The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-19
MACHINERY FOR The FARM.
4 Report on Trade la Agricultural
implements in Russia


The State Department has received from
u. w Harris. the United States Consul at
Mannheim. Russia, the following matter
concerning the trade in agricultural i'm
Elements in Russia.
The condition of the trade in agriCui-
tural imDlemants in Russia has expert
enced a change zworthy of the notice of
those Interested The domestic manu-
facture begins To offer strong competition
TO the foreign wares, and knowledge of
local conditions and of the changed de
mand is Of advantage to foreign dealers.
The manufacturer Is bringing to his aid
active agents familiar with the country,
whom he sends into every region where
machinery is known. Machine storehouses
are quickly opened at small but we'll
located railway stations, and machines
are shown, in actual operation, at the
yearly fairs taking plce in the surround
Hlg region
The usul form of sale is on credit The
purchaser either gives security or signs a
contract of loan, by which all rights in
the machine are retained by the seller
Losses in this trade are extremely rare
The extension of trade into new fields is
Of course for the most part closed to
the smaller manufacturers: those Of large
ton TO become monopolists in certain 10
caIities. and to secure for themselves a
steady enlargement of their market
The native rural workshops, which
have largely originated among the Ger
man colonists, furnish first of all the
.Lobogreka' a simply built and cheap
CeueraI-purpose moving machine, and, in
addition. grain-cleaniug machines, horse
powers, and pIows, which last are not
suited 10 the demands. The manufacture
of other implements is very unsteady
The greater city factories furnish plows,
seed drills. and mills for grinding feed,
and they are bringing about as is said,
considerable hardship to the foreign man
ufacturers. To some extent, it appears,
the pillow market, in which Germany
chiefly is interested, holds iA5 own The
Russian farmers are, in great majority,
against the native Dlow- The wish IS uni
yeTsaf to retain the somewhat dearer but
approved German pillow. 1t may fairly be
stated that we can hold the market for
our goods by being on hand in good har-
vests with the necessary supply.
In drills machines for sowing broad
cast. horse powers, and different clean
ing and feed-grinding mills. the German
wares likewise hold their ground
IL moving ana BEalN-DLi4uiilS iieiCiLAi'-
cry. the United States controls; in steam
thrashing machinery, England controls
France furnishes tools for the wine
industry. and Austria-Hungar special
machines for root crops England main
tains in Russia warehouses adapted to
supply large demands. The greatest DIFF
f5cuIty IS the necessity of giving credlt
To give to the native commission
house the gebcy for goods IS an e2pedi-
ent which the present condition Of bust
ness does not wholly favor.
IF factories can arrange for the estab-
iishmeBt OF their own agencies. TINS IS
undoubtedly the better course; in any
event they should go into the business
only If they are able to satisfy all reason
able requirements. otherwise the repu-
tation OF their goods is injured for long
time.
The principal task will consist. in
southern md middle Russia, in establish
ing direct connections and in extending
as far as possible the provincial retail
business. in eastern Russia and Siberia
on the other hand, the principal task Is
to secure a more extended market
The German machine manufacturer
has the advantage over the Russian man
ufacturer il better raw material and
heater workfna nship. For Tire great Rus
sian business. he must bring both into
requiSition in thra Simplest possible mod
els Then we should take pains to hold
our position in the making OF special ma
chimes For these the market is broad
eniuS year by year