Smyrna times., 1899-11-01
MADE IN FOREIGN FACTORIES.
interesting Exhibits of Samples From
Products of Other Countries For
Export Trade

Fhlladelph1a, Oct 24.-Visitors to the
National Export exposition who fail to
spend some time in the department of
foreign samples miss one of the most
important educational features of the
exposition, telling, as it does, a story
OF the manufactures and exports in
other countries. In addition to their
value, from commercial standpoint,
the display partakes of the character
of an exhibit of cuiros.
The foreign samples department, on |
the second floor of the central pavilion. |
comprises an arrangement of glass |
cases containing samples of the lead |
Ing manufactures of every country |
with which the United States might |
desire to compete in the markets of the
world. Every article is tagged in such
way as to show at a glance where it
is made. where sold and the manufac-
turers' price.
1t is no doubt true that the average
American manufacturer has yet to
learn of the true import of this exhibit
of samples, but that it is serving the pur-
pose is evidenced by the fact that ap-
plications for information respecting
the samples increase from day to day.
By way of illustrating, manufac-
turer of shovels was so impressed with
the exhibit in that line that he imme-
diately took steps to supply his trade
in Australia with shovels, which his
patrons in that distant land are now
importing from other countries, sim
T1U hnaandn tho phorantpr nnH dQGipn
of shovels desired in Australia was not
manufactured in this country. 1t is
I no reflection on the American shovels
to say that Australian buyers prefer
the shovels from other countries; they
have yet to learn of the superiority of
American manufactured goods. This
probably is true not only with respect
to shovels, but in regard to nearly
every line in which exhibits are made,
and visitors to the foreign samples de-
partment have frequently been heard
to express themselves as surprised
that America was not in the lead in
the export trade with every civilized
country.
A visitor last week to the foreign
samples department was a manufac-
turer of shoes, who for some time has
been seeking to place his goods in the
South American markets, and was not
successful, only because he was not
able to find the last that enjoyed the
preference in that country. In the
foreien samples department he found
the identical last for which he searched
so long, and obtained permission to
have lasts made after the pattern of
the one on exhibition. The result, he
says, is that he will invade the South
American markets with the shoe, as
he can supply the article desired at a
lower price for equal quality than is
obtained in the markets of other coun-
tries.
That the department of foreign sam
pies is of mutual advantage to Ameri-
can manufacturers and foreign buyers
is indicated by an instance of few
days ago. One of the delegates to the
International Commercial Congress
visited the department in company
with a local manufacturer, and, point
ing to a line of manufactured goods
displayed in one of the cases, said
There are the goods we buy; If you
can make them we will buy them of
YOU" Glancing at the price marked
: on the ticket attached to the sample
l referred to the manufacturer said: 81
3 can make the article, make it better
and beat that price" "Then," said thu
foreign visitor, you will have captured
our trade"
1t needs but a glance at the display
of foreign agricultural implements Il
e show the advanced position of thu
/ | American farmer in the use of machin
[ cry and of the manufacture of thi
r production. The foreign machinery, il
the American eye. is clumsy awkward
unwieldy, and contains an unnecessar.
, amount of lumber and metal. Thes'
Implements therefore, require great
s er degree of energy for their operation
b and are not the equal of the American
made farm machinery from a stand
a point of economy.
The foreign samples department con
tains specimens of fabrics, garments
$ beds, bedroom furniture, trunks
: stoves, silverware, glassware, lamps
d and in fact almost every line of manu-
s factures in which Americans may Ge
a sire to compete. 1t is noticeable, how
p ever, that Germany, noted for her grea
variety of children's toys, is not rep
resented by a specimen from that line
: 1t is stated, however, that a consign
d ment of dolls is on the way and will
t soon have a place among the exhibit
O from abroad. The only sample o
liquor in the department comes from
q the West Indies, and there are but tw
q of these, clairin and rum.
: In addition to the ocular demonstra
% tion which the foreign samples depart
= ment affords as to what is necessar
= on the part of American manufactur
= = ers to compete successfully in the mar
= ket of the world, this feature of tn
= exposition practically brings befor
him, through a collection of photo
= graphs, the countries most desirabl
II as inviting his efforts for trade expan
sion. In the north end of the paviliO
are Photographic views from Sout
IS America, Central America, China
e Japan. South Africa, Mexico and othe
d countries. These photographs are nc
Is commercial pictures, but, by the sub
k jects which they reproduce, they con
)f vey an idea of the substantial charac
Ie ter of the cities from which the scene
1t are taken, and many visitors are n
n doubt surprised at the architecture
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