Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-22
FLOATING EXPOSITION
PLAN TO SHOW OUR GOODS TO THE
WORLD.
Vast Fields Are Awaiting American
Enterprise-The Route for Such
al A Travelling Display.

| y. r. Austin In the National Geographic Magazine.
| A floating exposition, carrying samples OF
| our merchandise around the world and put
ting our merchants in touch with those of
all nations seems to. me fitting American
enterprise for the beginning Of the new
| century. The nineteenth century has made
the United States the greatest exporting
| nation of the world; why not begin the
twentieth by showing to all the world what
| we have to sell and how we can sell 1t?
Exhibitions Of the products of industry
have proved beneficial ito trade wherever
undertaken, whether the ancient fair or
the more modern "expositiorE" The travel
Ing salesman with his samples cases has be-
come necessity of modern mercantile sue
cess; commercial musehms't exhibit to the
dealers Of one country, the class of goods
required in other lands, and the great Eu-
| ropean nations now send out Commercial
missions to inquire into and report upon
the trade opportunities In distant countries.
A Limit of influence.
But each Of these methodsahas its limit
of influence. The fair or exposition is de-
pendent for Its success upon the number of
people 1t can attract to its doors, the trav-
ellng salesman represents but a single es-
tabi1shment or industry, the commercial
museum conveys its information only to the
seller and not to the buyer and the COM
merclal mission gathers information re-
garding the wants of distant people but Is
unable to offer them samples of the goods
WINCH us own people have to meet those
wants. Why not combine the valuable fea-
lures OF these various aids to commerce in
single great enterprise-a floating expo
s1uon, which shall carry samples of our
merchandise to the very doors of the people
whose trade we would foster, and by bring
ing the buyer and seller into personal con-
tact, establish such mutual understanding
OF wants and conditions as to facilitate the
interchange for which each is DESTROYS?
The imports of Asia, Oceania. Africa. and
the American countries south of the United
states amount to over $1,000 200, 600 every
year. Nearly all Of these importations are
to sell-foodstuffs, textiles mineral oils.
machinery and manufactures of all kinds
yet our sales to these grand divisions in
the best year Of our commerce, 1900. only
amounted to about 100000, 900. or 10 per
cent OF their purchases. The annual i'm
ports OF Asia and Oceania are over $1,000, =
o0o,oOO those of Africa over $500, 600 O0O and
those of the countries lying south of the
United States about $6OO,OOOOOO
Could BE Easily Reached.
Nest Of the cities through which these
1900, 100000 worth of goods are first dis
tributed he on the sea coast, and could be
readily reached by a feet of vessels loaded
with samples of American products and
manufactures. 1t is we'll known that the
lack of practical knowledge as to the local
trade requirements, such as methods Of
packing, kind Of goods required length of
credit, ETC., is the chief obstacle to the in
PRODUCTION Of American goods in these coun-
tries. and that until this obstacle shall have
been overcome we cannot expect to obtain
the share in that trade to which our loca-
ton and facilities Of production and manu-
fac ture entitle US.
If a floating exposition were systematical-
ly organized, loading one vessel with ex-
hibits of foodstuffs, another with textiles,
another with agricultural implements and
vehicles, another with manufactures Of iron
and steel. another with household require
ments, and another with Yankee notions
and sent from port to port and continent
to continent it should prove highly advan-
tageous to our commercial relations with
all of the countries visited.
Every manufacturer or exporter sending
an exhibit would naturally send with it a
capable representative. who could discuss
with the local merchant the qualities of his
goods and their fitness or unfitness for local
markets.
Would Speak Face to Face.
The coming of an exhibition of this char
acter would attract at each port not only
the business men OF that city, but those of
other commercial centers in the vicinity,
and by this process the wholesale merchant
face with those of every country visited
and in these discussions would learn in a
practical way the obstacles which now pre-
vent a free interchange of commerce and
the methods by which they can be over
come.
In addition to this corps Of experts
could gather samples of the goods now
being sold in the countries visited, the
prices obtained, the length of credit given,
the banking and exchange facilities exist
in
would prove valuable not only to those d.
rectly participating in the enterprise, but
to all manufacturers and merchants Of the
United States, by their exhibition in COM
mercial museums and by published reports.
The financing Of an undertaking which
contemplates sending fleet of a half dozen
vessels for a two years voyage around the
world appears at first sight a serious prob
lem, but present conditions seem to be ex-
ceptionally favorable.
The producers, manufacturers and mer-
chants Of the United States are greatly in
terested In the extension Of markets for
American goods, and the bureau Of sta
tistics is daily besfeged with inquiries for
Information bearing upon this subject. The
past three years have been exceptionally
successful, and yet have shown the neces-
sity OF finding an increased outlet for the
surplus which the American manufacturers
show themselves capable of producing, and
1t seems not unreasonable to believe that
they would look upon a reasonable expen-
well invested.
Circumstances Favorable.
A great worlds fair has just been held at
Paris. at which many Americans made ex-
h.bits, some parts of which would be suited
to floating exposition such as has been
suggested great exposition, especially
intended to apply to the people Of Central
and South America, is to be held at Buffalo
this year, and its exhibits would in many
cases prove basis for an undertaking e
this kind, While another exposition. especial
ly relating to the West Indian trade, is to
be held at Charleston. Thus. in the dis
position to extend our commerce, in
prosperity which warrants new business
ventures. and even in the partial prepa "a
ton of exhibits, the circumstances appear
to be especially favorable.
But there Is still another condition
which seems even more opportune and ad-
vantageous. The government Is the pos
SCISSOR of a considerable number of safe snd
seaworthy merchant vessels. purchased as
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