Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
advertisement In a New York paper. II
cabled to London.
Chance for n Big Market.

Chance for n Big Market.
For four months this winter I was in
communication with Chinese inland who
wished to buy corn. For many reasons,
it was difficult to persuade them that
American corn was as good as theirs; as
a matter of fact, the shelled corn sold
here is one-third rubbish. Another thing
that made them suspicious was that
would not go into the deal with them. The
fact that I am oath. not to mention a
bond, not to go into business had no in
fiuence. Finally, another party brought
guaranty for the equivalent of SI3,Wp gold,
placed it in my hands. and calmly told me
to buy $1,000 bushels of corn, to have 1t
here in five weeks. ] did not have the name
of a single dealer in the west. / did the
best thing that ! could: l begged for ten
weeks and sent the cable to Washington
and got no reply. 1t seems no one wanted
to sell corn. Yet this was for l,5D tons
land two more orders have been received
since). and if carried through would have
opened a market of 29.09o.H0 neoDle who
subsst on that article of diet entirely,
and at a time when there was none of their
own and the prospects of poor crop this
season.
THAT little experience in trying to open
a new market for my cOuntrynen cost me
$40 gold (out of my own pocket.
but American merchants are discovering
that there is vast field the other side
of the world. and many are doing their ut
most to capture the trade. Since our mill
tary opera tons have been carried on in
the Philippines there has been an increas-
ing stream of merchants from the United
States, visiting this as well as the other
northern ports of China.
Send Out American Agents.
ut is absolutely necessary that peo-
pie keep their business in their own hands.
prominent lumber house on the Pacific
coast had for long time been represented
in China by n foreign firm, but within the
last year has had it's own representative
out here, a wideawake New York man;
his company now has all the lumber trade,
and it has increased to enormous proper
ton.
"A traveller for a San Francisco firm, dis
GUESSING this subject, said recently: Every
American who comes here knows that you
are right. l was sent out to appoint agents
for house and went to nearly every
firm in Shanghai They one and all de-
clined or laughed at me, saying there were
too many agencies of that line already. l
determined to show them that there was
room for another l hired an office for six
months in Shanghai. l went at it in the
good old American way, and although I've
been here only few months, l have sold
$4,000 worth of goods and now intend to
remain in the east for five years.
Japan n Formidable Rival.
Summing up from numerous tables, Con.
sui Fowler says: ut will not be long at
will supply the market entirely, unless we
are shut out when Germany and Russia
get their ports in ORDER He shows that
American trade in China increased through
out the list of articles. except kerosene.
Japan's trade also showed marvellous SIR des
and Japan now sells considerably more than
cne-thrd of the entire foreign imports, and
over $1,000 gold more than the United
States. The consul says this should give
food for thought, as Japan is beginning to
be a formidable competitor, not only of the
United States, but of all Europe and of
Great Britain.
Mr.. Fowler brings out the fact that the
Russian authorities have now practically
taken possession of the territory back of
Port Arthur. He says:
The Russians now will not recognize the
Chinese postage stamp. Letters from China
for the interior, via Port Arthur or -Talien-
stamp recognized by the postal union. No
one can land in these ports unless he is
furnished with a passport
The consul also shows the manner in
which Russia is developing the steamship
service between Port Arthur and European
and Asatic Russia.
He speaks also Of the gradual control
which the Germans obtaining of the
whole province back of Chefoo. Having
shown the opportunities for American trade,
the consul asks Of what avail il would be
to US to have Tientsin and few open ports
on the coast when the interior is practi-
Need of n Trade Paper.
Mr.. Fowler says that since military
operations In the Philippines there has
been an increasing stream of merchants
from the United States visiting the north
ern ports of China. He urges the establish
nent of a newspaper, and says: "A paper
containing all the latest Telegram hic news
from Europe and the United States with
market reviews published just in time to
catch the steamer for Hawaii. China. Japan
and the Philippines. would be of great bene-
fit to merchants and a profitable undertake
ing"
lie also urges the establishment of an
American bank in China and American
warehouses at Shanghai. Canton, Hankau
and 1ientsn. He says there is the most
profitable field for a new line of American
steamers from the United States to China
and adds that in spite of our large trade
only one American ship came to Chefoo last
year.