The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-10
Improvement In Methods of Pack
Ing RecOmmended-Ex At
Effectiveness of Packages VS.. Su-
periOrity of Contents-HOw the
French Successfully Compete
Views of Consular Officers.
MARKET SUMMARY.
FINANCIA.
Bar silver, New York. 56H
Call money, New York. 21a


Orient, Minnesota and st. Paul are favorably
located for development into a considerable
productive center. The reputation of Mime
sofa butter has long been established, and
there is no reason why, by close attention to
details, both in manufacture and in packing
it for market. a good trade might not be
opened up in connection with this product.
Last year the port of Nagasaki, Japan re-
ceived $4,000 pounds, much of which was
exported from the United States, the chief
competitor of this country being France. That
sent from here is mostly packed in tubs, while
that from France is neatly done up in tin
cans, those containing one pound being the
most popular. 1t is this captivating method
SO characteristic of the French people, which
commends the product. The Oriental citizen
has an eye to color, and these little French
tin cans, stained either red or gold or
combination of two colors, find q reader sale
because of their greater attractiveness rather
than superiority Of contents. Consul Charles
b. Harris, at that port, In q recent letter.
says that while some of these small pack
ages are sent from this country containing
butter Of equally good quality with the French
article, the packages are lacking in the same
degree of neatness; the cans, not being stain
ed, become rusty; the manufacturers label
being printed and pasted on becomes loose
| and falls off; the package, while standing on
the shelves, collects dust and fly specks its
appearance prejudces the consumer and a,
last the butter is sold for cooking purposes,
with resulting loss to the dealer Our own
butter is largely forwarded in tubs contain
ing sixty rolls Of two pounds each in brine.
thus much that would be acceptable for table
use brings only the lower price Of cooking
butter Consul Harris says that two of the,
largest importers in Nagasaki, themselves
Americans, informed him that they had not
In five years found 1t necessary to dispose
of package Of French butter for cooking
purposes. The demand for the choice table
butter is limited almost wholly to the for.
eign population though some Japanese pur-
chase the French product regularly. 1t is the
belief of the importers that the taste for but
ter Is in the way of increasing materially by
reduction of the price, that demanded for the
best now being 321a cents per pound in gold
In commenting further on the su5iect
Consul Harris expresses the opinion that no
good reason exists why the manufacturers
OF putter mere should not measurably cen rol
the trade in fine butter in Japan as they now
do the cheaper grades packed in tubs "To
/. gain that CONTROL" he concludes "the manu-
facturer must see that the butter. and the
| package are 'gilt-edge;' the standard must
| De Kept up and every precaution taken to
| hold the trade. The butter importers here
are ready and willing to give Uni ed States
| butter the preference, as soon as they are
| assured that they will have no trouble in sell
| ling the package"
| Consul General Goodnow, at Shanghai,
while referring to the fact that the
| Chinese do not use any butter, says 1t is
| much sought after by European residents.
Foreigners are naturally prejudiced in favor
| of particular brands, which, from use thew
/ hnxr4
plain statement that {" 1t is folly to send roor
| butter to that market; and all shipments
should be in dramatically sealed tins or jars.
To allow fair average to the retailer 1t
must be laid down in Shanghai at about "a
cents, gold, per pound. ~ must retera.e, u
| he adds, "one point-do not send poor but
| ter. The European and
American consumers are willing to pay for a
good thing"
| The high standard enjoyed by the butter OF
Minnesota will commend 1t to the noti,e Of
| the importers abroad everywhere. The AS attic
export trade is increasing rapidly along with
| that to other countries Our exports to Asia
last year amounted to S4O,633, 159 China and
| Japan were our principal customers in Asia
| the former taking from US Sill, 276, 2S9 CT our
| commodities. AS an illustration of the nature
of this increase. China last year took 1 g.
$685. 99 yards of our cotton cloth, against
107, 063,4 All yards the previous year. With this
| increase in a single commodity during one
| year, the Importance of this expanding trade
in that direction is significant of much prom
| Use for the future.
The figures of our general exports for the
month of March last, show some remark
| able increases in comparison with those OF
| the same month of 1897; and among these ap-
| pear the one item of butter the exports of
which amounted, in March, 1898, 10 1865, 22s
pounds against 1,016,S72 during the me
month of 1897, an increase Of about 100000
| pounds. These figures ought to stimulate not
| only production, but the highest degree of
| perfection in quality and preparation for
! market The limits given by the consular
| officers of Nagasaki and Shanghai upon thsse
| two points, taken in connection with the
growth of our export trade from the Pacific
| coast, worthy the attention of manu-
facturers of the particular commodity men
| toned.