The age-herald., 1898-09-09

about advertising American products and exhibiting American goods in these coun- tries, as well as to take steps to remove oSStaGGles in the way of trade. To this organization belongs the credit of organ- izing the Latin-American Trade Congress, which was held in Philadelphia, and to which the leading cities of South Amer lea sent representatives.
 In other words, by becoming mem- Der of the museum, merchant can at glance obtain information in regard to foreign markets almost impossible to se- cure otherwise, and he can be put in communication with foreign dealers of good standing in the shortest possible time.
 Among the many features of the Phil adelphia Commercial Museum Is sys. tenn by which dealer in any foreign coun- try may find out where he can purchase in this country whatever product he wants. The character of the article, its price and wherever practicable, a sample is also available without going through a long correspondence. It has been found that in most instances the merits of Amer ican products are entirely unknown, and for this reason the immense trade of these countries follows the beaten tracks of years and goes to European nations
 pr. Cobbe has visited almost every city of note in the United States and the sys- tenn which he represents has received the hearty indorsment of chambers of com merce and many manufacturers.
 He is a most entertaining conversation alist and enthusiast upon the subject of foreign trade, and the possibilities of the American manufacturer as.d merchant.
 His stock of information on ti=tics relating to manufactured products, ex- ports and of commercial significance gen. erally, Is almost inexhaustible, and is strong endorsement of the thoroughness of the system which he represents.
 pr. Cobbe was seen at the Commercial club rooms yesterday afternoon and to an Age-Herald reporter said;
 ''I shall not have time to call upon the manufacturers and merchants of this dis trict in person, but through the Commer- cial club, which has endorsed our plan, we hope to bring it to the attention of every manufacturer and merchant around your city.
 "The vast resources of this country pre- sent problems that are interesting to look into, and the present capacity Of our manufacturing industries Is far In excess of our home consumption.
 "One-third of the capital engaged In manufactures In this country and one third of our labor, or over 50jO,O0J people, are idle all the time," said Dr. Cobbe. This is the all-pervading and sufficient reason for the manufacturer of the United States to seek the markets of the world and sell three and a half billions of dol lars worth of manufactured goods ted of the three hundred millions which we shall sell this year. The average manufac- turer is fully aware that the home market aoes not absorb his output as formerly, hut he does not seem to be familiar with the data of the situation. As a maeler oi fact our manufacturers could pro1uce goods for 115,OOoOOo, and not work an extra hour in the week, or about 4O,oOo,ooo more people than we have. This IS why lN is such a vast army of men unemployed
 ''In order to obtain any real rellei l. nacessarv to sell at least one billion dol lars worth of manufactureo soous '
 markets abroad, while to even up the con dition of capital and labor three anu saIs b,,,tons Of dollars must be. sold out side of the home market. Then we s,ou ,,o ,,,,adine the world with our products
 ssIpformat1On cOIncS to oNA that we can sell vastly more oi 'N nroducts to foreign countries than we a' present are doing. ,.
 ..Brazil and the Platte countries oouen' in the wear 1896 about $33,OO0,0oO or Iron anu steel products, of which we sold less el''ii 60 soo mn We are entitled with our present advantages in the production or these ooods to sell them at least 75 per cent. or ten times as much as we did sell. The sa,,e vear these countries bought nearly sAo mn ooo of manufactured cotton goods; we sold them less than $l,7Oo,ooo worlh' while with our facilities we should nave sold them 60 per cent. In these two items instead of selling fifty millions worth we only sold a little more than $4,OOO,OOo.
 "The sum paid for the use of foreign ships, foreign banks, foreign insurance companies and foreign commission mer- chants in one year amounted to s25,5s 900, on a business of $116 900. with Brazil' Argentina and Urugay, was sufficient to establish a plant of frst-class steamships with a tonnage capacity to handle the i 5i,O. .0OO tons of cargo; to capitalize the hanks for the financial transactions and leave SIP, ,0Oo, GOO to divide between the mer- chants of the United States, Brazil and the Platte countries. Under present conditions that great sum is paid as toll upon our commerce. and instead of contributing to its upbuilding, initiates against Its in crease.
 .These are few of the problems which the United States must solve, and we pro- pose to open the way by putting the manu- lecturers in direct communication with the markets of the world, where they may sell their wares in competition with Europe, who at present holds an unjust and inequitable monopoly"