The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-31
TRADE OPENINGS AT MALTA.
The American Consul Suggests the
Sendiag of Drummers There

Ihes American Consul Suggests the
Sendiag of Drummers There.
John H Circuit. the United States Con-
sui at Malta, writes to the State De-
partmeHt that American manufactures
would do well to send drummers to that
island. Already the demand for our
goods is increasing Mr. Grout says,
but this is not due to the presence here
of personal representatives of our houses
Many American firms are in the habit of
sending drummers TO many countries
throughout Europe, but as yet they have
completely ignored these islands With
one exception land IN this case the best
results were attained, have not heard
Of or seen an American drummer during
my stay here, nearly four years. I am
prompted TO make this suggestion from
the fact that for the past few weeks, rep
Tesentatives Of English and German firms
have been at work here and have secured
large orders Why should not American
agents DO equally as well? Catalogues
and price lists are useful, and from the
large numbers that 7 have received and
distributed, much business has resulted; ;
but not nearly as much as If personal rep
resenta tfves had been here
Many American drummers travel in
italy it is an easy matter to reach Malta
from that country, there being frequent
steamship connection from Genoa, Ma
pies, and Sicilian ports. Those having
AdriatiC ports in their itineraries viii find
1t very easy to secure passage from here
to those points. There is also frequent
steamship connection with Alexandria,
Tunis. Constantinople, and other places.
The direct communication which Malta
now has with New York by the Mediter-
factor in the increase OF our trade here
and should he taken advantage Of Ships
are despatched regularly from New York
the voyage taking about twenty days
(nuch less than when goods are sent via
English and German portsy, and freight
rates are lower
There is a chance here for our hard
ware. oils and paints. canned goods, hats
Especially straw hats, stationery. and
many other lines Of goods. There are
several banking houses of good standing
and duties upon imported goods are light
being at present confined to foodstuffs
| and cattle. Anyone speaking English or
Italian can do business here.
The merchants Of Malta have recently
been making many complaints at this
consulate Of the way in which American
shippers disregard instructions in for
| to the attention of our merchants and ex-
porters, I desire to say that such treat
nneHt serves to discourage Maltese buy
ers, and viii ultimately result in a de-
creased demand for American goods
There is but one direct means of COM
municatiOn between the United States and
Malta, and that is the Mediterranean and
New York Steamship Company. This is
an old line, and must be wei known to
shipping agents IN New York and other
American cities. A little over two years
ago, this company established branch
line between Malta and New York Since
then, owing to lower freight rates and
Iessened liability cf damage there being
no necessity OF rehandIipg goods, the de
mand for United States manufactures.
has been steadily Increasing. I cite the
following as examples of the complaints
received:
One of the IocA merchants had been
buying iron in different shapes in the
United States Some time ago. he wrote
to the American firm with which he had
been dealing to ship via the direct line
instead of complying with this request.
the managers replied that inasmuch as
they were on the field. they must be al
lowed to ship as seemed best to them
The goods were sent by the roundabout
way of Hamburg, whence they were
trausshipped to Malta To the Maltese
purchaser, this meant higher freight
charges and considerable loss of time.
Again. gentleman here ordered q
launch from e United States Instruc-
tons were cabIed to send it by the direct
line. The manufacturer. being located In
the central part of the United States, and
not knowing the means of shipment from
that city for Information. He was told
that there was no direct line from New
York to Malta. Yet at that time. as at
present, vessels were being regularly des-
patched to Valletta. Instead of carrying
out the cabled instructions and marking
the launch care of Mediterranean and
New York Steamship Company which
would have guaranteed prompt delivery
the manufacturer forwarded the boat
through the shipping firm above men
toned via Hamburg Had it been sent
BY the direct line as ordered, the cost
would have been about SO including in
surauce, and the boat would have arrived
here in about twenty-three days BY the
route selected, it reached Malta fully
month later and the cost of freight
which did not include insurance, was
nearly double
These are but two of the many cases
H L
have been informed by one merchant that
unless he can have his orders sent him
according to instructions, he will have to
place his orders elsewhere In place like
Malta where very small margins of profit
are the rule freight rates and time are
important considerations in the purchase
of goods. In my desire to see a constant
increase in the sale of our wares here, I
have again and again cautioned our mer-
chants to be sure to select the direct line
IN making shipments 1t is somewhat dis
eouraging to see this advice disregar1ed
IN conclusion. I would also state that
complaints have been made of the way in
which some of our firms pack their goods
/ know of enc shipment, for example of
clocks IN fancy, light cast-iron frames
On their arrival almost all were found to
be broken They had been packed too
closely and were not properly protected.
1t is only fair to say, however, that these
goods were shipped via Hamburg, and
perhaps the rehandling at that port was
responsible for the breakage."
CURRENT HUMoR.
She SynuafhiZed.