The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-20
PACKING GOODS FOR EXPORT.
4 Consular Agent in Germany Makes
Valuable suggestions.


Valuable suggestions.
The State Department is in receipt Of
most valuable lot Of information from
Charles Neuer. the United States Consul
lar agent at Cora. Germany, concerning
the packing of goods for export. After
referring to the American goods that find
a market in his district Mr.. Neuer says:
Railroad transportation. as far as pro-
lection Of goods against damage is con
cerued. is satisfactory: in promptness,
however. il is inferior to that the United
States The storage warehouses are IL eE-
cel-ent condition. and injury from the cie-
melts Is "A rare occurrence. The facilities
for handling shipments are fair. and al
though much time is lost by Impractical
and unsystematic methods it must be ad-
mjtted that great care is taken to avoid
damage, The laws on this point are very
| severe, and negligence IS promptly cen
surcd-
Naturally, a great deal depends upon
proper packing, and ,tz this CT estiou is an
| important factor in the development OF
our foreign trade. the following informa-
tiUH viii no doubt prove OF interest to
American exporters
In most European countries great at
tentiOn is given TO good packing, as no
matter how excellent the goods. they are
/ sure to lose in value If badly put up For
dress goods. which form the bulk OF the
expectations from this district. strong
boxes are made to hold a certain number
| Of pieces The goods are then packed in
! firmly each piece being wrapped in
| strong glazed paper. The box Itself is
lined vith oiled paper, so as to preserve
/ its contents from dampneSs. and strapped
; with iron bands. Great stress is laid On
/ durability and neatness, and old boxes
| are never used. For shipment to Africa
| and Australia, the pieces are wrapped in
| oiled paper and the cases lined with tin
! The tin is carefully soIdered to make it
weather tight Merchandise packed in
/ this manner may be sent to the most dis
| taut countries without damage By some
/ manufacturers. the covers Of the boxes
/ are fastened with screws to prevent theft
Nothing is neglected 10 insure arrival in
/ good condition. and tire neat and substan-
! tiaI way ia which the goods are packed
! cannot fail to make a favorable impress
! sion upon the purchaser
| In making shipments to Europe, our
! exporters should wrap their goods so as
! to exclude moisture. and pack them in
/ strong wooden boxes. The boxes should
/ be nailed with wire nails and strapped
/ with iron bands. Goods in bales should
! be securely wrapped in oiIcIoth lined with
paper to prevent its adheriHg to the con-
! tents and hoped with iron Economy
] OF space is an important consideration
! Special care should be taken by our manu-
/ facturers to wrap articles of cast iron
/ so as to avoid shifting. On account Of
/ careless packing. goods Of this class fire.
/ queutiy arrive here either broken or rusty
/ The bottoms Of the cases should be well
: fastened. Care is also necessary H. driv-
/ ing nails, which are often found to have
/ penetrated and damaged the contents of
! the boxes Considering the distance the
/ goods are transported and the amount Of
/ handling they receive, the packing is Of
/ ten sadly inadequate As an Illustration
/ Of this, a number Of large American
/ stoves were ordered-by a local merchant
and upon their arrival some Of them
( were badly broken and many of the
/ smaller attachments-Such as screws.
/ knobs. etc.-nissing- The stoves were
J packed IN crates weighing over 900 pounds.
( which made careful handling impossible
/ The attachments, including the heavy
/ lids. we're put IN the ovens loose. and
| shifted noisily about whenever the crates
/ were moved OF course, all orders were
Cancelled
! Regarding our preserved fruits, I have
/ been told again and again that they would
/ sell much better If put up in glass bot
! ties, even i the prices were a little hiEh-
/ er- There is q great deal Of prejudice
/ against tiuEed goods as il Is believed they
{ might be- poisonous Boxes Of canned
/ fruits should DC banded with iron The
pine boxes used are not equal to the
/ ire. trnent TO which they are subjected,
/ ana sometimes arrive in ii poor condition
/ Another American article which lacks
the necessary care in packing IS resin
/ The excuse that this article is very
! cheap, and for that reason does not war
( rant better packing is not valid. Cheap
/ packing in the long run is the dearest
/ owing To the losses sustained. while care
/ in this respect viii do much to enhance
/ the vaitse Of an article in the eyes Of the
{ foreign purchaser
/ Il could name q number OF other aTti-
! Giles with The packing of which fault Is
/ found but ii Is unnecessary. Suffice Il
/ TO SAL. that GOOD packing of all kinds %!
/ mericau Gs-TC naE.iisc viii tend 10 ma
! tcriaily increase our export trade. Il Is
/ conceded that our manufactures are Su-
periOr 10 al others. and We @uly need &c
! correct these minor faults to render our
/ position in the mercantile world nas-
co. F-.t. d.