The herald., 1898-09-02
CALIFORNIA WINES
THE FOREIGN MARKET FOR
THEM NEEDS DEVELOPING
AMERICAN SECURITIES ABROAD
Consolidation Of Breweries-Western
Union Telegraph-Failing Lob
ster Crop-Finanical Notes
OFFICE OF THE HERALD,
vOo NrEI.ES aapt. 1. 1888,

OFtlCE OG he A14bHsAS<A&~t
LOS ANGELES. Sept. l, 1888
Upon the subject Of the Introduction OF
California wines into Belgium, Mr.. n. w.
Gilbert, the United States consul at Liese
serds under date Of July %, an interesting
communicate ton to the department Of state
In which he says:
A report Of the Belgian consul at San
Francisco, Cal. relative to the production
Of wines In the United States, appearing IN
q recent number of the Journal de Com
merce de Verviers, states that ordinary req
wine can be put down In Antwerp at V.2S
per hectoliter (26,4r gallons.) have 1t
from competent authority that good red
wines Of California of a rich. dark color
and containing from II to II per cent alcohol,
can be delivered on board vessel at the
port Of Antwerp for about 30 centimes
(5s cents) liter CLOSET Quarts) These
wines, on account OF their dark color, are
valuable for mixing with other wines
italian or French.
The population Of Belgium, from the last
official census December 81, 1870, was
65S6, 1893; men, S.2s5.54S; women, 1901, 06O
The city of Liege contained at that date
i67. SOS. Is Belgium profitable and possible
field for the introduction Of American wines
In large quantities, of which the United
States produced 25, 234, 900 gallons in the
year 1897!
wifi present some official statements
relative to the consumption Of alcohol In
Belgium and the means employed to COM
bat the alcoholic habit. According to the
number OF inhabitants, Belgium Is reported
to consume more alcohol than any other
country Eeventy-ive million liters C9.S13,-
l25 gallons) are used annually as a beverage,
which is IL liters Q2.sS quarts per annum
per person. The population Of Belgium
has Increased since 1870 by "a per cent; the
consumption of alcohol has augmented by
"a per cent.
Strenuous efforts in various ways are
combat the ever-increasing alcoholic habit
among the Belgian working classes. Ohe
plan presents the possible means Of intro
cucing our cheap. pure, and wholesome
wines into this country. The societe des
Mines ct Fonderies de Zinc de la vieifle
Montague. at Angleur, near Lege. en-
ploys between 1000 and 1000 persons. who
receive in wages annually the sum Of g.
100000. In their own defense. and TO amel-
iorate the condition Of their workmen,
which had become demoraNzsd by the use
OF alcohol, the company imports ordinary
wines from Italy and Spain, which cost
on board vessel at Antwerp IS per hecto-
liter (2s.41s gallons.) The wines are sold to
the company's men at about cents liter
CLOSET quarts.) The director Of the company
writes me-:
The consumption Of wine In our estab-
fight the ravalns Of alcoholism among our
workmen, increased Immensely. Since 1896
our workshops have consumed 800 900 liters
caS s Sa %srs q q gh9h S %ns *.
iiters l5sli gaiIonsS; in 1881 ia 900 iiters u.s.
ss sasSS} t sns So sa sH asSF months of
1t would appear that as the ordinary red
wines Of California are superior In color and
strength 10 the same kinds Of italian wines,
our wine producers could success fully COM
pete for this and other similar trade In this
country.
In this connection beg to remark that
printed matter In the English or any other
language will avail nothing. The business,
II obtained, must be by personal solicitation,
and the goods II furnished must be fully
up to samples. Other countries introduce
their wines into Belgium through large
houses OIL SOOu standing, VINO, aItef SER
ious effort, know where the wines can be
sold, and thus establish permanent trade
for the different brands which they keep
In stock.
Antwerp Is the great seaport Of Belgium
and is also the principal commercial city,
from which all parts Of the kingdom can be
reached by railway In few hours would
suggest that all American firms intending
to do business in Belgium locate their rep
resentatives at that point.