New-York tribune., 1899-07-24
TRADE OF UNITED STATES.
MIR. HARPER'S VIEWS REGARDING THE
COUNTRY'S NEEDS.
STUDY OF CONDITIONS MADE FOR COM
MERCIAL MUsEUM-AN ERA OF PROS
PERITY PREDICTED.


bureau Of information Of the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museum an organization affiliated
with the chambers Of commerce or all the
cities of the United States, is about to return
home at the conclusion Of one OF the most I'M
portant missions connected with the export
trade OF the United States
year ago the American Congress approprl-
ated $4,000 E100OO for the purpose OF coilect-
ing samples of the principal goods which the
countries of the world import from other ma
tions The object of this appropriation was 10
give American manufacturers an exact idea or
the goods they were called upon to produce In
competition with other countries.
As the Philadelphia Commercial Museum had'
under State and municipal endowment. Deen
collecting foreign data for American Boards OF
Trade, the appropriation was intrusted 10 their
agent. who with his assistance, has recently
visited almost every capital of the globe, from
St Petersburg to johannesburg. and Melbourne
to Honolulu.
As result OF these Journeys. Mr.. Harper is
now busily engaged in forwarding TO the Oniteu
States for exhibition before the international
Commercial Congress at Philadelphia next DC
tober. one OF the most varied cargoes of sam
pies ever handled by a commercial trader
In conversation last night. Mr. Harper said:
tomorrow. but shall start homeward from Paris
within a fortnight. The work / have done for
the museum has taken me into almost every
corner of the world. where | have not only OBJ
tanned all possible information concerning the
wants of b,yers of American goods. and have
obtained samples OF the goods now used, and
exact models OF machinery. with photographs
and specifications but have made careful
study Of the American consular service as well.
"It would be almost impossible 10 put into
one newspaper issue even summary OF this
work. which, all in ALL has occupied over two
years time.
EXPORT TRADE TO BE INCREASED.
1T is safe TO say. however, that, considering
the general era Of prosperity upon which, fol-
lowing the Barring failure and consequent panlcs'
the world is now entering apparently. the
United States must more and more look to its
export trade as the market for its superfuous
products. I have studied this matter pretty
carefully, as you may imagine England, Ger
many and France are pushing their goods as
rapidly as possible, but the United States Is
coming into the race at a period when these
older countries are more or less exhausted.
with our immense natural resources Of coal
and iron, our improved machinery. capable Of
turning out such great quantities Of manufact-
ured goods and the capacity for intelligent work
displayed by American mechanics. have
more than even chances of controlling the
worlds markets The fact that one Philadelphia
firm is supplying England, this year alone, with
seventy two locomotives shows our capacity TO
meet the mother country on her own soil. and
to-day ENGLAND and the English colonies are
the greatest consumers Of American products.
The soil has, however, so far only been
scratched. Hundreds OF opportunities for com
petition have been overlooked simply because
American manufacturers have not been able to
learn iust what sort Of an article required
for specific localities and purposes. hay rake
that will work in Minnesota will not do for
Russia Pennsylvania mogul locomotive re-
ouires certain changes for use on the London
and Northwestern. And in hundreds Of other
cases American goods have sought competition
abroad because the maker could not see the
native article and did not know the little de-
tails that made the proffered machine sue
cess or a failure. That is what the congress Is
now supplying.
INROAD ON EUROPEAN MARKETS.
Broadly speaking Europe is buying its man
ufacturing machinery, shelf hardware Tools
bicycles typewriters cash registers and agri-
cultural implements from the United States. and
/ am taking back 5000 worth Of samples of
these goods Then, breaking into the
Manchester market in textiles, and in Turkey
and Asia ! found a great demand for informa-
tion regarding our work In that line.
"One Of the most interesting and prOhtaDe In
tervlews of my trip | enjoyed with Prince Chil-
kof, Minister Of Ways and Communications or
Russia, and a great friend Of the Car. Prince
ChilkOff got his training in the Altoona shops
OF the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. and IL doing all
he possibly can to develop American trade with
Russia. He told me OF the great pleasure with
which he watched the erection of the new West
inghouse factory in Russia. where the goods are
in great demand. as having been through the
original plant in Pittsburg.
A TALK WITH PRESIDENT KRUGER.
Another most interesting interview was one
with President Kriiger. whom | found greatly
interested in American political and commercial
progress | had told DR. Leyds that l desired
to talk with President Kruger, and President
Krdger said. Tell him to come at > a. m. to-
morrow 1t was winter in Pretoria then, as it
is now. and when | reached the Presidents cot
tage it still dark. His wife had already
prepared breakfast, and President KRUGER had
talked with several members Of the Raad when
l called Through Interpreter he told me
how anxious he was TO give America every
chance to develop trade, and urged me TO go to
see how a real burgher lived. The next day |
went twenty miles into the country to call on
this burgher who lived like a patriarch. amid
his family and servants all Of whom attended
prayers and dined together
"One OF the most wonderful things | dis
covered was the wide advertisement that the
Paris Exposition has already attained. | verify
believe that the whole world will be in Paris
next year. The Exposition is as well known in
Central Asia as il is in NewYOrk. and heard
1t talked Of from Cape Town to Buenos Ayres."
THE UNITED IRISH AMERICAN SOCIETY.
Delegates from hundred Irish societies met last
night in the Uptown Assembly Rooms. Thrd-ave.
and Fifty-nfth-st.. and organized the United Irish
American Society. The objects Of the So
ciety, as forth in the constitution adopted are
closer union Of the Irish people and their general
advancement Colonel d. c. Mccarthy presided at
the meeting. 1t an executive session and did
not adjourn until after midnight. The society will
be governed by Executive Committee. to consist
OF a delegate from each OF the affiliated bodies