Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-04
German Merchants Want to See the
Goods They Are BuyfnE-Trade
Hints From Reports of
Other United States
Consuls.

cieS-lihe tEoSe IN any OF the smaller towns
of the United States-and use them as feed
ers for the surrounding villages, the busi-
ness would, without doubt, pay from all
most the start
The difficulties that stand in the way of
a more extensive development of this in
dustry, aside from those for which. the
German government is responsible, Consul
Hughes believes, lie in the methods of our
exporters. In this he is upheld by nearly
all of our consular representatives who
have written on the subject. They have re-
peatedly pointed out the necessity Of con-
forming to local customs in order to estab-
lish permanent trade. The same amount
of push is necessary in Germany as at
home to make anything a success.
Want to See the Goods.
Tho German merchants, says the consul,
VIII not receive goods c. o. D.: they wish
to see what they are buying. and to be
allowed a certain amount of credit. The
local trader Is honest, but he must have
time or he cannot do business. In Thu
ringia, Consul Hughes says, the poorer
people live almost exclusively on potatoes,
black bread and beer. We take their dolls
and china: they want our beef. Why not
let them have it?
In this same connection the United States
consul general at Frankfort writes that
sermany's success in gaining foreign mar
Kets is due largely to the close attention
she has paid to the study of the details
and special tastes of the markets she
works to obtain. To illustrate the effects
OF this, Mr.. Guenther forwards an article
that recently appeared in Kurlow's German
Trade Review and Exporter, from which
the following extract'is culled:
1t mas been recently stated that Ger
many has captured much British trade in
Russian markets simply by catering to
the popular taste for red in wearing ap-
parel. English sewing needles have also
been ousted in Brazil, because they were
wrapped in old-fashioned black paper
The manufacturers of Saxony went in for
pink, and hold the market. A French ex-
porter of high-class leather goods has just
discovered the heather Chinee's antipatny
10 green, by the non-sale of his elegant
farticles made up in that color Moral:
Leave color fancfes for the drawing.room,
and make money from the rainbow if the
market requires it."
Advices received al the state department
from Vice Consul General Hanauer of
Frankfort, indicate that the success of the
department's efforts to establish a closer
Ielauonship between the manufacturing
interests of this country and our own con-
sular agents abroad. has received fatter-
ing ofhcial recognition in Germany. The
consul writes that to satisfy the numerous
demands from German manufacturers,
exporters. and chambers of commerce for
an Improvement in information service CT
ment has recently begun to publish pamph-
let's copied after our advance sheets of
consular reports" and entitled ''Adyices
for Commerce and Industry"
A compliment is also paid to our methods
of dealing with foreign trade in the first
issue of the German publication. which
chandise Exporters to the United States"
and which advises manufacturers to state
weights, measures and prices in American
standards: to strictly observe the United
marking and classifying of goods and pack
ing: to endeavor to introduce articles not
sized and small places; to try to please the
varying tastes of the American people, etc.
Bicycles in England.
Consul Mcfarland writes from Noting
ham that the English market will be food
ed next season with a cheap-grade bicycle,
costing $50 This will be the first expert
ment in England at making substantial
machine for popular selling price. The
higher grades of American wheels, such
be worth $40 in the English market In
true adjustment of parts and careful finish
the British bicycle is said to excel the
American. Each machine is special
the cheaper wheels just mentioned, the
samples that have been placed on exhibit
ton stand Inspection very well, the consul
says. and would grade from s25 on the
American market. They are lighter Than
the usual style English machine, and not
SO carefully finished. The material is not
practically an imitation of the American
machine designed for auick-market pur-
poses. The Raleigh and Humber lead the
market in England. though they failed to
a substantial in
and the makers claim they cannot make a
wheel to sell at American prices. The OBJ
American makers should be able to sell
successfully in England.
Railroads in Japan.
A resume of the last annual report of the
Japanese railway bureau. taken from the
Japan Times. has been forwarded to the
state department by Consul General Convey
of Yokohama 1t shows a marked develop
ment of Japan's railway facilities during
the last fiscal year. The total mileage on
under Wss i0e sbs aRs
miles of line WIS open for traffic o652 miles
Of which belongs to private corporations,
and the balance, 76s miles, to the state.
a steady increase is shown in the opening
up of railways during the last ten years
In 1858 Japan had only 5S3 miles of rail-
road in operation, and last year only 2.s4s
miles In 1872 %. which marked the begin
ming of the railway era in Japan. eighteen
miles of track comprised the entire rail-
road facilities of the country.
At the end of March, 1899, the number of
railway companies incorporated under for
mai charters was fifty-eight, with a total
capital of 23s,775.00O yen (s11S, ,9O9 $50, and a
lineal distance of 3. .737 miles. Besides these,
twenty-six new companies were formed
under provisional charters during the
period under review, with total capital of
q. S.535,G0 yen ISL, 0.430) and q trackage of
500 miles OF the companies Under formal
charters those which were actually doing
business numbered forty-two, the rest be.
ing engaged in the work of construction.
Out of these forty-two companies onIy five
had more than 100 miles open for traffic.
Cost of Constructfon,
The cost of construction per mile
averaged during last year s3s356 for the
state lines, and s2s,4 for the private lines.
A decided increase was noted over the cost
of construction during the preceding wear.
owing to the general rise in price OF com
moditieS and labor.
The total rolling stock on the state and
prirate lines at the end of the year under
review comprised 1,10S locomotive engines.
3.s1 passenger cars. and Loss freight cara
Compared with the corresponding date ~
the previous. year. there was an Increase of
a09 locomotive engines Gil passenger cars.
and 2s63 freight cars. As to the ratio OF
the rolling stock to the open mileage. there
were for every 100 miles, thirty-tWo loco.