The evening times., 1899-04-29
AMERICAN GOODS
WANTED IN FORMOSA
Millions to be Spent in Public
improvements.
Trade in All Lines Expected to I'm
prove.
United States Manufacturers Invited
10 Aid In nm Experimental Ex-
hfbit of Samples.

According to Consul Davidson. CT Tam
sui, there is a splendid opening for Ameri-
| can trade in Formosa. In reply to queries
| from the Philadelphia Commercial Mu-
| scum, Consul Davidson he's transmitted I'd
! to the State Department letter from
which it is learned that the opportunities
are exceptional
"A few days ago." says Consul David-
son, the Imperial Japanese Diet passed
| the loan bill which gives to Formosa the
sum of 35. .O00. 600 yen (s17, 5000 COO in United
States goId) TO be spent in public i'm
provements in the island. This will IN
| doubtedly result in an increased import
trade and il is to be hoped our manufac-
| turers will profit by it. While the larg r
proportion of the above sum viii be ex-
pended in railway and harbor work, trade
in all lines will be stimulated. and con-
| siderable commercial boom is to be ex-
pected during the period OF construction.
"A very important experiment is now
being made. the success OF which depends
| much upon assistance given by American
manufacturers. l refer to the establish
ment in this city (TamsuD of general
supply house, something entirely new 10
Formosa Commodious quarters have
been obtained, and a large sample room
arranged. in which will be placed on ex-
hibiton manufactured goods of all kinds
The manager, II. w. S. Edmunds, is an ex-
perienced merchant from Japan, and he
informs me it is his intention to push,
almost wholly, the sale OF American
goods. He is desirous of entering into
communication with American manufac-
turers. and has handed me list of goods
in which he thinks something may be
done.
He solicits from American manufac-
turers catalogues and commercial liter
ature, with prices and best discounts and
other Information necessary for effecting
sales, and would like catalogues in dupli-
cate wherever possible. He is particu-
larry desirous of obtaining samples, and
requests that same may be sent him
wherever practicable. The sample room
will, he belives lead to more satisfactory
results than any other method of business
which he could adopt; and with this. /
agree wholly. OF course, there are some
lines in which samples are out of the
question. Fer such, he desires photographs
or other pictorial representation. The
Edmunds establishment will be the only
| house working on this basis in the island,
and, as both japanese and Chinese like to
see styles of goods before ordering. / have
great confidence in its ultimate success.
As TO the advantage of manufacturers
| sending commercial literature to this con-
| sulate, | might state that catalogues which
| are loaned 10 enquirers frequently lead TO
sales. Requests for catalogues and infor-
! nation regarding certain American manu-
| factures are often made. and, while they
are mostly for single articles of machinery
! OF no great value. still these are OF i'm
portance in introducing to the island a
| large variety of goods which may lead to
more profitable business later
| Consul Davidson appends to his report
list of articles particularly desired for
the Formosan market including paints.
| oils, all sorts OF machinery, etc