The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-01
A Plan to Extend the Commerce Of
the United States.
MERCHANTS MUST Be AROUSED.
Vast Possibilities Which Now Lie Be
fore This Great Republic-Somc
Interesting Facts and Figures.
Explanation of the System.

every country on the globe. Is 10 AWAKEN
among the merchants Of Richmond
spirit which will result in an extension
OF the trade OF the United States. as well
as that OF this city.
TIE has visited almost every city Of note
On the Union. and the system which he
represents has received the most hearty
endorsement from the chambers OF COM
merce of large number of corporations.
Dr. C0bbe was in conference with Sec
rotary Dunlop. of the Richmond Chamber.
for some hours yesterday afternoon, and
ae Will visit to-day the subscribers 20
the Philadelphia organization. among
whom are the most prominent merchants
and manufacturers of this city.
SYSTEM EXPLAINED.
The Philadelphia Organization has been
at work for some years In building up
complete system Of Information regarding
the wants of the consumers OF these
countries In has succeeded I'm dissent
natiug among the manufacturers and
business men OF this country an inteli-
gent exposition Of many features Of
trade which must be considered i'm order
to turn towards tho United states the
vast commerce which these countries can
develop. on the other hand It has set
about advertising American products and
tries. as well as 10 take steps 20 remove
obstacles In the way Of trade. To this
organization belongs the credit Of organ
ling the Latin-American Trade Congress.
which was held in Philadelphia. and 10
which The leading cities OF SoIth Anne
RIGA sent representatives.
I'm other words by becoming a mem
Der Of the museum. a merchant can at
q glance obtain Information In regard 10
foreign markets almost impossible 10 Sc
cure otherwise. and he can be put In
communication with foreign dealers OF
good standing in the shortest possible
time.
COMPLETE INFORMATION.
Among the many features OF the Phil
adelphia Commercial Museum is a sys-
tenn by which a dealer In any foreign
country may ind out where he can pur-
chase IN this country whatever product
he wants. The character OF the article
| IT'S price and, wherever practicable. a
sample is also available without going
through a long CORE spondence II has
been found that in most instances the
merits Of American products are entire
ly unknown. and for this reason the inn
mense trade Of these countries follows
the beaten tracks of years and goes TO
! European nations.
The Commercial Museum is now plac-
! ing card index cabinets in the Chamber
| Of Commerce organizations in thirty
cities I'm the newer and growing markets
/ OF South Africa. Australia, China. Japan
| South America. Central America and
Mexico. These cabinets contain the
names and addresses of American man
| ufacturers who make goods adapted 10
/ the wants Of the consumers of these
countries. Under suitable headings the
names are classified and the cabinet IS
under intelligent supervision. so that the
| extensive variety of information 10 con-
| tains Is readily available.
WILL BE ENDORSED
10 IS expected that the Richmond
! Chamber of Commerce will. as soon IS
! IT'S officers have been communicated
! with issue an endorsement OF this sys-
! tenn. as so many other chambers have
done.
Dr Cobbe IS an enthusiast on the sub
! feet of charging the trade ~ the United
/ States. lie sees. IN his minds eye.
/ golden vista stretching ont before this
! great republic diamonds Tie strewn I'm
/ its path which % need only gather M.
/ Ho favors the retention of the Philippine
| Island. as "a solely commercial question.
/ in order that they may De used as base
| for the great trade opening mp with the
! east.
| The vast empire NJ China. practically
| a terra incognita. presents 10 his mind
/ splendid possibilities The dawn Is break
! ing in the east and the sun Of trade,
! arising IN his beauty and briliancy. H.
| lumines the path 70 wealth and CONNER
/ cial greatness with golden hues.
IDLE CAPITAL
/ "Ono-third VI the capital engaged IN
| manufactures in this country and one
third of our labor or over 100000 people,
are idle all the time said DIT. Cobbe
This is the all-pervading and sufficient
| reason for the manufacturer of the
| United States 10 seek the markets Of the
! world and sell three and half billions
! OF dollars worth Of manufactured goods
| instead II the three hundred millions
| which we shall sell this year. The aver
age manufacturer is fully aware that
the home market does not absorb his out
| put as formerly. but he does not seem to
] be familiar with the data Of the situation.
/ As a mater of fact. our manufacturers
| could produce goods for n5,OODD, and
| not work an extra hour In tho week or
| about 100000 more people than we have.
! This Is why there is such a vast army
| Of men unemployed
"In order 90 obtain any real relief, Ii Is
| necessary 20 sell al least one billion dol
! lars worth OF manufactured goods In
| the markets abroad. while 20 even up
/ fuU IUlllLuN OF capital anu idDoL hNlfN
, and a half billions OF dollars must be
/ sold outside Of the home market. Then
we should be invading the world with
our products. Then Count Golochowski
would have cause to complain OF the
| United states encroaching upon the pow
ar TO maintain the standing armies OF
! Europe
TRADE SHOULD BE INCREASED.
Information comes TO our association
that We can sell 100000 more OF cot
ton manufactured goods in Australia than
our present trade. Brazil and the Platte
countries bought IN the year 1890 about
$4,000 900 of iron and steel products, OF
which we sold less than $3.50 go. We
are entitled with our present advantages
I'm the production OF these goods 20 sell
them at least - per cent. or ten times as
much as we did sell. The same year
these countries bought nearly NO,oOOO00
OF manufactured cotton goods We sold
them less than $1,000 worth. wnile
with our. facilities We should have sold
them % per cent. In these two items IN
stead Of selling ffty millions worth We
only sold little more than &co.vo.
| Argentine bought food products 10 tine
| value OF 100000 In one year, and we.
the great food nation OF the world, sold
them the insignificant amount OF Sl6.-si
OF preserved ash We sell almost nothing
IN the South American States OF the
many things We could sell. Other nations
should not be able 10 sell them goods
produced by the United States In such
| quantities ur.zfl huNs tens OF millions