The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-28
BRITONS INVADING RUSSIA
SELLING MACHINERY CHEAPER
THAN AMERICANS CAN.
COburg a Promising Market for Light
Automobiles, Rubber Boots and
shoes and other Articles.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


of their own goods. after they have landed
their product in Europe. Though the raw
material may be more expensive in Europe,
cheaper than can the American manufac-
turer, for what the latter saves on the raw
material he loses in transportation charges.
Too large a percentage of the exports from
the United States is shipped in foreign bot
toms. A summary of the worlds mer-
camille marine issued on July 10, 1903, puts
the total number of steamships at 29,943 with
a tonnage of 27,1S3,365 while sailing ves-
sells number 12,1S2 with tonnage of $751;
766. The tonnage of England's merchant
marine is estimated at 1905, 374; and of the
United States trading vessels at 3,6l1 1856.
Thus far English commerce has suffered
heavily in competition with American en-
terprise. If Americas mercantile marine
equaled that OF England, there is little
doubt but that the markets which Great
Britain now holds by reason Of the low
prices at which she sells her goods could be
completely captured for this country. Ger
many's mercantile marine has a tonnage
nearly equal to that of the United States.
Simon w. Hanauer, deputy consul general
at Frankfort, Germany, blames American
grain shippers for a threatened falling off in
the expectation of grain from this country.
He states that European purchasers of
wheat and corn received from southern
parts of the United States seriously COM
plain about the bad condition of the grain
when it reaches them. They claim that
nearly half of all the maise coming to
them from the United States is defective,
and fhax
the advisability of discarding the GER
tificates issued by the United States in
spectors. Heretofore it has been the Gus
tom of the trade to accept these certificates
as proof Of the sound condition of the
grain, and in former years the conSign-
ments tailed with the inspectors docu-
mentary evidence. Under the present usage
the recipients of the grain, though the
goods be found damaged on arrival, have no
remedy at law or recovery for loss sus-
tanned. the inspectors certificate protects
the shipper.
There has recently been organized in the
city of Chemnitz, Germany, an exporting
house having for its object the importation
of cheap American hosiery into Germany
and the expectation of the same to the
Orient. The buyers of Oriental firms have
long made Germany their field of opera
ton. and it is the purpose of the new enter
prise to bring American goods into close
competition with German goods and DEM
onstrate their superior qualities by actual
comparison. Germany cannot produce as
good an article in this line for as little
money as can the United States. Hosiery
for Oriental markets should be heavy and
closely woven, for as sandals are common
ly worn in the East stockings must be made
to exclude insects.
Consul General Hughes writes from Co.
hr,r fhof he
he is stationed affords promising market
for many varieties of American manufac-
lures. He believes that small automobiles
or runabouts of American make, of from
six to ten-horse power, would meet with a
good sale in that district. Some fifty auto
mobile companies have sent English cata-
logues, which are worse than useless, as
the people will not look at them. What is
wanted is light machine, easily worked
not a complicated piece of machinery-with
good brake power, as the country is very
hilly, and above all a machine that is not
too expensive. He advises the opening of
a small depot either there or in some neigh
boring city where the goods can be shown
and explained and where duplicate parts
can be quickly and easily had. This latter
is very important matter, as German
makers do not care to repair foreign (es-
possibly help it.
Rubber boots and shoes could be sold in
Coburg to advantage. as the people now
send to Berlin for goods Of f1lis kind and
have no chance to make a selection: and
there is no place in the world where SO
primitive gas stove sells for SO much
money as in Coburg. 1t would pay any of
our well-known makers to send a few SAM
pies to the Coburg City gas works on COM
mission and thus introduce something to
the local market worth having.
While some kinds Of California md ofl,or
American dried and evaporated fruits are
for sale in that district, the really good
article is not to be had, and consequently
our fruits are declared not as high class as
the Metz and other German brands Our
large exporting houses can rest assured
that much better markets are to be had i'm
the middle and southern parts of the Ger
man empire than in Hamburg or Berlin es-
pecially for this class of goods, as the peo-
pie are great preserved-fruit eaters and the
local fruits are neither extra good nor
cheap. The best way to send them is in
half-pound glasses tins, with labels in
German explaining just how the fruits are
TO be treated or served.
In 1902 samples of coal were tried in the
factories of Coburg and gave most salts
factory results, but nothing has since been
done to even retain the ground won The
business possibilities in this line and dur
ing the first six months Of the current year
the importation of British coal for the
porcelain factories of Coburg amounted to
2. 4I4, SIS tons.
There is q demand in that district for
useful carriage, heavy draft and a few Sc
lected saddle horses but only a few Amer
lean horses have been for sale. Owing To
the stony and hlly nature of the country.
eastern horses do very we'll, but western
animals hoofs go to pieces too quickly
There is also quite opening for very
small ponies to take the place OF dogs as
used at present in pulling butcher. milk
and other carts.
A good agent for an inexpensive but re-
liable class of small chemical fire engines
if sent through the smaller towns. etc
giving practical exhibitions of his apparat-
us, would do good business.
Since Spain lost Cuba and Porto Rico and
sold her Philippine gold brick to the United
States. she has been turning her attention
to her long neglected internal resources
The latest statistics available show her our
put of iron as amounting to s7,s74.V0O and
coal s4.535, 500 in 1901. The output of copper
and lead is increasing. In that year there
were 30i9 mining establishments i'm the
country. employing $3.50 persons. and N,
rolling mills and iron works enoplovfps
30 167 persons. Within the last ten wears
SPANS importation Of machinery has
doubled. In 1902 il amounted TO 35.626 tons
of which 100 tons came from GERMANY
1904 tons from England. and 1859 tons
from Switzerland. Our American manufac.
share in this trade When Switzerland
which has neither coal nor iron, and beinc
an inland country. must incur heavy rail-
| road freight charges on her machinery ex.
ports can export machinery to Spain. H
! appears as Il American manufacturers