The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-15
Ship VIII BE Like Commercial
resent More than One Firm.
MUCH INTEREST MANIFESTED
FOREIGNERS AS WELL AS AMER.
ICANS ARE MAKING INQUIRIES.
One Floating Exposition Already in
Operation, Having Been Organized
by Germans-Paying Enterprise.
pecial to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE suggeS-
tion for a floating exposition 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 the chief of the Bureau
OF Statistics Of the Treasury Department.
is resulting in much discussion of the sub
ject. not only throughout the United States,
but in other parts of the world. Letters
are being received from various countries
in Europe and elsewhere making inquiries
regarding the proposed enterprise, and
many inquiries from manufacturers and
merchants in the United States desiring to
participate in an undertaking of this char
acter.
The proposition, as originally presented
in the National Geographic Magazine and
before the National Board of Trade by
the chief of the Bureau Of Statistics, sug-
gested that 1t would be much easier to in
duce those whom We would make our GUS
toners to examine our goods If carried to
their doors than 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
proportionate results in the enlargement of
our foreign commerce would accrue from
investments in exhibitions carried to the
doors of the would-be customers rather
than large expenditure In creating suffi-
ciently great attractions to bring the would
be customers to our own doors. To this
end 1t was suggested that an exposition
association might be formed by manufac-
turers and exporters which could create a
guarantee fund which would entitle the
subscribers to proportionate amount of
space in the vessel vessels 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, Oceania, Africa and Europe
and thence returning to the United States
occupying, perhaps, two years in the trip,
and visiting the principal cities and coun-
tries of the world.
This suggestion by the chief of the Bu-
reau of Statistics has been followed by the
announcement that a floating exhibition
to visit the cities bordering upon the Gulf
Of Mexico and Caribbean sea, has been or
ganized at Buffalo, and will be made ready
during the summer and leave in the au-
tumn of the present year for that field,
and a number of other enterprises of this
character have been suggested.
The latest practical bit of information on
this subject, and one which will interest
all those who have given the matter serious
attention, has just reached the Bureau of
Statistics in a statement published in the
Moniteur Officiel du Commerce. Paris, on
March 2S, regarding 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 SAN
guine expectations: Total value of transac-
tions, 22000,OOO marks ($5, ,236 0O0) at a cost
of about 100000 marks Cor about 100000 The
details of operation are stated by the cor
respondent as follows: The syndicate ad-
dresses to manufacturing and commercial
firms circulars explaining the purpose of
the exhibition and the terms of participa-
ton AS soon as the number of wouId-be
participants is large enough to permit the
loading of a vessel the exhibitors send their
samples to the port of departure. These
samples are then mounted and exhibited
on board the vessel, especially fitted for
this purpose Alongside of each exhibit
there is an advertisement giving prices and
terms of sale Sales agents, representing
either the syndicate or the Individual ex-
hibitors, furnish all desired information to
the visitors at the various ports where the
vessel stops. These sales agents are chosen
from among The young men as well as the
young women graduated from commercial
schools and speaking at least two lam
guages. Interpreters are hired on the spot
in each country of a new language The
sales agents, besides seeing visitors aboard
the ship visit also with their samples the
towns in the interior of the country. In
such manner the cost of transportation is
greatly reduced. The exhibitors pay to the
syndicate a commission TO be deducted from
the realized sales and in proportion TO the
value of the product. In addition TO this
commission the participants pay proper
tionate share of the cost OF chartering and
loading the vessel and the general expendi-
ture of the undertaking. such as the hire
of clerks, interpreters, etc The report
concludes with the expression OF the hope
that French commercial circles would ap-
preciate this novel idea and try to achieve
even more splendid results.
FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.