Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17


Our merchants, in sending their wares to
China, should also bear in mind that the
covers, whether of tin, glass cotton any
other material, have a great influence upon
the sale of the contents. All over China
the kerosene-oil tins are used for buckets
or beaten out into sheets to be made into
lamps, cups, any purpose for which tin
is used. The Chinese barter in everything;
bottles, tins, ~rappings, boxes, all have
their market prices, nothing is wasted,
while glass bottle is used even by for
eisners for keeping their drinking water.
In every village ore sees many shops de-
voted to the empty tin and bottle trade.
The mistress of house, perhaps with no
special fancy for any one particular brand,
tells the servant to go to the shop and get
such and such thing. He will invariably
buy that which has a cover most serVicea-
BILE to him. If there are two kinds of vine
gar, sauce, catchup, etc, one in a white,
the other in black or cheap bottle, he in
Variably buys that in the white bottle, for
when the empty bottle is thrown away as
rubbish and falls him. he will get from
the dealer far more than the other would
bring Wooden boxes are prize; and
| wrappings. if cotton or canvas, no matter
how small or soiled, are used for sails,
clothes, shoes, etc.
"A certain London house virtually con-
trolls the biscuit trade of Asia because its
products are neatly and tastefuily put up
in 1-pound and 2-pound tin boxes. These
boxes have tight outer cover, easily taken
off without cutting or mutilating. The inner
IL
hold of a stub and pull the top entirely off
take out what is wished, and replace the
top cover, thus having Il perfectly tight
box On the other hand, Americans place
their biscuits in large, clumsy square tins
holding five or ten pounds The top must
be cut open, leaving the contents constantly
exposed TO the damp and readily accessible
to insects of all kinds | have seen my cook
shake small snakes out of such tins.
II suppose the American merchant who
may read this will say, oh, we cannot be
bothered. He may be interested to know
that the foreign merchant who reads it
will study the suggestion and will adopt it.
il.
Mr. Mcmillan speaks of liberal supply
of samples a manufacturer in the west
| solicited my aid in introducing his brand of
milk. After some correspondence, he sent
| "A lot of samples, which Mr. MCMILLAN dis
tributed with the result that he is now SELL
| ing from 240 to 400 dozen tins month of
| this milk | know of many other instances.
| Need of American Exposition In China
ION several occasions l have lamented
| the lack of trade papers, price lists, ETC.,
sent to this consulate. l may not require
| Il particular quotation in year, but when
| do want it, want it badly.
| For instance, merchant came to me
| one night saying, 1 have to cable for 700
| tons of certain kind of lumber; to whom
| shall l send?' i looked through the small
| assortment of papers on file here and fin
! ally had to refer him to Shanghai. Later,
| l was called on for $1,000 tons of cement
| mot barrels). / sat up until 5 am. look
+, ing for an address, because the merchant
| said this is only the beginning of an i'm
| mense order. 1 could only show him an