The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-22
PHILIPPINE TRADE
POLITICS MORE IN EVIDENCE
THAN MERCHANDISE.
FEW ESTABLISHED SHOPS
United States Merchants Must Turn
Long Established Channels Of
Trade From European Ma
tions to Selves.
(By Associated Press

New York, Oct. PA Manila corre-
spondent sends the following details con-
Corning the trade in the Philippines:
The invasion Of the markets of the
Philippines by American merchandise
and merchants is much less complete as
yet than the invasion of the islands by
American political IDEAS but there are
Indications that American goods Will
bone here in increasing quantities within
p short time. Judging from the exterior
pr the shops, American establishments
IRE comparatively few, but Judging from
the interior the footing obtained by
American goods is more obvious.
Difficulties to Overcome.
One oa the difficulties with which
Americana have to contend in this mar
ket is the fact that established channels
pr trade are with Spain, France, Ger
many and Switzerland, rather than with
America. The great jewelry shops, the
dry goods stores, the importers of boots
shoes. hats and all sorts of necessaries
of civilized life have done business for
many years With European exporters and
are familiar with their goods systems of
credit methods of packing and freight
facilities. In textiles the Europeans
naturally enjoy some of the same ad-
yantages which skill and long practice
give them in the United States.
New Era Beginning.
The representatives of the Spanish
chamber of commerce appreciate the
fact. however, that a new era is begin
ming in Philippine trade. Retail in many
lines here has been based upon the prin-
ciple of charging what the traffic will
bear" rather than upon the maximum
prices enforced by competition. Mer-
chants have been content with large
profits upon small sales rather than small
profits upon large sales.
Considerable work is being done by
Civil Governor Taft and the Philippine
commission in organizing civil govern
mert and preparing to extend American
t.thods Of cultivation and American
methods of transportation throughout
the islands. 1t was only with the ter
animation of the military control on July
4, that this work could be begun in
earnest.
Prospecting For Gold.
Government has to be created from
the ground up with little to build upon
that is worth anything from the rem
nants Of Spanish authority. Already
Hand is being prospected for gold, and a
number of gentlemen have united In
firm for active preparation.
Nothing has been done towards an cleo
trio railway line; because peace has been
so recently restored and no new corpor-
alton can be formed Such a line is much
needed. and Americans may endeavor to
buy up the franchise of the existing
horse railroad with it's average of about
one trip an hour, as soon as the situa-
ton clears.
There is little doubt that an electric
street railway would do an enormous
business, in view of the demand fol-
transportation in Manila. The hundreds
of native cabmen, with their odd little
carramatos and diminutive ponies, might
suffer from railway competition, but
would find continued occupation on the
outlying routes and perhaps in manag'
ing the new cars, as the natives 90 IN
Honolulu.