Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-22

According to 0 recent report from
Walter I. Griffin, United States consular
agent at Limoges, France, American
manufacturers looking for new fields
should turn their attention to France.
He calls attention to openings in that
country In the following manner:
Mems hats.-Reference is particularly
made to fine straw and felt hats. The
best qualities of hats arc imported into
France by the large Partisan stores;
British manufacturers almost entirely
supply the trade of the large department,
stores in Paris and those In the provinces.
Fine silk, rabbit hair (such as derbies and
soft felts), and the finer grades of straw
hats are manufactured out of France.
The material from which the straw hats
are made is identical to that used in max
ing the fine straw hats so common in
America. and which is imported from
Italy. These Italian braids are largely
exported to the United States and. Great
Britain,
The attention of American manu-
| facturers is called to the interruptions
action of certain French dealers WHO put
| fictitious names in their hats with ..New
| York" as the address of the maker. This
| is Gone to attract buyers, who think that
they are purchasing fine foreign hats.
This practice has been brought to the
| notice of United States consuls several
| times. The merchandise offered under
these fictitious names is generally in
ferior in quality. This shows that Ameri-
| can manufacturers exporting to Euro
pean countries should have their trade
marks registered. 1t is heartily recon.
mended to American hatters to study the
French market.
Preserved meats. The American brands
| are not unknown to European buyers, as
some kinds of our preserved meats have
been sold I'D France for many years. Just
now, however, there is special reason for
activity in this line, because two or three
OF the establishments that have been
erected in France to overcome tho i'm
portat;on of American preserved meats
have recently met with unfortunate ex-
periences. According to the newspapers,
a large number of soldiers at the Tours
barracks who were supplied with French
preserved meats have been poisoned some
recovering, but others succumbing. The
French packers have not the supply, nor
do they possess the experience, of the
largest and hest equipped American fac.
| tories of preserved meats.
Dried, canned and preserved fruits
This trade has been growing steadily, and
this years importations promise to be
larger than ever. Five years ago, the
writer imported some dried apricots,
pears, and raisins and canned apricots,
peaches, plums, cherries, and Bartlett
pears; they we're the first of this claes of
goods ever brought into this district. The
demand for these fruits from the United
States now surpasses that from any other
| mir Nae
manufacturers in this line should be well
represented In all European countries.
The samples must be attractively packed
and on the market early. Sales are sure,
because the demand can be relied upon.
Iron and steel.--Heretofore certain
grades of iron have been imported from
Spain and Great Britain into France; but
as the price of these products grows
dearer, pig iron and Bessemer pig will be
imported from the United States, if ad
yantageous freight rates can be secured
The high price of wheat and the great
demand on this side makes eastward
f.eights very high; and, as iron and steel
cannot be exported unless the rates are
very low, this industry has been neg
lected. France is ambitious now ID make
improvements in her marine service, and
it is probable that the prices of these
commodities will advance. Now is the
time for Americans to make an assault oil
the iron and steel market of Europe.
Machinery.-One effect of the Span
/; ish-American war has been to give Euro
peans better knowledge OF The ability
of the United States to manufacture in
struments of precision. American
watches and clocks have long been re-
garded as marvels of Correctness in time
keeping; but, rs was recently stated by {
leading Frenchman, America has as
tonished the world with the accuracy o.
her implements and machinery; her stee
/; ships resist and endure better than thos,
of other and older countries. Her intri
cate machinery does not get out of ordel
so quickly and stands crucial tests far be
yond the power of European apparatus
and there are fewer failures, becsus,
there are fewer defects; this is due to he
implements of precision" II would b,
we'll to take advantage of this reputation
and show what can be done by tn,
; American workmen; especially in th,
, line of engines, locomotives, tools 70
cabinetmaking, all sorts of die.cuttins
machinery, and machines used in tn,
; manufacture of firearms of all classes
AS France is seeking more and more t,
do her own manufacturing she will nat
urally turn to the country that can sci
{ her the best machines to accomplish he
aims. These kinds of machinery Shout,
be well represented in France at all exhi
billions.
A careful study should be made, no
only of the needs of the French market
I but of the best and quickest way o
meeting them. ~ ft y #