Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-10
TRADE WITH EAST SIBERIA.
An Enlarged Market for Foreign
Goods Created.

Commercial Opportunities and CONNER
cial Methods in Siberia is the subject of
recent publication in the Bulletin CONNER
cial." published at Brussels, a copy of
which has just reached the treasury bureau
of statistics. The Siberian merchant, il
says, is even more intelligent, energetic and
enterprisng than those of Russia and his
average capital is probably larger than
that of the average Russian merchant.
Payments are made usually in Russia,
at three, six, nine and twelve months. The
opening OF the Trans-Siherian railway has
increased the wealth, and consequently the
consuming power, of Siberia and caused an
increased demand for foreign goods There
is. therefore, now opening n Siberia io-
many kinds of goods not formerly sent to
that country, except small quantities which
passed directly from Russia, though tie
fact that the population is chiefly aglicul-
tural and in many cases half-nomadic,
makes 1t apparent that the market viii be
for a few years greatly restricted espe.
cially as regards articles of luxury. Only
one-eighth of the population is located III
the towns, and they are chiefly high off,
Gals and wealthy merchants.
The classes of articles most likely to find
a market in eastern Siberia are, according
to this statement, agricultural implements,
machinery and industrial material for flour
mills, oil manufactures, butter factories,
distilleries, tannerias, machinery for gold,
iron and coal mines saw mills. machinery
for brick fields and salt works and ma
chinery for manufacturing rope paper, etc,
while the demand for wines, spirits, silk
goods, furniture, books, musical instru-
ments and jewelry is apparently small.
Merchants desiroGs Of findius an opening
in this new market should not establish
special branches for a partcular class OF
goods. There would appear 10 be only one
way which is at once effcacouS and eco
nOmical. and that Is for hOdN of
chants and manufacturers TO group them
selves together and to accredit representa-
tfves at Tonrsk and Gri.utsk, sharing the
penSeS among them 1t iS indiSpenSabl bic
that these representatives should have a
depot for goods sufficiently large to enable
them to respond to the demands of GUS
toners, who, as rule. prefer to pay more
so long as the goods are Oh the SPOT, rather
than wait from three to six months for an
order to be executed at a lower price. For
most kinds of merchandise such a depot Is
absolutely necessary, and IL would mean
certain loss to attempt to do without il.
The representative must have knowledge
of the Russian language, without which he
would find both the life and the business
impossible. Sales should be made in Rus
sian money, weights and measures; goods
passed through the customs and delivered
In Siberia. Siberian natives have remained
wholly outside European influence, and they
are far more ignorant of European GUS
toms than are the Russians themselves All
settlements should be made through the in
termediary of the repro Sentatives who
should be chosen with Sufficient care to al
low entire confidence being placed in them
and the necessary power of initiative
granted.
Commercial bodies desirous of seeking an
outlet for their goods in Siberia should on
deavor to get into touch directly with the
consumer by the establishment of large
deposit warehouses. where goods could be
sold both wholesale and retail. The ST.
bertan trader is accustomed to a large per-
centage on the goods ne sells, so that by
passing the merchandise through his tands
he would obtain the greater part Of the
profits
In this connection it may be Interesting to
note that the new port of Dalny. on the
coast of the Liaotung peninsula, near TaIen-
wan, was opened by the governor Of Port
Arthur July % last. On that day the first
steamer of the new line II run between
Dalny, Port Arthur and Chefoo three times
a week was moored alongside the new jetty
This jetty is made Of solid steel, and the
harbor affords a depth of eighteen feet at
low tide. A dry dock is also almost fin
ished. When Newchwang is closed by ice
merchandise can be sent thence by train to
Dalny, where the port will be open all the
year round 1t is also stated that the rail-
way will shortly grant reduced rates on
goods coming from the north, in order that
they may be shipped from Dalny instead OF
Newchwang. At Dalny, 1t is said six
steamers can discharge cargo at once and
where, moreover, the services of pilot are
not required. the approach to the harhor
being a very easy one, with no bar such
as is found at Newchwang.