Evening star., 1898-11-21
IN FAR OFF PALESTINE,
Consul Merritt on the Introduction OF
American Products.

American Products.
The Introduction of American products
into Palestine is the subject of an interest
ing report to the State Department by Con-
sui Merritt. "A German merchant here
Gerusaleml," he says, imports American
tools, but buys them in Hamburg, whence
they are reshipped to Yafa (Jaffa) At
present the amount is limited, but he as
sures me that they are favorably received
and that there is increasing demand
for them. He mentions especially ma
chinists', carpenters and blacksmiths'
tools. He also imports some carriage
wheels ready made.
This leads me to remark upon a branch
OF business which ought to be in Ameri-
can hands, namely, carriages and carriage
supplies. Ten years ago there were very
few carriages IN Jerusalem, but now tnat
the Yafa road is in good condition and the
road to Jericho, the Dead sea and the Jor-
dan is opened up-also that to Bethlehem
and Hebron-there are scores of CARRIAGES
and the number Is constantly increasing.
carriage road has recently been con-
structed from Jerusalem to the top of the
Mount Of Olives for the German emperor
1t is safd), and In few years one will
be built between Jerusalem and Nablous;
hence 1t Is reasonable to suppose that the
demand for carriages will increase.
Our vice consul here, who was born
in New England, but has lived nearly all
his life in this country, is of the opinion
that If a purely American store We're es-
tablished in Jerusalem 1t would very soon
create considerable demand for Ameri-
can goods. He believes that such store
would be profitable investment. 1t should
be stocked with variety of goods, and
reference always had to the actual and
possible needs of the people. Jerusalem
should have a central store and depot
while branch stores should be established
in the principal cities and towns of the
province, such as 1afa' GAIA, Hebron,
Bethlehem, Nablous and Salt. which is
east of the Jordan. The nature Of trade
certainly in the branch stores, would for
some years be chiefly barter trade
Such canned goods as corned beef ham.
tongue, salmon, Holsters, oysters, milk,
sweet corn, lard, berries and such other
fruits as do not grow In Palestine; also
furniture in pieces. to be put together here,
window frames, blinds, DOORS ETC., ought
to be sent here from the United States
This is, of course, only partial list Per-
sonal testimony is to the effect that En-
glish-prepared ham, tongue, fruits and
some other goods that come in cans are
not so good as similar articles that are
preserved In this country for winter Use
that the iltroduction of American GLASS
jars would be a blessing AS soon as the
people beSpme,f accustomed to them there
would no sdoubt be large demand Fifty
to sixty thousand bottles of beer are i'm
ported inn Jerpsalem every year, and a
large partiof this trade might be in Amerl-
can hands. 81
lone merchant ventured to import a
small inypice of American made ladies'
shoes; they were taken at once and there
is a call afor more English ladies who
tried them we're highly pleased with them.
I'm every case when introduce the sub
iect of American goods to the merchants
of this city it is admitted that in general
they are superior to those of the same
kinds froha ether countries, and the mer-
chants say they would like to keep them
for sale, but the expense of getting them
to Jarusa4em is the great barrier The
consul is not, the person to remove this
barrier; this should be done by action taken
In the United States. Occasional visits to
this coast of American steamers and a
central store with branches, as suggested.
seems to be one way of securing to the
United States its share of the trade of this
country