The times., 1899-01-13
QUALITY IN THEIR FAVOR.
Ccotland Holds II High Opinion of
American manufactures.

That the people of Scotland appreciate
the quality of American goods expo: ted
to that country is shown by the cummuni-
cation from Consul Fleming. at Edin-
burgh. who writes to the Department of
State concerning the Scotch opinion OF
United States goods as follows:
In this market, American manufac-
lures with few exceptions are regarded
as above the average in point of quality
To be more specific, the articles of Amer
lean make sold here. either to a large or
a limited extent, have gained acc ptance
on account of quality rather than on ac-
count of comparative cheapness; they are
better for the money than like articles
produced here or on the continent 1t Is
distinctly true. therefore. to say that our
products have obtained favor in SEQ land
and are gaining favor on their merits.
Wherever one goes in this country he
finds the opinion prevailing that Amer
lean manufactures and other products are
up to the best standard. Generally speak
ing, it is considered in Scotch communi-
ties that to say an article is American Is
to commend it. The exceptions are not
yet conspicuous, and are confined to c-r-
tain grades of bicycles thrown on the
market year or two ago, which tended
to damage the American bicycle trade
here.
Our manufacturers and other producers
may well be proud of their reputat on on
this side. In food products and in gem
eral lines of wares, there are few dealers
who do not comment upon the high
standard of the articles they receive from
the United States. For example, Il whole
sale grocer who has handled American
tomato catsup, chilli sauce, and similar
goods for many years, when recently at
this consulate to make the necessary dec
laration for returning a small quantity
about 800 in value-remarked:
A portion of the last shipment was damaged in
way. This is the first time have ever sent
hack any American goods. They have been uni
formly first class. These articles made in the
United States are better than the French and are
much preferred by the public
"A dealer in machinery informs me that
he has never yet had reason to complain
of a failure on the part of an American
manufacturing company to properly fill
a definite order for an article which was
in their line of production. His only criti-
cism is that now and then n firm or COM
pany which does not make the article
wanted will either send or propose to send
something else to see If il will serve.
That, he says. is always blunder.
In the interest of American trade in
Scotland, it is a matter of the utmost i'm
pOrtance that our manufacturers MAINTAIN
the reputation they have earned for high
quality of material and workmanship.
Perhaps there is no other market whore
good quality counts for more than it does
here 1t is the essential thing, and, if
united with moderate price. it secures
trade. Finish may be quite important,
but the chances are that a bad article
well finished will have Il scant sale and
soon drop out. To gain a profitable trade
in this country and to hold it. a manu-
facturer must offer an article of solid merit
and keep it up to the original standard.
Finish and what is rather Indefinitely
termed style and anything else designed
to render wares attractive, are of perma-
nent use only in helping the sale of an
excellent article. l doubt if any Ameri
can manufacturer would profit in Scotland
by lowering the grade of his product TO
meet competition in the price. On the
other hand, if he keeps up the grade, his
rival, whether English or continental,
who resorted TO the cheap and nasty tao
tics would be the loser in the end