The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-03
new FIELD FOR TRADE
AMERICAN MANUFACTURES IN GOOD
DEMAND IN SIBERIA.
Travelling Men Needed Who Can
teresting Reports from ConsuIs.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2.-There is such
demand in Siberia for agricultural machin-
cry and appliances of American manufac-
ture. that the Minister of Agriculture in
that country has decided TO lend govern
ment aid to its distribution. Commercial
Agent Greener, at Vladivostock, informs
the State Department that a special fund
has been set aside 20 establish at Haba-
rofsk a government warehouse for the ben
eft of importing jobbers. The pre-Amur
management of imperial properties will
have charge and will operate to a large
extent in American goods.
The Siberian officials state that they are
greatly in need of information from COM
petent sources regarding the purchase and
importation OF such goods from the United
states and they ask for the address OF
firms dealing in agricultural machinery,
price lists and catalogues, lists of steam
ships plying between the United States and
Nladivostock, and the best terms upon
which goods will be sold There have been
agents of several American firms on the
ground and considerable business has been
done. No travelling agent, however, has
been familiar with the Russian language
and no catalogues or price lists have been
printed In Russian.
MT. Oreener also nndS considerable COM
plant TO the effect that in quoting prices
American firms do not state their bottom
figures. What is needed is the lowest quota
ton for goods, details as to payments in
cash or on time (the latter being preferred),
and several copies of a brief catalogue in
the Russian language. Mr.. Greener also
reports that an American firm is about to
build modern flour mill at Cape FirSOff,
near the Ussuri Railway. The enterprise
is supposed to have the sanction of the
government, although ii is stated that it is
not subsidized.
Consul General Patterson, at Calcutta, is
confident that large increase in the Amer
lean trade would follow the establishment
of rapid and reliable freight line Of
steamers between New York and Calcut-
ia. He says that the only way goods can
be shipped at present from New York to
Calcutta is via Glasgow, Liverpool, Lon
don or Naples, and there is long delay in
making these shipments. Out of the $780,
100000 worth of goods imported annually
by India the United States only had abou.
1.5 per cent. of the trade while England had
about 81 per cent. and Germany, France and
Belgium, in the order named, the larger
part of the remainder. About so per cent
of the imports are cotton goods and the
next largest are iron and steel manufac-
lures, and the American consul sees no
reason why the United States should not
compete in these lines. He says that if
tween New York and Calcutta, sailing not
less than once every month, the passage
not to be more than forty days, the i'm
porters could then rely upon receiving their
goods at specified times.
Consul Patterson also recommends the
putting of active, capable men into the
field to exploit the markets of the coun-
try. There are no restrictions on trade in
India, the only obstacle being the lack of
rapid transit and more determined effort
to secure the business. 1t is believed that
q a a cd xynrtlA
have plenty of outgoing freight from In
dia, as the imports of the United States from
India are now large and constantly increas-
ing. They amounted in the last fiscal year to
about $35.O00OO0. Consul Patterson says:
There is such an opening in India for the
expansion of our trade l cannot urge too
strongly that the necessary means be
adopted to secure it."
In line with the suggestion made by Con-
sui Patterson the Bureau of Statistics at
Washington has been looking up the fig
United States. India ranks sixth among
the exporting and tenth among the import
ng 10 over G a neT hex exports
ports to s264, 100000 Thirty-six per cent of
these imports were cottons. Next on the list
were iron and steel products. The bureau
estimates that 90 per cent. of IndiaS i'm
ports are of class of goods which might
be called indigenous TO the United States
and that fully three-fourths of the entire
list is made up of articles successfully pro-
duced by and exported from the United
States. Notwithstanding this fact our ex-
ports to India amount to less than per
cent. of the imports of that country.
Commercial Agent Langhorne, stationed
at Dalny, one of the eastern terminals of
the Siberian Railroad system, sends the
State Department an interesting account
of the building of that city. The town Of
Dalny is entirely the outgrowth Of the
building of the railroad and was planned
completely before any construction work
was undertaken. In the city itself, there
fore, Is projected the Russian idea OF a
modern community.
Thousands of Chinese iaborers are con-
stantly engaged in the enormous excava-
tons, the making of streets and roads
and the completion of the work on the har-
Dor. Numerous steam and tram lines are
used for the conveying of earth and stone
and for filling in the piers and water front
The harbor is the scene of the greatest ac-
tivity at present. The small harbor has
been dredged to depth OF eighteen feet
and the pier for coast steamers is nearly
completed and has a railroad to its end
million-dollar dry dock is rapidly nearing
steamers is practically finished This pier
is 1000 feet long and $50 feet wide. with
depth of water along its sea wall from
way tracks leading to nine large ware
houses are features of its construction.
The city is built by the Chinese Eastern
halfway Company, but under the dlrectlOn
of the Russian minister of finance. Lots
sold leased at public auction and
foreigners have the privilege OF buying or
leasing under such restrictions as are i'm
posed by existing treaties. Water, electric
lights. police and fire organizations, clubs,
hotels, banks and every other appurtenance
of a complete city are now in operation.
The climate is considered healthy, without
extremes of heat or cold. The men who
have planned this great tidewater terminal
have a tremendous faith in its future.
They expect ii to become one of the great
trading points of that section of the world.
The recently issued report of the Suez
canal is decidedly encouraging to those
who favor an isthmian canal for the United
States. The net profits on the operation.
allowing for a sinking fund. are constantly
rising with each succeeding year. and dur
ing 1902 the company showed a handsome
surplus of Sl2 4Sl, 600. The number of ships
passing through the canal is also steadily
increasing. In the years 1900 and 1901 this
is partially accounted for by the many mill
tary transports coming and going between
the United States and the Philippines, but in
1902 this does not cut so much OF figure,
year In which 3,70S vessels passed through
the canal, or nearly 800 more than in 1900.
BY far the greatest tonnage was sent
| through the canal by England: Germany
and France follow, and the American ton
| mage was so small that 1t is included un-
der the classification of "other nations. "