The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-16
NEWS FROM CONSULS
AROUND THE WORLD

| trace opportunities IN france, With
suggestions to American exporters to
that country, are reviewed in a most
| comprehensive manner in a report to the
! State Department by ThornweH Haynes.
! consul at Rouen- Mr. Haynes has entered
/ into the details of the commercial life at
| his post, and finds many things of inter-
est to Americans in general. and espe-
cially to business firms seeking foreign
! markets for their goods.
The consul says that while it is true the
| French do not erect such tall buildings
as Americans. there is nevertheless need
! for elevators. In Rouen. a city OF over
J 10000 people, there are only two eIeva-
/ tors. Buildings IL Norman cities are sell
| dom more than six stories in height, the
average. perhaps, being three or four,
! and this probably accounts for the lack
OF these conveniences.
In the course Of his service of nearly
two years in Rouen, Mr.. Haynes says ne
has not seen lightning rod Such a con-
dition, coupled with the fact that French
men favor insurance, ne believes. indi-
Gates a good field for American firms.
The article is not mentioned n the tariff
schedule, and the duty could be deter
mined only by submitting a sample. But
it would be almost impossible. he saws.
to sell such goods without personal eff
fort.
Despite the up-to-dateness of the French
IN many lines, thy lack the following
articles, which, if not unknown, are com
2aratiyeiy little used: Chewing gum.
washboaTds. portable hot-afr bath cab
table food, molasses and syrup. The
consul further SAYS
The American shoe for men is far su-
perior in appearance and comfort to the
French article, which is hard and boxy.
The former is seldom found for sale out
SIDE OF Paris and few of the principal
cities Austria and Belgium furnish the
largest part of the imports. If retail
shoe stores under American management
were opened in this country, with
wholesale emporium TO supply them
profitable business might be carried on
The greatest difficulty would ie the com
petition of the lower priced French arti-
Gle, 1Ehich heretofore has kept American
footwear from entering this market rs
generally as II has some other European
countries. The cheaper grade of American
shoes cannot be sold in France The
French shoe, especially the Norman prod
uct, Is distinct type. In this city there
are so-called American shoes exposed for
sale. but glance shows that the French
manufacturer has signaHy failed il his
imitation.
The French system Of public highways.
extending to every section Of the republic.
Is not surpassed by that Of any country in
the world All stones arc crushed with
hammers by hand, the workmen often be-
ing seated Il is a long and tedious proc
ess- As early as 1867 the improved ma
1a--- 7eeA =
tai length Of 200, 95I miles, while the
/ length of unfinished highway was then
stated at 144.667 miles, most of which is
now finished. But the use of crushed
stone is not confined to these roads; it is
employed in buildings, in walls, for rail-
road ballast, etc. II an American manu-
facturer could secure a small municipal
contract. which would permit the utility
of steam stone crusher 30 be demon
strated in the quarries here, it would. no
doubt. bring good results.
Regarding suggestions to American ex-
porters to France. 1t is well to note that
improper introduction often causes pre-
JUDGE against American goods. In this
city. American machinery was recently
installed IN a manufacturing concern. All
the details we're carefully looked after,
and the circumstances OF climate, care,
use. etc. takva into consideration. under
the personal supervision of Americans
The success of this installation promises
further market to that class OF articles
In a neighboring city. an American brick
drying machine was improperly con-
structed. The result was a failure. a
loss Of reputation. and closing of that
market, and perhaps others, to the sale
Of the product mentioned. The same is
true of American locomotives when ignor-
antly handled, OF coal when improperly
used, of agricultural implements when not
4 -
must Difference be paid to the customs
OF a country when making a sale. but the
| goods must be delivered in proper shape.
No American exporter can build up 3
permanent and successful business in
France unless he works for the success
of his customers on this side
'ExpOsItioBs OF American goods in the
principal cities of France would do much
to extend our trade here. a Frenchman
must have ocular and tangible demon
stration of the validity of every claim
made for an article All the United
State ConsUls in France Feiterate in their
reports the Uselessness OF sending cir
culars. letters. etc, in English. The di-
rector Of firm making heating apparatus
told me recently that he had learned
that English. circulars were worth moth
ing that French circulars were a little
Better, that commercial travellers under
standing French were still better, and
, that an exposition or goods tuihlied all
requirements He represents an American
company which regarded this country
where only coal stoYes and CRATES were
known-as a splendid field for trade; and
not content with an exposition Of its
products, has established a large factory
of up-tO-daJe heating appliances near the
center of France. The raw product comes
from America, and the finished goods are
gradually being sold all over the cOun-
try So far this enteTprising firm has
monopoly of the business and is succeed
ing wonderfully Only earnest, persistent
endeavor will win in face OF Old World
conservatism, and this kind Of endeayOr
means brains and money; but in the end
it brings its due reward
Others means to facilitate and increase
our export trade to this country are to
include all costs. such as freight and in
surance, in quoting prices; to give long