The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-26
.lENCH FARMERS
USE U. S. TOOLS
Interesting Statement OF Ameri-
can Trade with France.
IT COULD BE INCREASED
U. S. Manufacturers by Studying the
Needs of the French People Could
Sell Many More Modern
Farm Implements.

washington, May 25.-Frederick En-
ory, chief of the bureau of foreign COM
merce has issued a publication showing
how this country progressed In trade re-
iations with the French republic last
year. 1t Is stated that nearly all the
consular officials in France speak of the
gratifying increase In the Importation of
agricultural machinery from the United
States Consul Thackers of Havre says
that numbers of our mowers. reapers
and binders arrive weekly at that port
by tho steamers 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 we'll, are much more econ
omical than the old-fashioned harvesting
methods and that the investment is a
good one for the owner. Agricultural I'M
PIGMENTS bearing an American name are
| found at every county fair, says Consul
Covert of Lyons, and are highly appre-
| ciated.
Importation Growing
The Importation of our ral1es, plows
harrows, drills and, In fact nearly all
farm implements, Commercial Agent
| Griffin of Limoges says, is a growing
| trade. Our manufacturers would meet
with even greater success II they would
study the conditions of the French trade
or to adapt their machinery to French
requirements.
Consul Tourge of Bordeaux, notes that
although there is in that region steady
Of
of American make imported, 1t is almost
impossible to get the ordinary French
laborer to operate them with that skill
and Z iciency which are almost instinct
I've with the American farmer.
The French workman has no interest
in labor saving devices. In the park OPP
posite the consulate, continues Mr..
Tourge, men are at work all summer
long clipping the too luxuriant heritage.
Their implements are scythes, the blades
OF which are five inches wide at one end,
taper at one point, are sharpened by be-
ing pounded to an end on a small anvil
and have a handle made of the limb Of
tree with short branch cut at con-
venient length and interval for a hole
Pin.
There is no demand on the part of such
American workman will do as much as
four of these and it because of this fact
that American producers can turn out
work at less price than their French
| competitors, although wages are far
| higher
Brooms and Rubber Shoes
American brooms and rubber shoes
the consul says, have made their appear
ance In Bordeaux In such numbers dur
Ing the past two years as to seem famil-
lar Our shoe machinery Is used In the
largest shoe factory in France situated
In Limoges and s250,OO0 worth of Ameri-
can dressed kid skins were imported In
to that region In 1900 for the manufac-
| turc of shoes.
The expectation OF fruits from Marseii-
| les to the United States, Consul General
Skinner says, has been seriously affected
of late by the increasing attention given
to these products in California.
Consul Convert at Lyons, says cash
registers, pencils, sausage grinders, ice
cream freezers, egg beaters, stoves saws,
drills, planes, lathes, time recorders,
electric fans, roller top desks revolving
chairs, etc, are all in good demand to
| the Offset of fierce competition.