The evening times., 1898-04-21
OUR INTERESTS In THE EAST.
4 Section of the World That May
vitality Interest Us.

velopment of what term our 'trans-Pa-
cifc opportunity I recently addressed
letters of inquiry to certain leading i'm
porters and exporters with whom ! am
acquainted and whose answers are trust
worthy, located in the following pTinci-
pal commercial entreports of eastern
Asia: vladivostock, Yokohama, Kobe. !
| Chemulpo, Niuchwang, Tientsn. Chefoo,
! Shanghai, Hankow, Fuchau Annoy, Can
| ton, Hongkong. Saigon. Bangkok, Singa-
pore. Manila and Batavia-an array of
trade centers that could rival many ports
of the United States and Europe in actu-
al bulk and value of trade. The answers /
are gratifying and attest my assertion
! that never in the history of the far East
has there been so much commercial ac-
| tivity as at the present time.
"On every side business operations are
being extended. The cities growing
with wonderful rapidty, and, with few
| exceptions. the exports and imports of
each year show marked increase. Eu-
ropean governments, firms, and steam
| ship lines are watching every port of the
coast from Yladivostock to Singapore as
never before. In contrast to this, we find
| American houses and steamship lines
making but little effort to get foothold.
THE questions above referred TO cover
ed general trade conditions, and a sum-
mary of the answers is given below:
Conditions of trade exchange with the
United States are less satisfactory than
those with England. Germany, and
/ France. The fault is largely with Ameri-
can business and shipping interests. Ma
J tural conditions are favorable to trade
with the United States as with Europe.
! In 1885. 1896 and the first half OF 1887,
/ freight rates and prices were largely in
I favor of Europe. but. owing to the in
/ creased demand both for goods and ship
! ping space, the rates have advanced, un-
til American goods shipped in American
bottoms or direct lines from America
can compete now and during 1895 better
| than for many years.
! japanese and Chinese cheap labor may
ultimately prove a great competitive
force. bat at present il has not reached
that degre of strength which should de-
ter American exporters from extensive
operations. There is no better field not
even in South America. for extension or
| American trade than the far East. Its
present importance is evidently not ap-
preciated in the United States. With
proper effort. our country could have
four tunes It's present Dulh Ol lidut- but
the effort should be made at once Ihe
year ls9S promises to be important.
"The chief mistake is the failure TO
send competent representatives OF busi-
ness houses TO the far East. What Is
wanted are men Of tact. experience. edu-
cation. and gentlemanly bearing. mast
| ers Of the business they represent. 50
that buyers can obtain from them every
variety Of data covering prices, quality.
. pf 10
charges. time Of shipment etc. Where
( one American traveller visited Asiatic
ports in 1897 ten came from Europe. and
I the orders given were In corresponding
/ proportion. Every buyer in the far East
! welcomes capable American trade
agent. and will AT least hear what he has
/ to say There Is remarkable unanimity
Z in the opinion that the extension of com
merce with the United States is greatly
hampered by this lack Of competent and
responsible representatives.
other suggestions for the advancement
Of American trade are numerous and in
teresting. They include G studying the
local markets and catering TO their spe-
! cial wants: 20 giving terms Of payment
or credit as liberal those of European
exporters. 81 framing prices with full
| consideration for the silver currency OF
the far East which makes the price to
| the purchaser practically double that OF
the seller 90 packing goods with great
. | care and special regard for dampnesS.
heat etc: i5D shipping by the quickest
| and most direct routes because of the
| long time necessarily consumed between
order and receipt of goods. 90 advertising
| in the local papers. as is done in the
, United States: "a issuing circulars and
I ! price lists. accompanied. whenever posi-
: ! BILE with illustrations. in the native Ian
. ! CuaGe or dialect; 81 selecting as agents
! only firms or men of recognized standing
! or influence. for the natives often judge
! | goods by the man who sells them: tSl
quoting the lowest prices possible for the
| best quality when introducing goods or
/ sending trial orders: 00l remembering
! 1 that the large houses in the far East are
[ ! naturally conservative. and that hence the
methods used at home may not avail In
! | placing orders here, although persistence
| on the part of tactful agents will event
| ually bring large rewards; GD finally ex-
| ploiting the entire field from Siberia to
Siam with the same energy that is dis
| PLAYED in the United States, but with
| ways and means suited 70 Asiatic charac-
| teristicS and conditions
| More elaborate suggestions include the
5 extension of the merchant marine. the
2 | early construction Of the NiCaTaguan
| Canal the organization of an American
| chamber of commerce of the far East
| with headquarters at Shanghai the eS-
! tablishmen. of an Asiatic commercial
museum San Francisco.
| | Lest | be accused of failing to give
3 | a certain number of American exporters
| and manufacturers credit for their e,-
, | ertions in the far East. | wish to say
! ! thar there are some who are bending
: their energies to the development OF trad
: | with China, Japan. etc. and are meeting
, | with extraordinary success. which goes
! | to prove my claim that the market is
! / here and only awaits a proper campaiSa
! for its conquest. The most notable sue
, cesses have been made in flour lumber.
, | kerosene oil. lubricatinS OIL railroad
! equipments. cotton goods. raw cotton.
leather nails, machinery. electrical sup
! plies canned goods. wine and beer sew
ing and typewriting machines. bicycles.
| lamps clocks and watches. and novelties.
| but in every instance large trade has been
! | built up by competent representatives who
have studied the field. ! know of no
! | American firm handling goods that are
consumed in any quantity in Eastern
/, | Asia which failed to do fair business
after sending the right kind of men To
build up its trade.
! 81 cannot too earnestly urge upon our
I | American exporters and manufacturers
the necessity of working to develop this
] trans-Pacific market, with it's population
| of 100000 Geo its foreign trade in 1897 OF
| | over $3.50 600. coo it's coast line of 800
| miles it's numerous harbors and cities. its
| vast river system. its many steamship
. | lines its organized systems of trade. and
its opportunities for development. The
| population and commerce of Japan alone
| exceed those of South America. 1 be-
Heve in exploiting South America to thu
D | fullest extent, but not to the exclusion
| of this promising market
1