The record-union., 1897-07-21
STATE EXHIBIT AT HAMBURG.
WHAT COMMISSIONER FTLCH-
Err HAS TO SAY ABOUT 1T.
Best Exhibition On the Grounds
and All Visitors Are At
tracted to It.

]. A. Filcher, the Commissioner in
charge of the California State exhibit
at Hamburg, Germany, under the date
of July Sd, wrote to Secretary of the
Board of State Examiners, Markley,
concerning the display, as follows:
IN brief I would say that the Cali
fornia exhibit at Hamburg is COM
plete success. In the first place, we
have the best exhibit of its kind, on
the grounds. All are attracted to it,
and the comments and interest are as
favorable as the California heart can
desire All admire and praise our
products. and considering the very
large attendance of from 10000 to 10O,-
900 people a day, the interest mani
Tested in our display must certainly
leave an impression on the German
mind that will result in a material in
crease in the consumption of our
goods
THE importers of our products are
all figuring on much greater business
this year, as a result of the exhibit,
and what is particularly gratifying is
the fact that nearly every big import
ing house in Hamburg wants now to
get into the California fruit trade.
Many from interior points also want
to get into the trade, but in most cases
these are referred for their supplies to
the Hamburg importers. One gentle
man, the other day, made a sale of
California dried fruits to new Gus
toner from some new and uneXplored
field in Denmark by reason of our ex-
hibit, which, he tells me, will net him
about 1000 marks.
''Since we set up our show the local
retailers have raised the prices on Cal
ifornia dried fruits on an average 10
pfennigs, or 211a cents a pound, but of
course this can only last until the new
fresh fruit comes here.
Notwithstanding the fresh fruit and
vegetable season is here, the extra de-
mand for our dried fruits, induced by
our show, warranted the retailers in
making the raise. In short, the inter
est in all desirable lines, that the Cali
fornia exhibit at Hamburg is making
in Germany, in the trade as we'll as in
the consuming world, is more manifest
than I had dared to expect, and per-
sonally I am more than gratifed thus
far, with the rsSults of our effort.
Financially, L am figuring to have
will have much of a surplus. If we
make fresh fruit exhibit here in Sep
tember. which we ought to do, we viii
need every dollar of our appropria-
tion.
mo one shows more interest in ex-
hibits here, than Baron Albert Won
Stephany, Consul-General from Aus
tria. He sent for me the other day
and made me a proposition to help, at
least to the extent of securing free
quarters for us, if, after the close of
this fair, We would take the exhibit to
Vienna and Buda Pesth. He might be
able to do more, he said, but he would
not promise until he consulted with
his Government. He admitted they
raised some prunes in the Southern
Austrian provinces, as for instance,
Bosnia, Roumania, etc, but not such
fruit as ours, and he was sure if we
made such a show in his country as
we have here, California would do a
great business with the Austrian peo-
pie, especially in our apricots. peaches,
pears and canned goods / asked him
to submit his proposition in writing.
which he agreed to do, and I will
bring it home with me for further con-
sideration.
1t is my opinion that a permanent
exhibit for few years, kept a few
months in one large city on the conti-
nent, and then a few months in another
would result in securing all the agen-
cies for our products, and all the
markets that the most eager California
fruit grower could ask
The transportation would make the
price little high, but their quality
would sell them among a people who
consume such goods, and who does not
like fruit?''