Evening star., 1896-10-09
Some Suggestions to American Man
ufacturers and Merchants.
CIRCULARS 4 MERE WASTE OF MONEY
Germans Want to See the Goods
Before Purchase.
COM A RISO ONS M A D E


goods. are contained in report recently
made to the State Department by United
States Commercial Agent Carpenter at
Furth. "If the United States manufac
turer or merchant" he says. would make
the same effort to introduce his goods into
Germany that the German does to put his
&c DDS upon the United States market, there
" ould be far more American products sold
in this country than there are today? The
American seems to think that the merit
which his goods possess ought to be sufli-
clent to guarantee for them a market and
that 1t Is, therefore, quite unnecessary for
him to stir himself at all to find the same.
During the three years which l have had
the honor to represent the United States at
this post, l have not had single repre-
sentative of any American industry to
darken the door Of my Office asking for in
formation that would aid him In his efforts
to Introduce his goods or in any way to
get a foothold here.
Il am, however, in almost daily receipt
Of letters circulars. or something Of the
kind from American manufacturers or
dealers requesting lists Of names and other
assistance to enable them to get their
goods into this market, and to these 1 AL
ways reply promptly, furnishing all the in
formation at my command: but there the
matter seems to end, as l never hear OF
any AWNING els else being done. and never see
any or these manufacturers here exhibit
ing their goods or making any personal
efforts to introduce the same.
Can't Act as Agent.
TO suppose that consular officers can en-
ter into an active canvass for the introduc-
ton and sale of American products is
very great mistake. They can Introduce
the manufacturer or his representative
and are willing to do SO, but they can hard
ly act as agent for the Introduction of his
goods.
Catalogues, circulars and all the other
advertising matter sent here are a clear
waste of money. The Germans will not
buy without first seeing the goods them
selves.
I'm this district the leading manufac-
turing interest is that of looking glass
plates, and over 100000 worth of this
article Is annually exported to the United
States; but the sales are effected not
through the fundamentally of letters, cir
culars, &c. but by the personal efforts Ct
the manufacturers themselves, who go
often to the United States and ride the
country over from New York to San Fran
cisco and from st. Paul to New Orleans
Wnnout TINS personal and persistent effort
en- the part OF the manufacturers here a
considerably less quantity Of Bavarian
glass would find its way into the American
market.
What the Americana Must Do.
Now, 1t is said that the rule is a poor
one that will not work both ways. and
II 1t be necessary for the German, in order
country over and give the matter his per-
scnal attention, why is it not equally nee
essary for the American manufacturer
VINO seeks market for his goods in Ger
many, TO come here in person, or. at least,
send a capable and reliable representative
and endeavor by individual efforts to get
| same before the people?
There ought to be a market here for
| many American products and, without
doubt, there would be if only the right
and proper steps were taken to find It,
The Germans unquestionably admit the
superiority of American manufactures and
workmanship, and they pattern after the
| seme whenever possible. We have here
American dentists tools. American stoves
| Chat is, stoves made after the American
styles, American fashion plates in all the
| tailor shops. and many of the toys are
made after American samples. The word
| American attached to anything is in
| And yet exceedingly few American goods
are sold here, simply for the reason that
| no effective effort is made to introduce
| them.
in price and quality between American and
| German made furniture. For example, 1
| am writing this article on desk that cost
almost double what a good rolling top,
yet, every particle of it, except the thin
vereer Of walnut, is made of pine some
thirg like the sap pine that grows in some
| parts of the United States and is con-
sidered good for nothing
| dining room set cost me over $50
and before it had been in use six weeks IT
cracked and split SO badly that it was
necessary to return it to the shop for re-
| pairs. 1t was, of course, made of the
poor quality of pine referred to and very
| thinly venereed with oak, and the oak here
Is Is: SO coarse in grain that it has no beauty.
Sixty dollars in the United States would
nave bought much finer and more dura-
BILE set.
High prices run through all grades of
| furniture. even down to the plainest kind
| for kitchen use; indeed, every piece of fur
niture manufactured here is from two to
| three times as high in price as that made
In the United States. This being true, why
| Is 1t, then, that with the right efforts on
the part of our manufacturers and dealers,
a good quantity of well-made, solid oak
and walnut furniture of the United States,
| which sells so cheaply there cannot be put
upon the market of this country? 1 leave
| the manufacturers to- answer.
| Farming Implements.
| Then there are the American farming
implements and machinery. 1t is only nee
essary to visit the Bavarian Industrial ex-
hihition, now being held in the city of Nu-
| remberg to see how wretchedly far behind
| this country Is In the manufacture of such
articles. The Bavarian still reaps his grain
| with the old-time sickle, uses the heavy.
untandy grubbing hoe to hill up his DO.
tatoes and turns up the soil with an i'm
piement so heavy and clumsy that 1t re-
| qIlres wheels to get IL over the ground.
Surely, the well-made, light. convenient and
cheap farming implements of the United
States would find a ready sale here, If only
the people could see them and learn the
advantages to be derived from their use.
I'm the erection of buildings a most te-
deus process is employed. Every stone to
be raised requires the strength of a pair OF
horses and about fifteen men tugging away
at the rope. The machinery manufactured
and used in the United States for such pur-
poses would do away with this clumsy
method, but none Of 1t seems to be in the
market here.
Then there are the American made boots
and shoes-the finest in the world. 1 an
sure good number of the O,OOO. 600 people
in Germany would buy them if they had ar
opportunity. The German boots and shoes
are much inferior to the American make
They lack that style and quality which
characterize the American goods, and are
considerably higher in price.
"The great difficulty with the manufact
urers and dealers of the United States is
that they waste their time shouting for 3
larger home market, when there is nc
larger home market and can never be. &c
long as the supply SO greatly exceeds the
demand. The larger markets they wan
l h1ra 11-o