Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-10
"A VAST FIELD UNcULTIvATED
JOSEPH j. HEM TALKS IN THE
SAME STRAIN.
Both Gentlemen Have Just Returned
From n Trip Through the South
ern Observation-Disclosures
Over Kansas City's
Opportunity.


and thoroughly impressed with the idea
that the proper effort would bring a big
Mexican trade to the manufacturers and
jobbers of Kansas City. This is the senti-
ment Of r. G. Weber. of the Weber Gas
and Gasoline Engine Company and Joseph
]. Helm, of the Ferd Helm Brewing
Company, both of whom have but recently
returned from visits of several weeks du-
ration il Mexico.
Mr.. Weber expressed such sentiments
very strongly last evening in talking to a
reporter for The Journal.
Dozens of people in Mexico ne said,
asked me why in the world Kansas City
did not make the effort for Mexican trade
which ST. Louis is making. 1 could only
answer them that didn't know why. And
l don't. Certainly St. Louis Is getting a
big trade from Mexico, and Kansas City
could do just as well If it would go after
it. 1t cannot be. done by sending one or
two men down there once year like some
Chicago houses do. st. Louis works the
trade thoroughly just the same as they do
in this country. 1t pays to do so. The
trade must be thoroughly worked and the
terms of sale and packing of goods must
be what the merchants have been accus-
toned to. The merchants are principally
German and French. with a small sprink-
ling of Spaniards. Mexicans and Ameri-
cans. They buy much from Germany, but
they would buy from Kansas City if the
business was sought properly.
They are accustomed to buying their
goods on six, nine or twelve months time.
That is not the American plan, but it is
the plan which must be followed to. get
terms a As S ae the are
people to sell to. Our firm has been selling
goods on these terms in Mexico for ten
Mexcan wo do much
to send travelling men down there who can
talk only English. They like to. have things
explained to them in their own language. So
the travelling men ought to be able to talk
not only English, but Spanish, French and
German.
ican business should have Spanish cata-
logues. There are but two or three
Kansas City firms who have. these. All
the st. Louis firms having Mexican busi-
ness issue Spanish catalogues and nearly
all devote two or three pages to telling
dn Spanish) about St. Louis. They invite
the Mexican merchants to visit St. Louis
They tell about the attractions of St
Louis. They say that 1t has Spanish
Club, that visiting merchants will find
many business men who speak Spanish and
Spanish tongue I found this out looking
over some St. Louis catalogues for pointers
for one am getting. up for my firm and
Immediately arranged with Secretary Glen
dening OF the Commercial Club, to pre-
pare some matter on Kansas City and
will have this translated into Spanish and
put INTO catalogues.
kansas City merchants and travelling
men ought to learn the Spanish language
and then be more in touch with the Mex
leans. That country is in booming con.
dition Just like the United States was just
after the civil war. 1t is just awakening to
its own possibilities. 1t has wonderful nat
ural resources and great development Is
going On. Everybody is making money.
Trade is growing every way and Kansas
City can secure a lot of benefit if she will
just make the effort"
Mr.. Helm Equally Enthusiastlc.
Mr.. Helm was equally enthusiastic about
the trade possibilities. "Of course" he
said, naturally I notice most the posi-
bilities of Mexican trade for kansas City
in lines with which am familiar Two
years ago when l was last in Mexico there
was but one brewery in the republic: Now
there are fourteen. Now 100000 bushels OF
malt are used annually. Kansas City is
to supply this need. You know you cannot
make malt in Mexico. Malt can only be
made successfully at time when seed
time never happens in Mexico, but in Kan
sas City six to eight months in the year
are suitable. for malt making. It might
water haul could beat Kansas City in this
trade because of lower freight rates. The
rate is lower, but malt Is likely to gather
The straight rail haul avoids this trouble
and Kansas City is the best situated for
this-better than St. Louis-which would be
the only real competitor in the trade.
''rhe malt trade Is something which will
doning their native drink of 'pulque' and
taking to the foaming amber beverage.
The malt trade would be easy to secure.
! simply mentioned that we had malt
house and received several orders unsoli-
cited But we use about all the malt we
produce in our own business and ! am GER
tain a mailing plant here exclusively for
the Mexican trade would make big money.
big distilery in Kansas City would be par
ticularly well situated for Mexican trade
for It. Other lines of manufacturing and
jobbing would probably do equally. as well
in Mexican trade, but 1 noticed these be-
cause | am familiar with the business.
Mexico is progressive. There is won>
derful Improvement there in the ten years
since was there before. The City of Mex
leo is fast becoming a modern city. Ten-
story office, buildings, modern steel struc,
lures, are being put up. American capital
and American enterprise are going in very
rapidly and the possibilities for Mexican
urers are simply immense. Kansas City
should. get right after her share of this
trade"