The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-22
Permanent Foreign Exhibitions


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Permanent Foreign Exhibitions.
A prominent firm of freight brokers
and express carriers, with offices in the
principal commercial cities of Europe,
has issued circular of more than or
binary interest to American business
London a permanent exhibition of
American manufactures IT dwells upon
the enormous increase of the export of
American manufactured goods. and the
difficulties in the way of the American
manufacturer who would keep in close
touch with his customers and add to
the list. This has been met by the cost
ly methods Of opening branch houses
abroad and sending special representa-
tives to canvass the foreign trade. This
the permanent exhibition proposes to
do away WITH to the great benefit of
the smaller concerns that may not be
able to expend the sums necessary to
reach prospective customers.
The scheme is to open a great hall
where the manufactured products of
America will be constantly on exhibit
ton. free to the whole public. Each
exhibitor will pay an annual sum, pro-
pies. The exhibition management, on
its part. guarantees to represent per-
sonaly the exhibitors and take charge
of their interests. 1t will see that the
exhibits are maintained In good condi-
ton, answer all inquiries. circulate
price lists. receive and transmit orders
and questions and send everywhere de-
scriptive circulars among foreign bus
mess houses, calling their attention to
the advantages offered by the American
market.
The plan seems to be an admirable
one. and in the hands of large agency
such as this ought to become a success
1t has for this country more than one
point OF interest, and it carries valu-
able suggestion. 1t would have been
thought incredible few years ago to
make success Of any such enterprise.
But the slow teaching of events has
wrought miracle. The whole world
seems to have awakened almost stimuli
taneously to the deslrability Of pur-
chasing in the American market. and
what would have consisted then in slow
and profitless missionary work among
unwilling constituencies will be now
school to which eager inquirers will
flock in the conviction that they can
learn something to their personal pc
cuniarv interest.
What is being done across the At
lantic should be done also across the
Pacific. Interest in promoting our for
eign trade has taken the form hereto
fore for the most part of attempting to
establish permanent exhibitions in the
United States itself. Witness that at
Philadelphia. that suggested for San
Francisco. and the movement for a sim
liar exhibit at Seattle. These are all
good In their way. and will be helpful.
But 1t is clear that the greatest bene-
NJ to be derived from a trade exhibit is
when it Is placed under the eyes of the
buyer rather than OF the seller. IL Is
worth while, when the foreigner de-
sires TO buy of us. TO have a place upon
our shore, at a principal port of entry,
where he can view our products and OBJ
tain all Information about prices and
shipments. But 1t must be OF much
greater Importance to have that infor-
nation placed where he can get at It
without leaving his own country.
For the promotion of our Oriental
trade particularly. among a people who
Judge practically. and would rather
trust their sharp senses than all tho
catalogues in the world II would be
invaluable II we had permanent com
mercial eNposltions In the great trade
centers Of China and Japan. suppose
that enterprises were established there
on the plan outlined for that at Lon
don. II can hardly be doubted that.
with samples OF American foodstuTs.
textiles and machinery on the spot. to
be contrasted with what any other ma
ton could supply. our exports would
multiply enormously and we should
presently control the greatest marie;
that the world has To offer, 1t would pay
capital to take up this. scheme. II
would pay merchants to combine TO fur
Their a. permanent exhibition ~
American products in the principal cen
tiers Of the Orient would hiring To US
thousands Of customers and millions az
dollars at the smallest possible outlay.
We believe that the London enternrlse