The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-09

American can render his country at the
resent moment than to discover a
Lew market for q commodity. That is
really achieving something; other con-
sular duties are largely technical"
Those creditable sentiments animate
many of the American consular Of
ficers. One ! knew was extremely per-
turbed because his country was ship
ping fabulous numbers OF sides of bac-
on each year to England, and receiving
regularly a pound or SO a hundred
weight less than Canada and Den
mark We're receiving. He made an ex-
haustive inquiry into the subject. and
finally sent a report to his country,
telling the farmers what sort of pigs
60 breed from, how to feed them, when
TO kill them, how to cut them up and
how to cure them, demonstrating that
If his directions We're followed thous-
ands of pounds would be added to the
income of his country. He has since,
he tells me. had a heavy correspond
ence on the subject. and expects to
see some packing houses established
which shall cure for the British mar
het alone.
INTELLIGENT ASSISTANCE.
of the initiative and alertness of these
consuls, but the above will suffice to
show that they are animated by COM
mendab1e national spirit of enterprise,
which takes, like most Yankee enter
prise, a very practical form. / think,
however, their work in this direction
is only beginning. II has only lately
had intelligent supervision and guild
1nCp frnp, NNnS Vtnp Cor 40 ;s ,nlN.
a short time since a bureau Of COM
merce was established In their depart
ment Of state. That bureau has al
ready exercised a perceptibe influence
on consular work, as Is shown in in
creased volume and practically of re-
ports. The haphazard forwarding of
these, according to the energy, acumen
and mercantile knowledge of the con-
sui. is gradually being systematized.
American manufacturers ready for
export business now turn naturally To
the bureau. They formulate with the
eXactltude of business men series of
questions covering precisely the points
on which they desire information, and
the bureau procures answers through
the consuls. The useful, but homely,
sausage casing has not been thought
too tritiing a subject upon which 10
ask reports; leather has had attention,
white lead has been examined, credit
systems of different countries have
been reported on, markets for manu-
factured iron have been diligently
searched for, American proprietary
medicines have been looked into. pianos
and markets for them have been ex-
ploited-these are "a few OF the sub
jects. recalled at haphazard. that are
dealt with by American consuls, under
direction from headquarters.
THE ONE FAULT.
The bureau of commerce, besides in
itiating Inquiries, publishing the re-
suits in special numbers and editing
and controlling the usual monthly vol
ume of reports, systematizes the de-
partment statistics and maintains and
develops a sort of foreign intelligence
bureau. / am told this latter feature
is appreciated and commended by cX-
porting inuuirers.
The fault in the American system is.
of course, in the changes made with
each incoming administration: but /
am told that opinion is working fast
for permanent tenure: and when this
reform Is accomplished American con-
suls Will be, even more than now, ac-
tive, alert and successful "forerunners
OF their country's foreign trade"