The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-25
TO CAPTURE midas TRADE
He Thinks the Department
Plan Would Be Effective.
AT WORK ON THE SCHEME
American in India How Seeking to n
terest Manufacturers in a Project of
the Kind-UHited States Does Not Re
Ceive a Fair Share of Trade.

The American Consul at Bombay, vii
liam Thomas Free. makes, in a commuui-
cation just received at the state Depart
ment. an exceedingly interesting sHg.
gestion-cne 20 the effect that American
manufacturers combine and establish ir
Bombay a great Department store.
says Mr.. Free.
Now that thu America manufacturer
is trying TO gain a fair share Of trade il
. the worlds markets, would suggest that
he give more attention 10 India. On this
peninsula, which is about half the size
Of the United States, reside 800. COO. 600
people, or about one-ffth OF all the in
habitants Of the earth
The exports OF India exceed its i'm
ports y careful examination Of its for
eisn trade viii show that, with few ex-
eepticEs. India sells raw material and
buys finished products. and therefore is
substantially consuming nation. Dur
ing the fiscal year 1900 1901. the foreign
trade OF india amounted TO ahout SSl2 e.
VVVUOD. OF this. 1888 600 900 represeDfa5
exports and 5000. 600 COO imports. The
hon share. or about two-ffths Of the
entire trade. went 10 the United kingdom,
me Jnlleu states was the third larges-
purchaser OF midas exports, China occu-
Iyi1s second place As an exporter 10
lndla, the United States ranks near the
end Of the list. It is some consolation Ia
know, however. that II All the articles
imported from the United States 20 In
aia many OF which lose their identity in
Delng transshipped in Europe-were
traceable, cur sales would make a much
better showing
Great Britain is not increasing sts
trade with India. yet when one considers
the number Of years that IL has enjoyed
SUBSTANTIAL monopoly in this respect
one can form some idea Of the important
part india has taken in contributing TO
the wealth Of the British Empire
HE continent Of Asia and its islands
nave population OF perhaps 500 600 900
people and trade worth probably 81 coo -
UUO.Ooo a year OF this trade the United
states does not receive a fair shsre-Iess
indeed, than some nations which, to reach
~ nave TWO seas to our one 20 cross.
Few, II any. cities in the Orient offer
better facilities for exploiting Auarfra1
goods than Bombay. It possesses a mag
hlncent harbOr. extensive systems Of rail-
ways Fadiate from il, and its steamship
ana freight lines run 20 all parts Of the
globe. u is a great transs hiupfne D0int nv
sea and is the national gateway 70 India.
Bombay ranks third in the British En-
pire in the value Of its annual export and
import trade, London and Liverpool being
nrsJ and second. respectively. Before tho
plague reduced its population. next 10
London IL was the largest city in the En-
pire- During the past year its imports
were valued at $l29 coo and its exports
at $llZGo0. coo. making a total foreign
trade OF 2z5z, 0eo,oO9. or nearly half OF that
Of all India
Commerce with America is Increasing
An exceedingly friendly feeling toward
the united states exists among the DeO-
pie Of India. and all things American are
popular. A number OF our business CON
Germs have established agencies ana
branch houses here. and others are send
ing trained representatives into the field
"a system l have strongly recommended
to our exporters. Many letters Of en-
CURRY, catalogues. advertising sheets. and
price lists come to this consulate. While
this way Of obtaining business is not
oyer-productive. yet il shows that our
people are beginning TO realize the Cd
p9Ttunities for trade in India
The Indian native is not prevented by
patriotism from buying where he can Sc
cure the best and cheapest gOOds-espe-
cially the cheapest He naturally desires
20 examine the article he buys. and If
spot cash is required he In turn de-
mands spot delivery.
Il wish 20 impress upon the American
manufacturer OF exporter the desirabiIity
Of placing his wares on actual sale in this
market. Sample rooms. catalogues, price
lists. employment Of native agents. etc.
have been, so far as my observation goes.
somewhat barren Of substantial results.
The way 20 sell goods l. 20 simply sell
them, and the less complication the bet
ter. IJ would be hard to improve upon
the method used - our large concerns.
The merchant shows his goods. the buyer
makes his selection. pays the price and
takes the article. That is all What can
be more simpler This method Of buying
and selling has succeeded well at home,
why not abrOad2
when credit sales. catalogues and
samples. foreign museums. agencies. and
other schemes are introduced. cOmpli-