The Van Buren press., 1901-10-26
PHILIPPINES MARKETS.
American Trade Is Not Making as
Rapid Strides as Are Amer
lean Political Ideas.
BARRIERS HAVE TO De BROKEN DOWN.
Spain. France, Germany and Switx-
erland Have, Heretofore, Had the
Bulk of the Insular Trade. and
the Philippines Merchants are
Slow to Make Radical Changes.


New York, Oct. 23.-The Manila cor
respondent of the journal of Com
merce sends the following details
concerning the trade in the Philip
pines. The invasion of the markets
of the Philippines by American mer-
chandise and merchants is much less
complete as yet than the invasions
of the islands by political ideas, but
there are indications that American
goods will come here in increasing
quantities within a short time, Judg-
ing from the exterior of the shops
American ablishments are compar-
atiyely few, but judged from the in
terror, the footing obtained by Amer
lean goods is more obvious. One of
the difficulties with which Americans
have to contend in this market is the
fact that the established channels of
trade are with Spain, France, Ger
many and Switzerland, rather than
with America. The great jewelry
shops, the dry goods stores, the i'm
porters of boots, shoes, hats and all
sorts of necessaries of civilized life
have done business for many years
with European exporters, and are ia
miliar with their goods, systems of
credit, methods of packing and
freight facilities. In textiles the Eu-
ropeans naturally enjoy some of the
advantages which skill and long prac-
tice give them over the United States.
The representatives of the Spanish
chamber of commerce appreciate the
fact, however, that a new era is be-
ginning in Philippine trade. Retail
trade in many lines here has been
based upon the principle of charging
"what the traffic will bear" rather
than upon the maximum prices en-
forced by competition. Merchants
have been content with large profits
up small sales, rather than small!
profits upon large sales. Considerable
work is being done by Civil Governor
Taft and the Philippine commission
in organizing civil government, and
preparing TO extend American meth
DDS throughout the islands. 1t was
only with the termination of the mil
itary control, on July 4,thdt this work
could be begun in earnest. Govern
ment has to be created from the
ground up, with little to build upon
that is worth anything from the rem
nants of Spanish authority. Already
land is being prospected for gold, and
n number of gentlemen have united in
firm for active operations. Nothing
| has been done towards an electric
railway line, because peace has been
so recently restored, and no new cor
poraton can be formed. Such line
| is much needed, and Americans may
endcavor to buy up The franchise Of
| the existing horse railroad, with its
average of about one trip an hour,
rs soon as the situation clears. There
| Is little doubt that an electric street
railway would do an enormous bust
nesse, In view of the demand for
transportation in Manila. The hun
dreds of native cabmen, with their
odd little carramatos and diminutive
ponies, might suffer from railroad
competition, but would find continued
occupation on the outlying routes,
and perhaps in managing the new
cars, as the natives do in Honolulu.