The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
A FLOATING EXPOSITION
Plan for Extending the Commerce
of America.

Chief of the bureau of Statistics En-
pounds His Views on the Matter of
Carrying Our Goods Into Foreign
Markets - The Time Propitious.
o. p. Austin, Chief of the Bureau of
Statistics, has hit upon a plan for the
exploiting of American industries in for
eign countries which he considers far su-
perior to International expositions or the
sending out of travelling statesmen by the
commercial mission or museum
why not combine" says Mr.. Austin
the valuable features of these various
aids to commerce in a single great en-
terprise-a floating exposition which
shall carry samples of our merchandise
to the very doors of the people whose
trade we would foster. and by bringing
the buyer and seller into personal con-
tact, establish such mutual understanding
Of wants and conditions as to facilitate
the interchange for which each is de-
sirous. The fields awaiting American en-
teIprise comprehend practically all the
rest of the inhabited portions of the
world. J he imports of Asia, Oceanic,
Africa, and the American countries south
Of the United States amount to over two
billion dollars every year. Almost all Of
these impOrtations are of the very class
of goods which we are DESTROYS to sell
foodstuffs, textiles, mineral oils, machin-
cry, and manufactures of all kinds; yet
our sales to these grand divisions in the
best year of the cOuntry's commerce, 1900,
amounted TO only about 100000, or ten
per cent of their PURCHASES. The annual
imports of Asia and Oceania are over
billion dollars, those of Africa over four
hundred millions, and those of the coun-
tries lying south of the United States
about six hundred millions.
Nearly all of the cities among which
these 1908, 900 worth of goods are first
distributed lie on the sea coast, and might
be readily reached by fleet of vessels
laden with samples of American products
and manufactures 1t is pretty generally
known that the lack Of practical knowl-
edge as to the local trade requirements,
such as methods of packing, kind Of
goods required length of credit. etc, is
the chief obstacle to the introduction of
American goods in these countries, and
that until this obstacle shall have been
overcome we cannot expect to obtain
the share in that trade to which our To-
cation and facilities of production and
manufacture entitle US If. now, float
lied. loading one vessel with exhibits of
foodstufs. another with textiles, anos-
er with agricultural implements and We
hicles, another with manufactures Of iron
ard steel another with house hold re-
quirements. and another with Yankee
notions. and sent from port to port and
continent to continent, it should prove
highly advantageous to our commercial
relations with all the countries visited.
Every manufacturer or exporter sending
an exhibit would naturally send along
with it capable representative who
could discuss with the local merchant the
qualities OF his goods and their fitness
or unlitncss for local markets.
The advent of such an exhibition would
attract at each port not only the bust
ness men Of that city, but those of other
commercial centres in the vicinity, and
by this process the wholesale merchant OF
the United States would speak face to
face with those of every country visited,
and in such discussions would learn in
the most practical way the obstacles and
impediments which now prevent Tree
interchange of commerce and the methods
by which they can be overcome. More
over and in addition to this, a corps OF
experts could gather samples of the goods
now being sold in the countries visited,
the prices obtained, the length Of credit
given the facilities for banking and eX-
change, and other facts which would
prove valuable. not alone to those paru-
cipating directly in the enterprise put TO
all manufacturers and merchants IN the
United States. by the exhibition of the
data thus obtained in commercial muse
ums and by published reports.
The financial management of such an
enterprise which cOntemplates sending
feet of half a dozen vessels for a two
years voyage around the globe appears,
at first sight, rather a serious problem;
but present conditions appear to me eN-
ceptiOnaIly favorable. The producers,
manufacturers, and merchants of the
United States are greatly Interested in
the extension Of markets for home goods.
and the Bureau of Statistics is besieged
daily with enquiries for information
bearing upon this subject. The first three
years have been exceptionally successful
and yet have proved instrumental IN
showing the necessity for finding an in
creased outlet for the surplus which our
manufacturers show themselves capable
of producing. and 1t does not seem unrea-
sonable to believe that they would look
upon a reasonable expenditure for the
extension Of trade as money We'll invest
ed. y great worlds fair has just been
held at Paris, at which large number of
American exhibits We're made some of
which would be suited to floating eX-
position such as has been suggested.
great exposition, intended 10 apply eSpe-
cialIy to the people of Central and South
America is about to be held at Buffalo
this year. and its exhibits would. in many
cases, prove a basis for an undertaking
such as that proposed, while another eX-
position. especially relating to the West
indian trade is to be held at Charleston.
Thus, in the disposition to extend our
commerce, in a propensity which war
rants new business ventures, and even in
the partial preparation of exhibits, the
circumstances appear to be especially pro-
pitious.
There is still another condition which
seems even more oppOrtune and advanta-
geous. The Government is the posSessor
of a considerable number of safe and sea-
worthy vessels in the merchant service,
purchased as transports during the war
with Spain. If some of these vessels could
be utilized for this work, the problem
to cost would be greatly simpiiiied.
Congress has always dealt literally
with expositions intended to improve our
commerce. either at home or abroad. and
it seems reasonable to suppose that If
applied to through the proper channels ii
might loan the necessary vessels for an
enterprise of this kind. The appropria-
lions made by Congress in behalf Of eX-
positions at home and abroad in the past
twenty-five years amount to over Sl0,OOu,-
OO1 and in view of this it would appear
probable that an appeal from a properly
organized association Of business men
might meet with favorable construction
A TRIBUTE FROM LABOUCEERE.
Remnrixs of the Radical Editor