The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-27
Our Trade With Japan-Interest
OF Capitalists in Asiatic Commerce
-American Steel Railways Go
ing to AustraIia-Views and
Hints by EN-COnsul General John
Harriet as to How to Proceed.
MARKET SUMMARY.
FINANCIAL.

The treasury department statistical bureau
has recently issued a statement showing the
immense volume of our export trade for ten
months ending June so. The figures present
a total of 81 OPS 426,6S1 and an excess of
$125,0O coo over the same period of our last
fiscal year. which, according to statist cs,
was the largest export year in the history of
the United States. Bradstreets predicts that
upon the same ratio the sum total of our
exports for the entire fiscal years 1878
Will reach S.176. 100000. against total OF
81 ESQ coo the year previous.
The expansion has been in large measure
due TO the demand for our breadstuffs, and
there has been a shrinkage in the line of our
manufactured products, well as in those
OF the mine. Hence the Importance of agr-
culture to the nation is once more demon
strated. But, while Europe is receiving food
from our shores on the Atlantic. POS ,ibil ties
for our manufacturers are opening the
Pacific in the direction of the Orient.
In the above connection some recent COM
ments by standard journals will prove of in
terest. The following from the New York
Commercial and Financial News relates to
our growing trade with Japan:
The commerce of the United States with
Japan has grown more rapidly during The
past year than that of any other nation.
The annual returns in the foreign trade of
the empire of Japan just rece we'd by the
bureau of statistics, shows that the imports
into Japan from the United States increas d
from 1873 419 yen in 1896 TO q GO 537 Yen in
1897, while her exports to the United stat
increased from 81, 532, 341 yen in 1896 to 52 TO-
AGA yen in 1897.
Only three countries viz. Great Britain.
China and British India made as large sales
to Japan as did the United ates in 1897,
and in no case was The increase in imports as
large as that from the United States. The
gain which the United Stats has made over
other parts OF the world in slIDDlyinp Ia
with her imports is shown by the fact that
the imports from the United States increased
imports from all parts OF the world the IN
crease OF 1897 over 1886 was on.y 2S per cent
the gain OF Great Britain. our chief Compel
ftor, being only about 10 per cent.
The rapid development of Japan's foree On
commerce was Sa6, shown by the fact that her
articles which showed a marked increase IN
Japan's imports from the United Stltes
We're: Raw cotton, cotton duck flour, hats
and caps, fowling pieces, carriages, pig ron
plate and sheet iron, iron pipes nails, steam
boilers and engines steel rails l3comot We
engines, railway carriages, electrical ma
chtnery, spinning machinery, mining ma
chinery, printing paper and telegraph wire.
That our possibilities in the direction of the
Orient are attracting the notice Of capitalists
and investors is indicated by the, following
from the United States Investor:
We fear that the extent of our trade DOS
slblllties in the Orient is not appreciated in
this country. We behold the European M.
tons making the most strenuous efforts to
enlarge their markets in that quarter of the
globe, even to the extent of preparing them
selves for a gigantic struggle at arms, pro-
viaed they can in no other way acquire
practical trade monopoly of large and popu-
lous traces OF territory. Such procedure is,
OF course, foreign to our way Of doing things,
but it is WELL nevertheless for us to be
keenly alive to the fact that the East presents
great trade possibilities to US, as well as to
Europe, and that it is incumbent upon us to
use all legitimate means to realize those pos
sibilites to the fullest extent. We are to-
day much more important factor in the
commerce OF the Orient than most Of us sus-
pect, and the indications that we may
find 1t easier to enlarge our hold upon the
trade of that section of the earth than will
any OF the great powers OF Europe
And as an evidence that something startling
has already occurred in the line of accom-
plishment with respect to the extension of
trade to the Southern hemisphere the fol-
lowing from an exchange is submitted for
reflection by those interested in the advance
meat CT our commercial enterprise:
The acceptance of the American tender for
1908 tons Of steel rails by the railway COM
missioner of the Victorian railways proved
surpr's sc for the local commercial circles there.
The tenders were open to all the world, and
five were sent in. Two of these Amer
lean, two English, and one German. One OF
the American tenders THAT of the Carnegie
company declared informal. The other
Chat of the Pennsylvania Steel company
successful. The amount of the tender was
fi5,i7l, or about $751; $50. This was the low
est. Next came the two English tenders at
tI9 ia and fS1, 256, respectively, a differ
ence in favor of the American tender OF
lS,S0S. which is pretty substantial amount.
AS compared with the former contract let to
ali English firm of f5 13s per ton the Amer
lean contract works out to only GA los Sd per
ton ON exactly the same specifications.
This is the first time big railway con-
tract has gone to America from Australia.
John Barrett, formerly United States con-
sui general at Bangkok, SIAM in a recent
letter to the department Of state offers these
views and suggestions in connection with
the expansion of trade in the Orient:
japanese and Chinese cheap labor may ult-
maiely prove great competitive force but at
present 1t has not reached that degree of
strength. which should deter American ex-
porteTs from extensive operations. There Is
no better field. not even in South America
for extension of American trade than the far
East. Its present importance IS evidently not
appreciated in the United States. With proper
effort, our country could have four times its
present bulk Of trade; but the Effort should be
made at once. The year 1898 promises to be
important.
The chief mistake is the failure 20 send
competent representatives OF business houses
TO the far East. What is wanted is Iuen of
tact, experience, education and yentlemanly
bearing, masters of the business they repre-
sent, SO that buyers obtain from them
every variety OF da'a covering prices, quality,
of shipment, etc. Where one American trav-
eler visited Asiatic ports in 1897, ten came
from Europe and the orders given were in
corresponding proportion. Every buyer in
the far East welcomes capable American
trade agent, an6 will at least hear what he
has to say. There Is n remarkable unanimity
in the opinion that the extension of commerce
with the United States is greatly hampered by
this lack of competent and responsible rep
resentatives.
Mr.. Barrett makes some apt suggestions as
to how to go about the business. Some of
these are as follows:
SUGGESTIONS FOR INCREASING TRADE.
Other suggestion for the advancement OF
American trade are numerous and interesting.
They include:
% Studying the local markets AID cater
ing 10 their special wants.
tZ GIVING terms of payment of credit as
liberal as those of European exporters
CO. Framing prices with full consideration
for the silver currency Of the Far East, which
makes the price to the purchaser practically
douh,s that OF the seller
IA Packing goods with great care end spe-
cial regard for dampness, heat, ETC.
6) Shipping by the quickest and most d.
rect routes, because Of the long time neces-
sariy consumed between order and receipt
of goods.
done in the United States
Ql Issuing circulars and price lists accom-
panied. whenever possible with illustrations
In the native language or dialect
81 Selecing as agents only firms or men
Of reeognizczd standing or influence, for the
natives often Judge goods by the man who
sells them.
(9) Quoting the lowest prices possible for
the best quality when introducing goods or
sanding trial orders.
u1 Remembering t;at Ito large hSuses In
lhs Far East arc naturally conservative. and