The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-23
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER - 1880.


II was recently our privilege 10 dtl'i"
the Export EDosltion iu the city Of Phil
adelphia This exposition is held under
IN. auspices Of the Philadelphia CONNER
cial Museum and In the interest of the
oxnort trade The exhibit is excellent
although not as elaborate as the man
agemont had expected and for a most
interesting reason. At a banquet given
10 the Governor Of Rhode Island and his
stan while we were at the exposition, the
statement was made by one of the officers
that the great prosperity of the country
had seriously interfered with the eXposi-
ton. By way of explanation he went on
10 say that manufacturers were so busy
filling orders for their customers that
many Of them who desired 10 do so had
not been able to send exhibits because
they did not have the samples TO spare
one instance was cited where a manu-
facturer of steam engines had promised
10 display some Of IFS goods at the expo
sition. but orders came I'm so Thick and
fast that be had 20 decide between his
customers and the exposition. As fast
rs lie engines were manufactured they
were sold and so he was compelled ut
last to give up an idea of making an eN-
hlblt in Philadelphia. This was only one
Instance of the many. Manufacturers are
now expending their efforts rather in fill
ing orders than in soliciting new patron
age, and so the exposition H., in meas
ure stinted
That feature Of the exposition which
most interested as was the Foreign Sam
pie Department. The whole Of the Sec
ond floor Of one Of the largest buildings
is devoted 70 this exhibit il consists of
samples OF goods made in other lands and
sold in the markets of Australia, South
America. the orient and so on. An
American manufacturer may so there
and see the character of goods sold into
these foreign lands, ascertain the prices
which they bring and the comparative
freight rate. lie is then in a position TO
determine whether or not ne can make the
same goods OF better goods at Compel
ing price. Mr.. Francis -. Green, the gem
tleman I'm charge OF this department in
formed us that in number Of instances
American manufacturers had made inves-
LEGATIONS and had some away with the
determination 10 compete with certain
articles Of foreign goods the samples Of
which are here displayed.
From the exposition we visited the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum, which
IS now one OF TennsyNanias greatest
institutions The museum occupies
building several stories high and en-
Yloys hundreds of people Here too are
mr. terless samples of foreign goods, and
many Of the employees are men who have
iivei abroad and are thoroughly familiar
VITA trade conditions I'm this country
OF that. The special work of tine museum
IS % promote foreign trade. and its
ARM Of clerks are engaged in accumu-
latlng AL sorts Of Information I'm regard
thereto. The museum ls,s three thousand
paid correspondents in foreign lands, and
something like thirty thousand CORE
fpondonts all told, with whom the man
ugcment are in regular communication
The trade sltuation in foreign lands is
constantly watched and the museum is
pyer prepared TO furnish 10 exporters any
sort OF information from almost any
sorelgn land. which the exporter may
heed In carrying on his trade.
We may not in the short space Of
newspaper article. which is already be-
sond our usual limit. enter into specin-
rafsans hut we have given this brief out
line OF the scope OF the museums work
IN order 70 impress the fact, If indeed,
II be necessary TO do 50. that we have en-
tered upon a new era We arc no longer
confined so the home market, but must
have the markets OF the world for our
surplus products. and we are rapidly ac-
uulring them AS q representative at the
exposition Of the iron company which
built the Atbara bridge we'll said. the ex-
rraordinary demand for American pro-
ducts has caused large numbers Of new
Industries TO spring up and our producing
caoacity IS now far beyond the demand
NJ home consumption. so that i viii
be a matter Of necessity hereafter for
American manufacturers 70 seek foreign
markets. That is the whole question Of
..oaosion In nutshell. IL Is not
question of the future. Expansion Is Ill
ksadx -hers- and A. is slpRlx impossible IL