Evening star., 1897-04-30
COMING TO SEE US
A Party Of South American Mer-
chants to Visit This Country.
4 TOUR OF PRINCIPAL CITIES
The Philadelphia Museums VIII
Have Them in Charge.
A VALUABLE INSTITU rION

Some Of the foremost merchants of Mex
fco Central America and South America
viii pay visit to the United States in a
few weeks They represent the modern
business methods Of the people to the far
south Of us, and are coming to see. the
way commercial affairs are conducted IN
this half Of the western hemisphere. There
will be about fifty gentlemen m the party
and every one OF them will be eager to dis
cover the best and easiest way to strength
en- the commercial bonds that exist be-
| tween their countries and our own. The
visit. which is so full of substantial pos
sibihtles, is due to the efforts Of the
progressive gentlemen who are in charge
| Of the Philadelphia museums, and the dis
tinguished travellers will be taken on a
tour Of the United States which includes in
Its Itinerary Baltimore, Washington Gin
cinnati. Cleveland. Chicago, Milwaukee
prominent cities. In all cities they will be
entertained by the boards of trade and
chambers of commerce, and, of course, the
enterpris'ng representative men who COM
prise the Washington board of trade will
make their stay in the national capital
pleasant and profitable.
The visit Is not alone of great import
snce to the United States in the effect 1t
Wul undoubtedly have upon familiarizing
the South Americans with the ADVANTAGES
that will accrue to them If they patron
ize the manufacturers in this country but
1t is significant tribute to the great
work that is being accomplished by the
Philadelphia museums.
Some years ago some thoughtful and
progressive citizens Of Philadelphia began
the work of developing a complete syafem
Of museums In their city. They appre-
cfated the great educational and human
lzlnS value OF an institution that would
comprehend under one head all the special
branches of study and proceeded to es-
tablish 1t. The controlling purpose was
TO embody in each branch of a strict sci
entlfc and educational method. The nat
ural products and manufactured articles
which constitute the material of COM
merce naturally came into such a scheme
and the eagerly wished for opportunity
presented itself when at the close of the
through the liberality of Philadelphia's
municipal authorities and the services of
Prof. w. p. Wilson to secure vast collec-
tions of commercial donations to the Phil
adelpnia museums from nearly all the
foreign countries of the world. A problem
arose which occasioned grave anxiety, and
that was to secure form of organization
which would preserve the proposed mu-
scum in It's administration from the taint
of personal interest; foster true scientific
spirit in all its work and secure perma-
nent financial stability.
Legislation was secured. which created
a board of trustees officially. and legally
recognized it a department of the city
of Philadelphia. and appropriations by the
city of philadelphia were made for the
maintenance and progress Of the NIL
seums In round numbers half a million
dollars has been given and sixteen acres OF
ground within ten minutes of he city
nall set aside for the erection of build
ings.
The objects of the Commercial Museum,
which is destined to have such salutary
effect on the business of the United States.
are to collect natural products from all
countries of the world that have been or
may be made available for our markets,
and of goods manufactured abroad for
| markets in which American manufacturers
should compete. The purpose in this is:
/. To bring before our manufacturers,
dealers and consumers all the varied pro-
duets of the world. that they may make
the best selection for their own special in
terests.
2. To publish concerning these products
all scientific and useful information which
may aid the manufacturer and consumer
in their choice.
5. To place on exhibition manufactured
products from foreign countries. In order
that our manufacturers may be properly
Informed concerning all markets which
they ought to enter or control
i. To gather from all parts of the world,
and to make Immediately available to our
business men, full and specific informa-
ton concerning trade opportunities.
The exhibits are arranged according to
countries, SO a visitor may study the re-
eources and commercial features of any
particular country, see the extent and va
riety Of its products. note the means of
transportation and communication with
the commercial world, and be enabled thus
to derive valuable information necessary
in the conduct of his own business. The
exhibits are also arranged according to
kinds of products By this classification
manufacturer, merchant or consumer in
terested in any particular commodity may
here find systematically arranged and dis
played samples Of the various products
which interest him. These are brought to-
orc hksr frovr oil 81 be lob
are accompanied by all obtainable data
whereby he may judge Of their commercial
value. For instance, the manufacturer of
woods finds displayed for his benefit thou
sands OF samples, embracing nearly all the
woods of the world. in sufficient size and
quantity, and With data necessary for him
to determine their value in his particular
industry. Likewise, the textile manufac-
turer here finds samples of the woods, silks
| cottons. vegetable ibers. etc. from every
| foreign country, comprising the most va
| ried and complete collection of It's kind in
existence, and SO On through the va riouS
| lines of trade.
The exhibit Of foreign manufactures
| shows samples Of merchandise now being
! sold in foreign countries, especially in the
markets Of Latin America Australia, South
| Africa and other promising fields; the OBJ
1 1ect being to show the American manufac-
| tCrer what his foreign competitors are do
| ing IN the foreign trade Of these countries
| and to suggest to him new lines of goods
| which he may produce and sell with profit.
| The practical value of this department will
| be instantly recognized The manufacturer
! OF cotton goods who is desirous of wider
| markets for his products may here find
| thousands of samples, showing him, in the
| greatest detail, the styles of goods which
| are now being sold. He may inform him
| self concerning the weights. widths, lengths
| ard patterns which are in favor Each
| sample is accompanied by the manufactur-
| er's price. With this information the
! American manufacturer is put in posi-
| tion to judge. Of any market, as to whether
| 1t would be advisable for him to attempt
| to ciairn share of its trade. EQUAL faeil-
| tiles are offered to manufacturers of hard
| ware and cutlery. boots. shoes. hats; car
pets. woolens and many other lines of pro-
ducts.
The commercial library keeps in published
form a complete record of the worlds COM
| merce, and there is bureau Of information
| to collect detailed information concerning
| the state of trade in every market In the
/ world. Specific reports are received con-
| corning all lines of goods which are enter
| ing. or might enter these markets. These
| reports cover the sources OF the goods the
| cost CT production, quantity demanded, SELL
| ing prices, import duties, manner of pack
| ing. trade marks, patent rights etc. De-
! tailed Information is being furnished man
ufacturers. upon inquiry. concerning COM
| nercial opportunities and the demand for
/ Specffied products in any Local lifv 0Do,i,r