The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-24
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
DIR. EDMUND COBBE, OF PHILADEL-
PHIA. IN THE CITY.
He Represents the International Blu
reau of mmerce-BishOp Warren
Talks of His Work.

DR.. Edmund Cobbe, Of Philadelphia, who
is in Indianapolis in the interests of the
International Bureau of Commerce, a con-
Germ devoted to the extension of the ex-
port trade of various countries. last night
at the Grand Hotel outlined to a represent
alive of the Journal a proposition that
will undoubtedly enlist the support of pro-
gressive manufacturers in this section of
the country. DR.. Cobbe formerly con-
nected with the Philadelphia Commercial
Museum and he has visited Indianapolis
several times for that institution and was
also here once in the interests of the Phil
adelphia Export Exposition. Recently he
became identified with the international
Bureau of Commerce and he is now the
American representative of that concern,
with headquarters in New York.
The International Bureau of Commerce
furnishes manufacturers with card file
cases containing the names of prominent
buyers in all the markets of the world. The
work has been conducted very successfully
in England and it is now being undertaken
in America for the first time. The company
has a list of over 10000 names of reliable
importers in other countries to offer Ameri-
can manufacturers at present and expects
to increase this list to $4,000 within the
next year.
To explain the system a specific instance
will be taken. DR.. Cobbe goes to a hard
ware manufacturer and offers him card
file case containing the names of all the
buyers of hardware in all the foreign mar
kets of the world. This list is accompanied
by list of bankers in every market who
may be consulted for reference. The bureau
also guarantees to keep this list revised
and up to date all the time. Then DR..
Cobbe has another proposition for organiza-
tions such as the Commercial Club of this
city. This is to furnish card file contain
ing all the names OF all the buyers OF prom
nence of all kinds of manufactured goods
in all the markets of the world. This list
is arranged alphabetically and geographic
cally and is ready reference for manufac-
turers in all lines. This list is also revised
constantly.
In addition to this the bureau takes the
names of all the American manufacturers
who become subscribers to the system and
places their names in similar card file cases
which are placed in the commercial clubs,
boards of trade and American consulates
in all the cities of the world. The result
of this system is that the American man
ufacturer may open up correspondence
with buyers in his line in all the foreign
countries, and he is constantly in receipt
of letters from foreign buyers who have
found his name in the list of American
manufacturers sent out by the bureau.
1.-THE system is invaluable to American
manufacturers who are bidding for foreign
trade" said DR.. Cobbe last night. ut con-
tains information which the manufactures
can get through no other agency and which
he could compile himself only at enormous
cost. The work the International Bureau
of Commerce has done already represents
an investment of 900, and we are only
fairly started. OF course, the big original
outlay has been made, but the cost of
maintaining the bureau is immense.
IL am in Indianapolis to see d. NJ. Parry.
the president of the American Associa ton
of Manufacturers, to discuss PROPOSE
ton with him. We desire to enlist the in
terest of the association of which Mr.. Par
ry is the head. and / am satisfied that the
manufacturers will take hold of ii readily.
1.-THE middle West is the territory where
we expect to accomplish the most work.
do not believe that the people in this sec
ton appreciate the Importance of the mid
die West a manufacturing center. Why,
last year this country exported over 81 600,
100000 worth of goods, and of this over
81. 900. 900 900 came from the great middle
West This gives this section a tremendous
power. 1t was. in fact, the middle West
that defeated the ship subsidy bill. and il
was the manufacturing interests of that
section that did the work. Why? Because
the ship subsidy bill was for the fast pas
senger lines and the freighterS were not
to derive any benefit from Ii. The middle
West was more deeply interested In the
ships that carry its manufactured products
to foreign markets than ii was in the pas
senger steamers. Consequently, the sub
sidy bill received opposition sufficient to
defeat it."
DR.. Cobbe has been interested in the de-
velopment of the export business of this
country for so long and he has gathered
such a wide knowledge of the subject that
he has become thoroughly imbued with the
| idea that America is destined to control
the markets of the world within very
| few years