The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27

little over year ago the prince married Due
cept business. Chinese not only like Amer
leans, but they like their goods, and they
are the ones who make the market In
machinery lines the ingenuity displayed by
Americans is a revelation TO the Chinese,
VINO have put up with European machin-
cry, which, by comparison, belongs in the
junk heap. If there is any good reason
why American cottons and piece goods,
fancy prints. light underwear. shirts. col
lars and cuffs should not rule this market
it is yet to be advanced. North China
goods will not do here. because here it is
always summer, but nothing can be more
simple than TO obtain samples and prices
of the cotton in universal use, and TO figure
on supplies to suit this taste. Manchester
goods no longer rule the market. The Ger
mans came in with something that looked
the same and cost less. and captured the
trade AS with many other articles from
Germany. the substitute was so inferior
that it has made the market ready for
honest trade again a fair prices. A German
house which established a branch here
few years ago as shipping agency. which
sent native products home i'm return. is
credited with profit of 100000 for the
Singapore branch alone on last years busl-
ness. There are few English houses that
did as well. possibly none; and now that the
market has begun to look askanCe at Ger
man goods and methods the German would
have the hardest kind of work to hold his
own against a well-backed. respectable
American rival. The Massachusetts manu-
facturer who dumped a lot of pointed shoes
on this market when that style had become
unsuitable at home, and the San Fran
cisco commission agent who offered st.
Louis goods here at 80 per cent. discount,
the net price TO him then becoming S3.56
gold per dozen, when the American manu-
facturers' list quotes the same goods regu-
larly at Sl.6O gold per dozen, are not the
kind of pioneers to hew a way for Amer
lean trade although their version of the
treatment they received may have deferred
merchants who would have been glad 10
seek trade on a creditable basis. The Chi
nese have been done to the limit in the
rivalries already experienced They want
something different. and may be relied on
to treat it as well it deserves.
CONDITIONS TO BE MET.
Americans seeking this market must
adapt themselves TO conditions that are
here fixed They should remember that
the transit of a letter occupies thirty-five
days to the United States. and that fifty
DAYS more will be consumed in the return
of goods by other than fast mail lines.
The European merchant may deliver goods
within sixty days after mailing his order.
II is customary with European houses to
submit to native buyers list prices, and
10 charge them for goods ordered a buy
ing commission, on top of the list price.
Of from TO per cent. When satisfied as
10 the reliability of the customer. credits
are given and stocks are carried In go
downs, or warehouses, until the customer
may be ready for delivery. These houses
carry large credits in London or Berlin,
and can use money there at cheap rates.
They keep discreetly silent regarding dis
counts on list prices and for cash pay
ments both of which they enjoy. Sub
agencies are maintained at ports all
through this territory. Since they appear
to flourish, 1t is clear that they miss no
financial tricks, and that the buying COM
mission represents but a portion Of their
profits. In addition to supplying the needs
Of this area by sales to local customers,
they have nets out for everything pro-
duced here that can be sold in any other
part of the world. A newcomer in the field
should be well equipped with capital or
credit, and be content to wait longer than
usual for good money. There are many
kinds of Chinese in business as there
are Americans. and since the aver
age of reliability runs quite high. no mer-
camille risks out of the ordinary are TAX
en- in dealing with them. American manu-
facturers will serve their own interests
If, after having sent here having chosen
a trustworthy agent, they will concede as
much as possible TO the trade customs of
the region. Many Americans Will not let
goods leave the United States for Asia
without cash at time of shipment. Others
who feel that they strain point when they
send on drafts at thirty days sight are
unmindfuI that the mails beat freights
here by at least fifteen days. and that a
draft of that character requires payment
within fifteen days or less after delivery
OF goods. while allowance OF thirty
days from delivery IS here regarded as
the same as cash. There is opportunity
enough if American manufacturers want to
use it. Home prestige is rising, and bust
| ness is as safe here as anywhere with ordi-
nary precautions. If recent losses in the
trade of north China are not to be easily
recovered. they can be more than compen-
stated In an eager and richer market at the
| southern end OF the Asiatic continent. At
| certainly no greater cost OF energy than
must be expended in combating the ad-
verse influences in the north. the haphaz-
ard trade OF 3O.0O000O silver dollars in the
south could be raised to figure far be-
yOnd possibilities In the north under the
most favOring conditions.
FREDERICK W. EDDY
noo., n.as 70. I.s..