The Washington times., 1901-11-18
SUPPLANTING BRITISH TRADE.
United states Making Rapid Com
merciaI Progress In Mexico

The renewed attention to trade conds-
tions between the United States and the
American countries lying south OF her
borders. due in part TO the meeting of
the Pan-American Congress AZ the City OF
Mexico. lends special Interest to a state
ment by a British official in Mexico. Con
sui Biorklund. which has just reached
the Treasury Bureau Of Statistics
That officer calls attention sharply to
| the fact that In the one American country
at the SOUTH with which the United
States has satisfactory transportation Ia
cilities. Mexico. the trade of the United
States has vastly outgrown that OF other
nations. Fifty years ago the trade of
Mexico was carried on by British houses.
and as late as 1S72-73 was in fairly -four
ishing condition. but since the opening OF
the Mexican Central and Mexican Ma
tional Railways. American menufactur-
ers have yearly increased their trade with
the Republic
Today the British trade is confined- to
few agencies there being nc important
commercial establishment). which. by
means Of samples and catalogues. UNDER
take the execution of orders Some OF
the large British houses employ travel
ers, who can always count on their usual
customers for orders; but other houses
frequently send out such unsuitable men,.
often foreigners. that they are unable to
get single order.
Mr. Biorkund calls attention to the foI-T
lowing points that have been very muth
overlooked by many British traders:
There are over 900 different eiassficf-
tions in the Mexican tariff, and lists Of
articles that clearly specify those in which
lister of Finance. With these (which can
be obtained on appiication) and the orig
inal tarifI there is no reason why so many
mistakes should be made in consular In
voices.
More care should be taken In drawing
up these documents. which duty should
not be left to junior clerks, as is TOO often
the case. Mistakes are of daily occur
renee, with consequent fines and the con-
signee has mostly to suffer the loss. All
these difficulties could be Obviatcd IL
there We're more careful observance of
the tariff regulations.
More attention is required TO the ques-
tion Of packing. This does not consist
only in a good outer case (which in many
cases is better than the boxes made on
the Continent), but 1t Is the way the con-
tents are packed in the case Merchants
or customers abroad often give instruc-
tions as to the packing of certain articles.
not only to secure their safe arrival. but
also on account of the duties that may be
leviabe on those goods. IL these instruc-
tiOns were properly carried out ii would
save great deal of trouble on both sides.
Great delay in execution OF orders in
the United Kingdom Is another serious
drawback to the extension of trade Or
derS from Mexico could certainly be filled
IN. say three months. but 1t is often
more than double that before shipment is
advised. This has more than once been
the cause of important orders being sent
to the United States or some European
country where the order has been filled
at once
Still another point that deserves the
attention of the British trader in general
is the failure to give estimates or de-
scriptions when asked for. In such cases
an order may depend upon a full and in
tellisible description being given to the
measures