The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-12
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER II, 1905.
SUGGESTION AS TO THE SALE OF
OUR PRODUCTS ABROAD

Charles J. Murphy, who has been
abroad for several years as a special
represe tatiye of the United States de-
partment OF agriculture, was recently in
terviewed by the Ugebladet, the German
paper of Minneapolis. MINI. Mr.. Muir
ply, while in the employ of the govern
ment, travelled all over the continent,
including Russia and the British islands.
He is a close observer. and the nature of
his EN- ployment brought him in close
contact with com mercial interests, and
as his m lssion was to seek Information
his opinion is worth considering. Mr..
Murphy, since leaving the governm emit 5
EN- ploy, has been engaged by the state
OF Iowa. His business is now to develop
broader market abroad for Iowa's corn.
He has spent the past eighteen months
in Copenhagen and has been very success
full in his mission. A gathered from the
interview in the Ugebladet, his reason for
operating from Copenhagen is that it is
free port, of which he says:
My countrymen do not seem to realize
what exceptional facilities for foreign
commerce this port holds out to them.
The new harb Dor is thirty feet deep and
is at all times OF the year night and day
accessible to the largest steamers afloat.
Copenhagen is the greatest commercial
center on the Baltic and its Importance
as a trading port dates back to the earliest
times. The free port is especially intended
to aid in the unbampcled distri button of
goods to the many smaller cities and
towns on the Baltic and adlacen6 waters.
Just consider the value of this free
port to our merchants. Our products can
be placed on the European market at q
lower rate of expense from Copenhagen
than from any other port in the world;
charges are less than at any other Euro
pean city, and in fact by means of this
free port Copenhagen becomes in sense
which one can export or import any
thing without interference by customs
officers. Hence owners of merchandise
have at all times absolutely free access
to their goods, not as in our country,
where they are kept in bonded ware
houses.
Copenhagen thus offers quick an
easy com munication with the rest of the
word. Lines of steamers 30 to Great
Britain, Germany. France. Holland. Bel
GUM, Spain. Portugal, Italy, Egypt,
Greece, Turkey and the Russian Black
sea provinces. besides the Thingvalla
and Scandal lines have weekly service be-
tween this port and Copenhagen. Freights
and storage charges are lower than in
any other city. Cheap insuIance-about
q per cent-while rates in San Francisco
are between l and IL per cent per year.
In speaking of the Danish merchants
and their business methods, Mr.. Murphy
says:
The Danish merchants are progressive
and prosperous well disposed toward
Americans, and in all my relations with
them | have found them amiable and
hospitable to degree. Nowhere in
Europe are our countrymen received
more kindly. They need our goods and
we have them to spare, hence the two
people should get together quickly.
He is of the opinion that our trade
could be largely increased If the proper
methods we're followed in introducing
and pushing the sale of our goods. This
is particularly true of California wines
and fruits. of which he says:
Our native wines and fruits are well
received, and it makes an American s
heart beat faster with patriotic pride to
see exposed for sale far in the north of
Europe CALIFORNIA; matchless products
rs we'll as those from other states.
may say they were almost unkn own be-
fore the agricultural department began
its work abroad. Expert attendants are
provided for the storage of wines and
brandies, and otner facillt es are given for
keeping them in proper condition. There
is a good demand for wines and liquors
there, as the consum ption is estimated
at three-quarters of gallon per capita
per year.
Another fact to be taken into consider.
alton is that the population of the
countries tributary TO Copenhagen, which
has of itself nearly 800, 900, is 80, 600, 600 of
people: Denmark Norway and Sweden,
0,U00, 000 Finland and the Russian
Baltic provinces, 80 900, 900; the German
Baltic provinces. $1,000, 900, and Great
Britain 30, 1000. 900, to which last men
toned country Copenhagen. exported last
year 81, 000 900 pounds OF Dutter.
The point | would strongly urge on our
exporters is the fact that the free port at
Copenhagen gives q grand opportunity for
them to store their goods abroad so that
they can fill orders without delay. For
instance, an agricultural implement man
1facturer informed me that he received
an order by cable a few days ago, and
was able to fl it at once by delivering
1t from the free port at Copenhagen,
where he had stored some stock. They
have also erected a splendid American
elevator.
To show what an undertaking the free
port is. il is sufficient to say that 1t cos t
N,0U0. 900. Fourteen hundred acres more
are to be added to it. and the Danes are
wondering why the Americans are not
alive to the splendid chance it offers for
the developm ent OF their trade.
Now if it pays the state of Iowa to have
. man spend his time at copenhagen in
Producing and encouraging the use of
corn, would it not prove profitable to our
wine and fruit growers to follow similar
methods? No doubt arrangem en- is
could be made with Mr.. Murphy, whose
experience is already worth considerable,
In boom certain of our nrod nets