The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
All Kinds of Agricultural Implements
Are I'm Great Demand.

WASHINGTON, May ga publication OF
timely interest. in view Of the general ex-
change OF courtesies between the United
States and France. was made public to-
day by Mr.. Frederic Emory, chief OF the
Bureau OF Foreign Commerce showing how
this country progressed In trade relations
with the French Republic last year. The
paper Is an extract from the big volume en-
titled Commercial Relations for 1901.
which covers the entire field OF foreign
trade. II Is stated that nearly all the con-
sular officers in France speak OF the graft
flying increase in the Importation OF agri-
cultural machinery from the United states.
Consul Thackara. OF Havre, says that
numbers OF our mowers, reapers and bind
ers arrive weekly at that port by the steam
ers OF the French line. Along the Loire
river our farming machines are in use
everywhere. and the men who use them say
that in every instance they do their work
well, are much more economical than the
oid-fashioned harvesting methods, and that
the investment is a good one for the owner.
Agricultural implements bearing an Amer
lean name are found at every country fair,
says Consul Covert, of Lyons, and are
highly priced. Representatives OF mower
and reaper and steam-engine firms in the
United States recently have established
good business in that part Of France.
The importation Of our rakes, plows, har-
rows. drills and. in fact, nearly all farm
implements, Commercial Agent Griffin, or
Limoges. says, Is a growing trade. Our
manufacturers nevertheless would meet
attempt 10 study the conditions of the
French trade or to adapt their machines to
French requirements. Grain and hay are
cut differently in France, and the stubble
Is much shorter and the hay OF finer quail
ity than in America. Another fact TO be
borne In mind Is that oxen and cows are
generally used on farms, instead Of mules
and horses; consequently the gearing OF the
machines must be adapted TO the slow pace
OF these animals.
Consul Tourgee Of Bordeaux. notes that.
although there is in that region a steady
enlargement in the number of implements
OF American make imported. ii is almost
impossible 10 get the ordinary French Ia
bOTer 10. operate them with that skill and
efficiency which are almost instructive
with the American farmer. This is, In
great measure, due to the fact that every
American laborer is, TO a pronounced de-
gree. a mechanic. as well as a farmer.
When a bolt breaks or a nut is lost he
hunts about In his tool box or workroom
for something to take its place, and in
short time his team is, in most cases, doing
It's work again NOT SO with the french
laborer. He has neither the skill nor the
desire TO mend the tool he uses, or even
10 keep IL in reasonable repair That is
the business Of other tradesmen-the black
smith, the cartwright. the mechanic and
the painter The French workman has
no interest I'm labor-saving devices. In the
park opposite the consulate, continues Mr..
TOurgee, men are at work all summer long
clipping the too luxuriant heritage. What
are the implements they use? Lawn NOW
ers? Not at all They are scythes: the
one and taper to point at the other. They
are sharpened by being pounded TO an edge
on a small anvil and have a snath made of
the limb Of a tree, with a short branch cut
at a convenient length and interval for
thole pin. Seeing this outfit, one is ire
sistibly impelled 10 look II over for the
trade mark of ''Tubal Cain & Co." There
IS no demand on the part of such laborers
for improved implements One American
workman will do as much as four of these,
and IL Is because of this fact that American
producers can turn out work at less price
than their French competitors. although
wages are far higher. American brooms
and rubber shoes, the consul says. have
made their appearance in Bordeaux in
such numbers during the past two years
as 10 seem familiar. Our shoe machinery
is used in the largest shoe factory in
France. situated in Limoges. and two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars worth OF
American dressed kid skins were imported
into that region in 1900 for the manufac-
ture of shoes
There is a demand in France, says Mr..
Thackara. for American oil-burning stoves
for heating purposes. Care must be taken
by our manufacturers not TO attach any