The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-03
TRADE WITH EAST SIBERIA.

Commercial Opportunities and Com
mercial Methods in Siberia" is the
subject of a recent publication in the
Bulletin Commercial" published at
Brussels. copy of which has just
reached the Treasury Bureau of Stats
tics. The Siberian merchant, it says,
is even more intelligent, energetic and
enterprising than those of Russia, and
his average capital is probably larger
than that of the average Russian mer-
chant. Payments are made usually as
in Russia. at three, six, nine and twelve
months. The opening of the Trans
Siberian railway has increased the
wealth. and consequently the consum-
ing power. of Siberia and caused an
increased demand for foreign goods.
There is. therefore, now an opening in
Siberia for many kinds of goods not
formerly sent TO that country, except
small quantities which passed directly
from Russia, though the fact that the
population is chiefly agricultural, and
in many cases half-nomadic. makes it
apparent that the market will be for a
few years greatly restricted, especially
as regards articles Of luxury. Only
one-eighth OF the population is located
in the towns and they are chiefly high
officials and wealthy merchants.
The classes of articles most likely to
find a market in eastern Siberia are
according to this statement. agricui-
tural implements, machinery and in
dustrisl material for flour mills, oil
manufactures. butter factories. dis
tilleries. tanneries, machinery for gold,
iron and coal mines, saw mills. ma
chinery for brick fields and salt works
and machinery for manufacturing rope.
tlrsa a nd nr
wines. spirits. silk goods. furniture.
books, musical instruments and jewel
ry is apparently small.
Merchants DESTROYS of finding an op-
ening in this new market should not
establish special branches for a partic-
ular class of goods. There would APP
pear to be only one way which is at
once efficacious and economical, and
that is for a body OF merchants and
manufacturers to group themselves to-
cether and to accredit representatives.
AT Tomsk and Irkutsk. sharing the ex-
penses among them. 1t is indispensa-
BILE that these representatives should
have a depot for goods sufficiently
large to enable them 10 respond to the
demands OF customers. who. as a rule,
prefer To pay more so long as the goods
are on the spot. rather than wait three
To six months for an order to be eXecut-
ed at a lower price. For some kinds of
merchandise such n depot is absolutely
necessary, and ii would mean certain
loss to attempt to do without it. The
representative must have knowledge
of the Russian language. without which
hewould find both the life and the bust
ness impossible. Sales should be made
in Russian money. weights and meas
ures: goods passed through the Gus
toms and delivered in Siberia. Siberian
natives have remained wholly outside
European influence. and they are far
more ignorant of European customs
than are the Russians themselves. All
settlements should be made through
the intermediary of the representatives,
who should be chosen with sufficient
care to allow entire confidence being
placed in them and the necessary pow
er of initiative granted.
Commercial bodies DESTROYS of seek
ing an outlet for their goods in Siberia
should endeavor TO get into touch d.
rectly with the consumer by the estab-
lishment of large deposit warehouses,
where goods could be sold both whole
sale and retail. The Siberian trader is
accustomed TO a large percentage on
the goods he sells. so that by passing
the merchandise through his hands he
would obtain the greater part of the
profits.
In this connection II may be interest
ing to note that the new port of Dalny,
on the coast of the LiaOtung peninsu-
a, near Tale vas opened by the
Govern - thur July - last
IN thai DIV ta est steamer of the
/ new line - T~~ N7t~een Dalny. Port
gtrUr and O. h~ee times a week
/ was 0~a' 1'r--~ 20 the new lefty.