Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-23

are humming away in the cottages on
the Alps, and our mowers and reapers
cut the crops on Lie plains. Our leading
agricultural implement factories have
their head Offices at Zurich, and their
travellers go from place to place drum
ming the farmers. am told there is a
good opening for American plows,; and l
see our hay rakes and spades sold in
many of the towns. The Introduction Of
sucn things Is slow. The Swiss are con-
servative.
They are the same that their fathers
have been;
They see the same sights their fathers
have seen.
They drink the same streams, they feel
the same sun.
And they do the same deeds their fathers
have done"
/ have seen plows used here which ex-
actly correspond to those in the Scrip
lures having one handle and wooden
point shod with iron. ] have seen men
and women moving with scythes. and
few miles further on found women riding
American Sulky rakes. l saw q woman
blowing with a suiky plow, two cows
doing the pulling and in the same region
found a. moving machine drawn by two
fine draft horses from Germany.
AMERICAN DESKS AND OFFICE
FURNITURE.
Switzerland has plenty of wood. and Its
people are skilled in handling it. but they
cannot make furniture as low as our
factories. No European carpenter can
compete with us, and the result is that
american furniture is pusnlng us way
into all parts of Europe. This is espe-
cially so Of American roll-top desks. files.
and unit book-cas es which are often sold
in connection with American typewriterS.
There are large American furniture
stores in Zurich and Basel. and roll-top
desks are sold here in Geneva. The gooos
come knocked down as the freight from
New York to Switzerland is one cent per
pound Some of the desks come over
land from Antwerp and FIavre, but oth-
ers are shipped to Rotterdam, and are
sent up the Rhine on barges.
AMERICAN COAL FOR THE SWISS.
Switzerland is spending millions of dol
lars every year for fuel for its homes ana
factories 1t buys coal OF England Ger
many Belgium, and Austria, ana II Is
believed that it might profitably purchase
oe us The coal could be sent to Rotter-
dam and up the Rhine to Switzerland at
a comparatively low rate. At present
Germany sens 100000 tons of coal here
every wear. France and Belgium about
200 600 tons each. and in addition there
are thousands of tons from Austria ana
England.
AS to the American shoe there is ne
doubt but that its sale might be Largely
increased. It is claimed that our shoe is
too expensive for the Swiss. but found
five stores in Zurich selling Massachu-
sets and Chicago So shoes for high prices,
and doubt not they can be sold all over
the country The consuls tell me that the
Swiss need a thicker sole than that found
on the ordinary American shoe. The
roads here are rocky and hard on the
feet. A duty of about 81 a pair Is charg-
ed, and this must be taken into con-
sideration in fixing the prices
WORKING THE SWISS MARKETS.
I had an interesting cnat as to Amerl-
can trade the other day with Consul
Lieberknecht at Zurich Mr.. Lleber-
knecht is a well-known country editor Of
Genesee, ILL.,, who was appointed by
President Mckinley to represent us at
Zurich He is good businessman and is
fun of common sense views of Swltzer-
land and the -wiss. Said he:
Our people do not understand the
Swiss nor their wants. They think theE'
are longing for American goods. and that
they will snap at them a soon as they
see our catalogues. They do not realize
that this is one of the oldest markets
Of Europe and that people lived here very
comfortab bly, long before America wa
discovered. There are store buildings in
Zurich which contained merchandise
while our forefathers, dwelling in log ca :