Evening star., 1899-09-14
COMMERCE. OF FORMOSA.
Market in the Orient for American
Iron Bedxteads.

United States Consul James w. Davidson,
at Tamsui. writes in a report to the State
Department as follows regarding the com
merce of Formosa:
although statistics show US that Amer
lean hardware Is finding rapidly increas-
ing market abroad, there has yet been
but little imported into Formosa. The for
eign population of the island number but
some three dozen persons in ALL and of
course, their requirements are very slight
American manufacturers must then look
to the japanese and Chinese population for
their customers. Unfortunately, both Chi
nese and Japanese carpenters still cling to
their very primitive homemade tools. AL
though the more intelligent among the Jap
anese people are quick to purchase labor
saving machinery if the expense is not too
great and they are convinced work can be
done by it cheaper and quicker than by
hand, this spirit Of enterprise does not ap
parently extend to the carpenter, or even
the blacksmith, and lower-class artisans
who live IN the interior and feel but little
the influence of foreign customs.
Il have visited several of the large hard
ware shops in the city. and. with the ex-
ception of nails. bolts screws. locks hinges
and shovelT, l have found no foreign goods.
"Although there is but little to be done
in hardware, it is my firm belief that a
good opportunity exists for the introduce
ton of American iron beds, not only in
Formosa. but throughout the east. pro-
viding the home manufacturers are willing
to make the slight notifications required
in producing an acceptable article.
THE American iron bed, enameled in
white and with brass trimmings. is supe-
rior in appearance to the English or conti-
mental bed found for sale in the east; and.
although IN every way equal in strength
and hrmness, it is manufactured in Amer
ica at such low cost that it can be placed
on the eastern market at about half the
nf q lYtin IN Ula aerlln
of insects is so prevalent in the east, and
wood is so easlly injured by the excessive
damp, that wooden bedsteads find but little
favor. The form Of bed most suitable for
use in tropical countries differs from the
present American model in two respects,
i. e., the body Of the bed must be raised so
as to be two feet clear OF the floor. and the
four posts must be extended to length Of
seven feet A mosquito net is used the
year round in most tropical countries. and
although an ingenious canopy arrangement,
to be suspended from the ceiling, can be
obtained in the United States, the cnly
really satisfactory net is the one supported
by the four bedposts, independent of out
side fixtures. The four posts should be
connected at the top by light rods. bent at
each end into a ring. which can be dropped
over pin which projects from the top of
each post. anC which also affords a hold
for the brass knobs which are to be placed
on top. This frame forms support for
the MOSQUITO It. which is either fastened
to the rods with loops or is drawn over the
whole frame. An English or continental
double bed of this Kind sells in the east for
from 40 to so yen 'ts2O to $50.
Although foreign-style beds are but
rarely used by Japanese In Japan proper
well-to-do japanese IN Formosa use them
quite extensively as they recognize that in
this damp climate.it is more healthful to
sleep above the floor than on the 'tatami
as is done in Japan. In some of the gov
ernment institutons-especially the hos
pitals. OF which there are several large
ones in Formosa-foreign iron beds are
used exclusively. The largest market how
ever. would be in supplying the thousands
of foreigners whos5 reside in the various
foreign settlements throughout the whole
east 4