Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
Consul Fowler Suggests How to In
crease It.
EXPORTERS SHOULD STUDY MARKETS
Example Set by Japan, Our Most
Dangerous Rival.
VAST TERRITORY WAITING

liable report from John Fowler, the United
States consul at Chefoo, China, showing
the great strides made by American trade
throughout China. 1t is on lines with the
views expressed by President Schurman
since he returned from the far east, and 1t
gives much additional information as to
how this American trade must be directed
if it hopes to continue control of the mar
kets of China, as against Germany, Russia
and Japan. In the course of his report he
says:
IN my report, Packing for Foreign Mar
kets,' published some years ago, l urged
our merchants to pack their exports in
small packages. and gave them the reason.
The great bulk of merchandise is trans
ported in small boats, pack mules, or on
the backs of men. All the hauling up and
down, across, mountains, along narrow
passes in the mountains, or over the plains
is by men. If our exporters could see how
their merchandise is transported, they
would know why the Japanese sell so much
more than we do. Let them imagine that
there are no railways or steamers, no great
roads, nothing but narrow paths between
New York anu Washington. and see which
would sell the more readily to the Wash
ington merchant, the heavy package of 800
to 1000 pounds or the small, strongly pack
ed package of 100 to 200 pounds weight.
Let them remember that the ports mere
are only landing places, and that merchan-
disc is consumed inland. The population of
this port is under 4o,000-the smallest of
any of the coast treaty ports; 1t Is, never
theless, the second in shipping and sixth in
trade, for it supplies a vast territory.
Advantages of Direct Trade.
.sThen. again, if the japanese sell more
by making direct shipments, why cannot
United States merchants do the same?
American domestics are all sent to Shang-
hal; yet So per cent are transferred to the
three northern ports-Chefoo, Tientsin and
Niuchwang. They are discharged into
lighters at Woosung, lowed to Shanghai
pay a wharfage or municipal tax on land
ing and on leaving, pay go-down hire, eX-
ira insurance. brokers' commissions, be-
sides, of course, duties tand the Chinese
comprador takes off the steel or iron bands
to sell to metal dealers, substituting old
rOpeS); then the dealers have to ship again
in local steamers to Chefoo, Ilents,n or
Niuchwang. All that expense would be
saved by direct shipments. In almost all
other trades progress is manifest, but to
the cotton piece goods men in the I nlted
States, Shanghai is today what 1t was forty
years ago-all China. OF course, the agents
there will raise objections to this SuggeS-
ton. for they would lose valuable commits
sions and they are in many cases the
agents for the shipping, they would, joined
by the brokers and local guilds, be power.
But the Japanese have shown that direct
shipments are successful.
Valuable Advice.
"The following letter on this subject is
from a merchant who sells more American
merchandise than any other, and. as he
controls the interior foreign trade in house
hold stores, etc. it is only reasonable to
believe that he understands his subject:
CIIEFOO, China, March i. 1859.
- John Fowler, Esq, United States Consul,
Dear Sir: I wish to bring to your notice some
points relating to American manufactures and pro
been introduced and p"puarized, but believe this
can he done to much greater extent If the peo-
pie a, home understood what is necessary. | would
say. first, it is important TO bring the manufac-
al home and the merchant here together.
Doing away with middlenens profits would doubt
less bring a large range OF American goods down
to prices that would make them easily compete
with several British manufacturers but with only
two American. For the latter l sell large quanti
ties of goods probably twenty times as much as
if these goods were supplied through agents The
saving to the consumer is from % TO ~ per cent
manufacturers should be willing TO send their
goods On consignment to thoroughly reliable and
quantities On the very best terms, knowing that
later. They should further send liberal allow
this country. Freight should be paid ON first in:
dents Of hithe-t9 natried Goods Attention should
is often packed in badly suldcrel and partially
empty tins which causes deteriora ton and makes
a bad Impression. oils Put in bottles thin
that hreakages average frcIn 20 To ~ per cent
outside packages often 50 bad that goods
rive in a wretched condition. To refer to two OF
three articles Watches clocks. plated goods and
lamps should Rave very large sale among the
Chine in this district. but | think it is still
small The lea ling brand Of Swiss condensed milk
costs, laid down here only little over half that
Of the leading brand of American.
= BEING Britisher. ! not anxious that
American products should push out those of Great
Britain but | DESTROYS uf bringing the articles
Of the he value before my customers.
II .NEc Mc>fJ-IJ,N,