The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-04
WHY OUR TRADE IS GOOD
ALERT AMERICAN CONsULs WHO
LOOK AFTER HOME INTERESTS.
Tribute to the Efficiency of Our
SOurce-HustIers for Business.
Andrew Loring. in London Mail.

kings in Homer, or blackberries in the
autumn. In nearly every city of the world
inland as we'll as maritime. and in many
little towns-is to be found an official OF
the United States, armed with commits
sion from his President, fortified by an ex-
equatur from the government TO which he
is accredited, and protected in his offices
by the coat-of-arms of his country.
In sixty towns and cities of the United
Kingdom will the American eagle be noted
by the observant traveller. somewhat rusted,
no doubt in our damp atmosphere, as he
hangs suspended over the consular door,
but none the less an evidence of the ubiquity
of the people over whose broad-and now
expanding-lands he scars. OF these sixty
consular offices, about half are American
citizens, the remainder being Englishmen,
performing technical duties in the smaller
places.
The thirty Americans, though primarily
appointed also for the execution of specihed
Office duties, have become through pubic
demand and intelligent direction from
Washington Gas have their colleagues
throughout the WORLD pioneers OF their
country's foreign trade-"advance agents
of their manufacturers and shippers nave
been brought into contact with many OF
them in the course of the past ten years,
and / have diligently noted their methods
in connection with and their attitude of
mind towards these new and, / may almost
say, incidental duties. Something of what
l have learned | set out here.
Said one consul to me: Our people are
not Old enough yet to have learned the
meaning of the word 'bureaucrat; our ofil-
Gals at home and abroad do not conSuIf
regulations lest they may accidentally do
more than is expected of them, and few or
us would neglect letter OF inquiry on tne
ground that the information wanted would
require considerable time, perhaps some
ingenuity, to fish out.
HELPING MANUFACTURERS.
"Our manufacturers have only lately
seriously entered the field as exporters and
we feel we are in a position to help them
We cont rite essays or send over academic
discourses. but we try to be practical"
For instance?" L said.
For instance" he answered, II meet the
proprietor of a newspaper. He tells me he
is using American paper in his machine.
l ask if there are faults to be found with
the paper, or with the business methods of
the shippers. He makes several complaints
of a technical nature. the most important
of which refers to improper packing, and
consequent injury to the goods en- voyage.
/ make a report that night in thirty days
it is in print in our journals and before
six weeks have passed receive four letters
from paper manufacturers, asking further
particulars and detailed information, which
was duly sent.
1t was accident that you heard ABOUT
this ! suggested.
In one sense, yes: in another, no. I try
to know everybody. l subscribe to and at
tend the Chamber of Commerce. live my
life among the merchants. l get to know
them and the sort of business they do, that
that may be frankly asked and honestly
given, and ] am glad to think that have
several times been useful in helping goods
to come here. that we want to sell and you
want to buy"
In another town very large dealer in iron
told me that he had just had call from
II he ever imported any American bolts and
nuts. Upon his answering in the negative,
the suggestion was made that there was a
possibility of business. but that as prices
were cut so fine the consul could not help
matters on unless he was supplied with
price lists, showing discounts. Detailed fg-
ures were ultimately supplied the consul
showing the exact prices paid to the Ger
man, French and English manufacturer
United States. with full particulars as to
freights, custom-house charges and trade
terms. do not know whether business was
inaugurated through this action, but 1T was
not the consul's fault if no result followed
ONE CONSUL'S METHOD.
Calling once on a provincial consul found
his table covered with little bits of man
ufactured rubber, marked with prices. He
had received a letter from manufacturer
in his own country, he explained, which in
closed sample of rubber, and asked if that
sample could compete in England; and If so,
whether it was necessary to send over a
traveller; or whether other means Of open
ing the business could be suggested. Il am
sending him samples Of English goods and
prices" said the consul, land he can tell for
himself what he can do
How did you get the samples?' l asked.
From the largest people here, and from
another firm who do not manufacture, l
showed the former the letter and the sam
pie, and said, If this is a class of goods
that does not compete with you, please tell
me all about it, They answered that 1t did
compete with them, but that their price
lists were open to anybody, and they did
fear competition; so they gave me all the
information / wanted. l find that large
manufacturers rarely refuse information
stacles in the way.
You had to go in person to get this in
formation" l asked.
YES, it's all personal. A clerk couldn't
get it, and letters are not fruitful but a
consul who sits in his office all day is not
much use as a commercial traveller"
You admit you are commercial travel
CT % L asked.
"Of course Some call us ambassadors Of
commerce, but that is only highfalutin for
the same thing. England and the United
States are essentially commercial countries
and consuls have important duties in con-
nection with their export business. Personal
dignity need not be ruffled in performing
those duties effectively. There is no more
patriotic service American render
his country at the present moment than
to discover a new market for a commodity.
That is really achieving something. Other
consular duties are largely technical"
YANKEE ENTERPRISE.
These creditable sentiments animate many
Of the American consular officers. One
knew was extremely perturhed because his
country was shipping fabulous numbers of
sides of bacon each year to England, and
receiving regularly pound or so hundred
weight less than Canada and Denmark
were receiving. He made an exhaustive in
quiry into the subject, and finally sent
report to his country, telling the farmers
what sort of pigs to 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 were followed thou
sands of pounds would be added to the in
me- had heavy correspondence on the sub
ject, and expects to see some packing
houses established which shall cure for the
British market alone.
I could multiply examples illustrative of
the initiative and alertneSs of these con-
sule; but the above will suffice to show that
they are animated by a commendable ma
tional spirit of enterprise, which takes like
form. / think however. their work in this
direction is only beginning. 1t has only
lately had intelligent supervision and guild
ance from Washington, for il is only short
time since a bureau of commerce was estab-
-.
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