The times., 1899-11-01
WORK OF An EXPOSITION
Important Results of the Pbiladel
phia Export Show.
American Manufacturers Learn the
Commercial Needs OF Foreign Na-
tiOns-Lnrge Orders for Shipments
of Products Abroad-The Sessions
of the international Congress.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 31.-One of the
indications of the success of the National
Export Exposition is the request from ex-
hibitcrs. recently placed in the hands Of
the management. that the show be con-
tinued until December 81, a month later
than the date originally fixed for the close.
There is little hope, however, that the re-
quest will receive favorable consideration,
as individually the management is deter
mined that, inasmuch as the exposition
opened on time it shall close when the
period fixed for its existence shall have ex-
pired.
One Of the missions of the exposition,
probably its most important was to bring
American producers face to face with the
commercial needs of foreign nations. and
in this it has apparently been successful
principally through the medium of the In
ternational Commercial Congress and
thoroughly organized department in which
are displayed samples Of foreign manufac-
lures. each exhibit bearing a tag setting
forth the name of the country where pro-
duced, where sold, and the manufacturer
price.
Many Of the exhibitors in the American
section of the exposition haVe protited
handsomely as a result of the visits Of for
eign buyers, who were largely represented
in the Commercial Congress. With one
firm was placed an order for S140 900 worth
of steel for shipment to Australia. Another
concern booked an order for seven locomo-
tives for Sweden. A hardware manufac-
tory effected a sale of brass and bronzed
faced locks to an Australian importer.
large shipment Of farm implements to
India, and an invoice Of typewriters to Aus
tria are other direct results OF the eXpOsi-
tion, and the plea of exhibitors for post
ponement Of the close is inspired by the
belief that by continuing the exposition
! the departure Of foreign buyers would be
| delayed and further large sales ensue.
The International Commercial Congress
was convened October y, with accredited
representatives from many Governments
! and delegates from chamber Of commerce
in almost every civilized country in at
| tendance. The sessions which have con-
! tinued each day without interruption were
! devoted TO discussions Of the more complex
! questions bearing on improved trade rela-
tions Various solutions of the problem
| were offered by foreign delegates, with
many of whom removal OF tariff restric
tions, as means OF expanding American
| commerce, was the burden OF argument
| the United States made a forCible appeal
| for the repeal of the Chinese exclusion law,
J in return for the open door to the Empire
! in the Orient. An sthmian canal was
! unanimously urged as the foremost neces-
| sity toward bringing the commercial cities
| of the world into relationship that can be
| attained through no other enterprise pro-
| jected or undertaken The only point on
which opinion differed was as to the choice
| of routes.
! In none of the discussions was the pur-
| pose for which the congress was assembled
| lost sight of, and not the least insignif-
| cant of the declarations by delegates was
! that of Enrique AlZamora. from Majorca,
| Spain who evoked applause when he said:
| Trade is the best balsam for the wounds
| that the war opened"
| While the International Commercial Con-
| gress taught through the ear, the foreign
| samples department imparts information
| through the eye, and, taken jointly, these
two features of the exposition proved
| wonderful unfolding of the possibilities
! for strengthening the position of the
American producer in foreign markets
| Manufacturers learned through the samples
| what is required of them to compete in
| the export trade of nations, and not a few
| have already taken steps for quiCkening
| their pace in the race of rivals for Aus
| tralian trade. Foreigners said to them,
Produce this, or that and We will buy in
America" The reply has invariably been,
| in effect. Il will improve on the article
and lessen the cost"
! The specimens OF foreign manufactures
run through the whole category of prod
ucts which are likely to tempt American
| producers. They were selected abroad by
| commissioners from the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museum, aided by the United
| States consular service, and for their pur-
| chase Congress appropriated 500 900.
| The International Commercial Congress
viii shortly adjourn sine die, and the ex-
position will close on November 80, but the
! foreign samples VIII remain in the custody
| of the Commercial Museum. so that the
| Philadelphia Trade Show is destined to be
more than ephemeral.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.