The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-20
A SAMPLE DEPOT PROJECT |
How Am ariean Tr; de WitbSWfzer-
land May Be Extended.
Consul General Dubois Thinks Man
ufnctures From the United States
Alpine Republic If the Best Goods
should BE Placed on Exhibition.

James T. Dubois, Consul General Of the
United States al ST. Gall. Switzerland. in
a report TO the State Department, enclOs-
es a letter that he had received from DR..
Jurnitschek, President of the Merchant
Association, relating to the extension Of
American trade in the VARIOUS cantonments.
The letter is as follows:
Dear Sir: At a meeting held by the
Merchant Association. in Chur, Canton
Graubunden, Switzerland. March &c, 1900,
l was commissioned TO investigate and re-
port upon the question whether or not II
would be advisable 10 establish in Chur
(tho capital city OF the above-named Can
tcu) a permanent exhibition Of samples OF
all kinds of merchandise from various for
eign countries.
1T is needless to dwell upon the great
value of such an exhibition. l would,
however. mention that in their report Of
the last few years. many of the American
consuls have frequently and emphatically
recommended the exhibition. in foreign
countries, of wares and samples of Amerl"
can products, and it would seem very clear
that i well-selected assortment displayed
here would result in profitable exports 10
Switzerland and neighDoring countries. be
cause il would give great number OF IN
terested people. who visit Chur. chance
to become familiar with American firms
and their products.
Il will not go into details concerning
this matter; l would however, say that the
man division OF the exhibition would be
reserved exclusively for wares and sam
pies of various kinds. and that another dl-
vision would be devoted TO catalogues, IL
Illustrations of wares. price lists, etc, and
one copy Of each would also be placed IN
a reading room attached 10 the exhibition.
for convenience examination by the visit
ors. Also, il would be our intention to
constantly advertise the exhibition in the
( leading papers of Switzerland, Baden, Wur-
/ teInberg Bavaria. and Austria.
There can be no question as TO the great
| development of the Canton Of Graubunden
( from now on-the completion OF new rail-
/ roads the probable cut through the noun
tain passes, the employment CT the great
water and mineral resources The num-
Der Of tourists passing through our town
to mountain resorts is becoming greater
every year, and for this reason alone II
would seem that a permanent exhibition
I at Chur would be OF great advantage 10
, foreign exhibitors. especially TO Americans.
/ Il write to ask if you would-be willing
/ to undertake the necessary steps in your
country, which may lead yoar export mer-
chants to take a favorable interest in this
, exhibition
In answer TO the foregoing" Mr.. Du-
/ bois writes Il informed Dr.-JurHitsChCk
| that believed a permanent exhibition OF
| samples of manufactured articles and az
, ricultural Products OF the United States
would tend 70 develop American trade in
Switzerland, but / was of the opinion that
the main establishment should be II Zu-
rich with branches in other places in the
republic including Chur. Switzerland did
/ a general trade last year amounting 10
| 1856 SOS. ASS. about $119 for every inhabi-
! tant Of the republic. or in the imports
alone. about SIS per capita
The United States bought from Swift
/ erland a little over ST 100000 worth and
I sold 10 Switzerland about s14, 600, 600 worth
Z of goods during 1899, and viii probably in
I crease these amounts very considerably
/ this year Among the American goods
which found a market in Switzerland LOST
year may be mentioned: Chemicals 2ad
{ drugs one-third OF which was turpentine
Z ($25O. GOO worth. furniture and wood of
different kinds $500 .0CO). leather and foot
wear $500 000). art and scientific work
($45 .OOO), watches and watch material
I (S242. C00). machines and agricultural i'm
I PIGMENTS ($50o, 00O) metals Of different
| kinds (s52O OOO) petroleum and mineral
products 81. 400. 000l foodstuffs C$G.6S0.
00O). raw cotton 80. GOO). and horses
(SII0.0OO).
1T will be seen that the principal i'm
I ports into Switzerland from the United
States consisted Of raw materials, for
I Swiss industries, and foodsMfIs. These
I importations involve no special work on
| the part OF our exporters. What We want
now is to get our manufactured articles
better appreciated. One way TO accom-
| plish this is the establishment OF a large
| sample depot at Zurich. with branches in
| other towns in Switzerland; bUS such an
undertaking must be intelligently con-
Quoted. OF it will not prove satisfactory
The right articles must be exhibited and
the right persons must be selected 10
make sales to the small dealers through
| cut the republic.
/ 1t took the Swiss people a long time
to be convinced because the American shoe
was refined in shape and apparently light
Of construction that il would not 90 70
! pieces in months wear Now that they
have found that they wear quite as well
as the best Swiss make, merchants are
displaying American shoes in their win
dows decorated with tiny American flags
The same is true Of many of our agricul-
tural implements and hardware. Years
were necessary to convince the Swiss
farmer that our pirchforks would stand
! the strain of heavy work because they
are so delicate in appearance Experienc,
has taught them that quality and no
quantity is essential for a good tool. ant
now on market day one often sees col
lection of Americas pitchforks. iron rakes
hoes. shovels. etc, being sold by SOM
smaller dealer.
II mention these incidents to show tina
only by the actual seeing and using o
certain manufactured articles can som,
prejudices be overcome Catalogue de
scTiptious will not sell our manufacture
in Switzerland Hundreds of things ar
, produced by American industry that ar
needed in the little Republic. and woulr
End a substantial welcome if the consum
ers could be made to see their merits
- This can only be accomplished by pa
.!ently and tactfully presenting the ad
vantages of these articles to the Swis
consumer. The United States Is too IA
from Switzerland to send many Commercial
| agents into the Alpine Republic. Las
D year, Germany sent nearly 1000 agent
! into Switzerland and the United State
L only one. A central sample depot. intelli
{ gently managed. would take the place G
> the commercial representatives to a grea
extent, and the expense would be moder
ate in comparison / would not however
: recommend the establishment of a sampl
depot unless the best goods and the bes
men be used to expand our trade"
: A BOYS BRUTAL CRIME.