongly in favor of securing the con-
tract if possible ON any terms, not
only because they believed there was
large profit in it, but also. what was
more important, that it would give
oil in, f,,t,