Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-05-09

The suggestion for a floating eXposi-
ton to enable American manufacturers
and exporters to exhibit their goods at
the doors of the people to whom they
desire to sell them, recently made by
o. p. Austin, the chief of the bureau Of
statistics of the treasury department at
Washington, is resulting in much dis
cuSsion of the subject not only
throughout the United States, but in
other parts of the world, says the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat. Letters are be-
ing received from various countries in
Europe and elsewhere making inqui-
ries regarding the proposed enterprise
and many inquiries from manufacture
ers and merchants in the United States
desiring to participate in an undertake
ing Of this character.
The proposition as originally present
ed in The National Geographical Maya
zine and before the national board Of
trade by the chief of the bureau Of sta
tistics suggested that it would be much
easier to induce those whom we would
make our customers to examine our
goods if carried to their doors tina if
the goods were set up in an exposition
in the middle of the United States and
the world invited to cross the oceans to
examine them and that greater proper
tionate results in the enlargement Of
u foreign would accrue
from investments in exhibitions car
ried to the doors of b would be GUS
toners rather than large expenditure
in creating sufficiently great attrac-
tons to bring the would be customers
to our own doors. To this end it was
suggested that an exposition aSSOcia-
ton might be formed by manufacturers
and exporters which could create a
guarantee fund which would entitle
the subscribers to a proportionate
amount Of space in the vessel or YES
sells carrying the exhibit, this exhibit
when completed to pass from port to
port along the coast of South America,
thence to the principal cities Of Asia
and Oceanica, Africa and Europe and
thence returning to the United States,
occupying perhaps two years in the
trip and visiting the principal cities
and countries of the world.
This suggestion by the chief of the
bureau of statistics has been followed
by the announcement hat a floating
exhibition to visit the cities bordering
upon the gulf of Mexico and Carib-
bean sea has been organized at Buffalo
and will be made ready during the
summer and leave in the autumn of
the present year for that field, and a
number of other enterprises of this
character have been suggested.
The latest practical bit of informa-
ton on this subject and one which will
interest all those who have given the
matter serious attention has just each
ed the bureau of statistics in a state
ment published in the Moniteur Official
du Commerce, Paris, on March % re-
garding a floating exposition recently
organized in Hamburg, Germany, as
follows:
'The earliest exhibition Of this kind
was organized about two years ago,
and it must be said that the results Of
the enterprise were in excess Of the
most sanguine expectations. Total
value Of transactions, $~5,236,O0O, at a
cost Of about 100000. The details of
operation are stated by the correspond
ent as follows:
Lax ES Ao4NotS ~ HdAo
featuring and commercial firms circu-
lars explaining the purpose of the ex-
hibition and the terms Of participation.
AS soon as the number Of would be
participants is large enough to permit
the loading Of a vessel the exhibitors
send their samples to the port Of de-
parture. These samples are then
mounted and exhibited on board the
vessel especially fitted for this pur-
pose.
"tAlongside of each exhibit there is
an advertisement giving prices and
terms Of sale. Sales agents represent
ing either the syndicate or the indi-
vidual exhibitors furnish all desired in
formation TO visitors. These sales
agents are chosen from among the
young men as well as the young wo-
men graduated from commercial
schools and speaking at least two Ian
guages. Interpreters are hired on the
spot in each country of a new AN
guage. The sales agents, besides see
ing visitors aboard the ship, visit also
with their samples the towns in the in
terror of the country. In such manner
the cost of transportation is greatly re-
duced. The exhibitors pay to the syn
dictate a commission, to be deducted
from the realized sales and in ropor
ton to the value of the product
"The report concludes with b ex-
preston of the hope that French COM
mercial circles would appreciate this
novel idea and try to achieve even
more splendid results"