The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-14
CHINA'S TRADE.
America Should Maintain an Eyposi-
ton Of Her Goods in Shanghai.

ton Of Her Goods in Shanghai.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1L-Special-In n
plea FOR the establishment of permanent
exposition in Shanghai for American
goods. nsul-General Goodnow says:
Il need not impress 81 upon you that
Americans must now push sz1re strongly
than ever for the trade of China. You
nave seen the situation. its possibilities
and dangers. II the trade goes into other
hands now. IL Is lost 70 us FOR many
years TO come. Most OF our manufactur-
ers. having had a sufficient home mar
ket (Which is the best I'm the world. have
not felt the necessity of reaching out
Tor this, our next best market. and one
yet 10 be developed. They have been
content 10 do business in a half-hearted
way in Asia. and have not taken the
trouble TO make themselves acquainted
with the banking methods. the shipping
methods. the various laws in force, the
climate. the superstitions, and the details
OF the needs and customs Of the people.
In cases which have been brought 10 my
knowledge manufacturers OF cotton
goods have refused 20 make any except
the width. which is best suited for Anne
rican markets, although the demand here
- for another width This is a peculiar
people. who win buy nothing If they can
not get exactly what they want. put up
and labeled as their customs and super
stiuons dictate. The supply must nt the
demand
our people do not realize their OPP
portunlties here. a Chinese v!ceroy. who
is considered anu-fOreigu stated few
DAYS ago that he was always willing TO
nave Americans come into his viceroy-
aiy to open mines establish manufac-
lures and 20 do any kind Of business,
but he I'D not want other foreigners.
'Bu'. he said. Americans do not ask
for these things while other foreigners
aye always asking for them.
MI G0OdnOw says American business
Is usually done by agents Of other ma
t.onaHties and that no European will
sell an American manufacture unless ne
can make more ont OF IL than he can
out of the same goods from his own
country fe says Americans must be
represented by Americans, and adds:
There is another side OF this matter.
Tho Chinese know only the man with
whom they come directly IN contact.
They DO not look TO the original makers
or sellers OF The goods but 10 the agent
whom they personally know When they
have become accustomed 70 trade with
any particular man and have found him
reliable. they are easily moved by him
10 take other brands OF goods than
those they have been buying upon his
assurance that the new brand IS better
than the one which they have been using.
IN Will be easily seen from this what
power to divert our trade We put into
the. hands Of a foreign agent
I'm the Edinburgh market American
t..ff d g.. n..f.ff airl
regarded as above the average i'm point
Of quality To be more specific. the
articles OF American make sold there.
either to a large or a limited extent. have
GAINED acceptance on account OF quality
rather than on account Of comparative
cheapness: they are better for the money
than like articles produced here or on
the Coutinent To IS distinctly true,
therefore. 10 sa~ that our products have
obtained favor in Scotland and are gain
ing favor OH their merits. says Consul
Fleming IN d letter to the State De-
Dartmont.
Consul Fowler Of chofoo. under recent
date writes ia regard 10 the foods Of the
Yerow River. One million people. II is
stated. are IN distress. and LII Hung
Chang has been deputed 10 devise some
method 10 repair the damage 70 the en-
bankments. It Is understood that he
has sent abroad for experts. Consul
Fowler thinks that engineers 81 the
United states could no doubt build
system % ietties that would prevent
recurrence Of these disasters.