The times., 1898-09-08
PROMOTING TRADE.
Baltimore Makes a Bid for West In
dian business.

dian Business.
Baltimore, Sept. 7.--At a meeting OF
business men. held at the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association formal
action was taken to organize a movement
to bring trade to Baltimore from Cuba
and Porto Rico Owing to the hot
weather the meeting was short and "a
resolution was adopted for the appoint
ment of q committee by Mr.. Summer
field Baldwin. president of the associa-
ton, to perfect a plan of operation. This
committee will be composed of FIVE, in
Guiding President Baldwin. Preceding
this action several speeches were made
at the meeting.
Secretary Clarence II. Forrest outlined
the preliminary work which had been
done and said "The list of exports to
Cuba and Porto Rico shows that the
goods needed in these countries can be
made in Baltimore. The location of this
city is favorable for handling export
business from the West Baltimore bus
mess men and manufacturers must ia
miliarize themselves with the needs of
the people of these islands in order to
push the sale of their goods. Transpor-
tation is the most important problem.
IL We 10 HOt nave a liNt Oh our own, We
will have to ship goods via New York,
and be handicapped by from two to
three days delay"
Mr. Nicholas p. Bond, one of the di-
rectors of the Baltimore and West In
dies Transportation Company, which has
been formed 70 establish line of steam
ships between Baltimore and Cuban and
Porto Rfean ports. presented the plans OF
his company. He said Our company
yUl rlr1iZ an tEs. hat nfri-
more needed the establishment in the
near future of transportation facilities 10
the West Indies. At the outstart we pro-
pose TO get up an inspection tour and
will furnish a steamship TO visit the va
rious ports in Cuba and Porto Rico. This
will give the people of Baltimore who feel
that they have something they can sell
| in these markets a chance TO send out a
/ representative. who can study the situa-
ton and note Just what Is wanted. Sucn
! an expedition would be a splendid adver-
| tisement for Baltimore which is not
| too well known in these countries" Mr..
! Bond said il was the desire of the COM
| pany TO make it a distiuctively Baltimore
| expedition. and added that the company
| had already received a large number of
requests from manufacturers in Chicago.
! Cincinnati and other Western cities for
| information. with the view of sending
! representatives with the party.
Mr. ID. w. Glass recommended visit
| to the Philadelphia Commercial Museum
| where there was on exhibition samples
| of goods used in these countries. with
| information TO how they should be
! packed. This he said would furnish
| useful preliminary information TO persons
who seek TO trade with the West Indies.
Mr.. Lloyd j. Jackson said: Baltimore
| wants all the trade she possibly get.
| We should let Cuba and Porto Riea know
| that We are on the map. There is no
| reason why this city should not get a
| good share of this trade, if the merchants
| and manufacturers will back up the
| transportation company, and go into
| these countries determined TO sell goods"
! Mr.. Skipwith Wilmer, who was chair
man of the meeting, said: Thirty years
/ ago 1t was no unusual sight to see a
/ strIng or drays running from all the
wharves along Pratt Street waiting an
| opportunity to load on ships goods destfr-
ed for the West Indies These vessels
came back with sugar and there was a
| big business done. Wharf room was hard
10 get and the vessels were usually lined
| up three and four deep. What condition
! do we behold today? Warehouses have
been sold for taxes. and in some instances
| owners have found it not worth the while
to collect wharf rents. Here is a chance
| TO get back what we have lost II is a
ItoDSflliiS OF THIS trd0e under changed
/ conditions We must take advantage Of
the opportunity before the business falls
| into lbther regular channels
/ Let every man who has the interest of
the city at heart make venture in this
trade. Send consignments, even at the
risk of loss, and seize this opportunity
! before 1t slips away. We are the nearest
port to Cuba of any size, and with our
facilities for handling this trade there is
no doubt about success. If we miss this
chance We deserve TO sink into obscurity-
But there is too much courage and en-
terprise in our people TO lose it. The in
ftiative has been taken by the formation
of transportation company. | say to
you business men that you must hold up
the hands of the men who have under
| taken to give you ships for this busi-
ness. Cuba and Porto Rico afford rich
opportunities for trade, and to my mind
this is the only Justification for the war