The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
WIDENING OF MARKET
FACTORY INSPECTOR MGERSCH
URGES 1T AS SALVATION OF
AMERICAN LABOR
LUMBERMEN TOO RELUCTANT
He Says That minnesota Pine Could
he safely Sold the European
Continent - Room for other
0ver,vorked Genius of the Pio-
neers.

Factory Inspector Jules Moersch has
recently completed an Investigation of
the possibilities of increased trade re-
lations with some of the European ma
tons. and has obtained some valuable
information upon the market for Amer
lean faetoried goods abroad. Mr..
MoerSch has travelled in many coun-
tries of the world and was for several
years in the employ of the Central
E. American Canal company as civil en-
gineer. Discussing the natter yester-
day with The G o e he said:
Last year, with the permission of the COM
missioner OF labor. started an lnvesuga-
ton into the possibilities of extending the
market for products of American industries
abroad.
For this purpose l. opened correspondence
with business firms, transportation companies
and private individuals in the Rhine river
district OF Germany. the grand duchy OF LUX
embourg, Belgium and Alsace.
My leading motive was the desire to ascer-
tain. if, by extension of our markets.
steadier and more employment for our, work
ing cicetseg could be secured.
The results of my investigations have been
embodied in a subsequent report to the COM
missioner of labor, and extracts OF the same
at that time have been publish IN the papers
and in trade journals.
My CORE :pondence disclosed the fact that
certain articles Of American manufacture
would find coed and profitable markets IN
the countries aforementioned, provided the
same could be brought before the people In
the proper way, and that their superiority IN
quality or difference in price against other
goods. would be shown to the purchasers IN
short American merchants must adopt the
right means to introduce their goods into
foreign markets.
upon its banks the industrial cities OF Crefe-d:
Reshrort Dusseldorf. Cologne, KoblenZ and
many others is demand for dressed and
rough lumber both hardwood and pine.
Hardwood fpiShiDPS holdings SaSheS, etc,
are good articles for SALE the building trade
in the Rhine district being quite active, and
almost all lumber for this and domestic pur-
poses having to be imported.
Prices of lumber OF various descriptions
were furnished to me. freight rates Tor the
same by steamer and sailing vessels from
New York to Amsterdam; charges for reload
ing on board of river steamers and tow YES
sells import duties and final charges for
handling lumber had been added. firm OF
Cologne requested to be brought IN contact
with a Northwestern lumber firm, and offered
to undertake the handling of their lumber on
personal account: provided such American
firm would have such lumber SO prepared as
to suit the German demand. Lumber mer-
chants to whom 1 referred the proposition
failed to interest themselves in the same, and
my efforts in that direction proved failure
Answers tO+inquries as to market for
American shoes were in the affirmative and
very encouraging
sofa being shoe manufacturing an extension
of this market abroad would certainly bene-
At the working people in that industry. IL
is true Northwestern shoe merchants cannot
bring their goods into successful competition
with Eastern goods in the European market
Freight rates TO the seaboard ana their learner
marker being East, is against them. But only
about one sixteenth of the Northwestern de-
mand for footwear is supplied by the North,
west, the bulk of the trade being taken care
OF by Earterp firms The latter ought TO
reach out for the European market1and give
Northwestern manufacturers an .opPortunit.
to supply the wants at home -.
rNfAr our fnra ION
market, possibilities became Of such interest
to me that continued, at leisure, with my
correspondence, and now am prepared to
present To- your honorable body the following
suggestions
The city of Luxembourg, which is the capt.
tai OF the grand duchy of Luxembourg,
forum an excellent base from which TO intro
duce and distribute products of American
manufacture IN the grand duchy and the
adjoining. German provinces. Luxembourg
belongs to the German. Zollyerein. The CAPT
tai is about 250 miles from Antwerp and go
miles from Brussels. The cities of Dieden-
hofen, Metz, Trier. Saarburg and Saarbruck
are within easy reach and have ample rail-
way connections. The grand duchy has a
&. highly developed iron ore mining and, smelt-
= ing industry, and also excellent agricultural!
districts, and the same is to be said OF
Alsace. The district around Saarbruck and
Saarburg -hav> coal mines and smelling
works. The financial condition Of the in
farming and wine growing districts on the
banks of the Mo1elle and in Alsace.
WCGdWOrkin5 ana iron working machinery,
agricultural machinery and implements, farm
wagons mechanical tools of every descrip-
ton. cooking stoves and all sorts of house.
hold articles. such refrigerators, wash
tubs. wringers wa,hboards, wooden pals
etc. etc. could be placed this market
Rugs and mattings which are now made OF
wire grass from the Western prairies, and
which are product Of a new ard distinctly
American industry, should find ready sale
if properly introduced. In order to accomplish
this I would suggest that a depot and show
room of American goods be established in the
city of Luxembourg under the charge of g
representative man who speaks German
and French. and has a thorough knowledge
of the business ways as practiced in these
countries. Well prepared catalogues and
price lists. printed in the language of the
people with which it is intended to carry
on business, should be at h command. Prices
weights and measures must be set forth
in the currencies and sy-tems of the country
Every country town in the rural districts
has its market days. which are similar te
our county fairs, and the representative
should visit them and make exhibits of his
goods
If American representatives will study the
wants of the people with the same intell
gence and patience which they exhibit IL
their home pursuits there is no doubt bu
that Their efforts will be rewarded with sue
cess. and that they will find hundreds o.
other articles of American ma lfa which conf