Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-01

Swift and Company, and 1 asked my porter
at my hotel where to find them. He took
me to the corner and pointed to a big
white building facing the river at the end
OF the Boompjes That" said he, 'is the
Witte Huis 1t is the only American build
ing In Holland and is the headquarters of
the chief American firms"
crossed several bridges and strolling
down to it, found it even so. The building
is on the American plan, although it was
erected by a Belgian. 1t is made of bricks
faced with white porcelain tiles. The
Dutch call it a sky-scraper and talk Of the
dangerous height, although it has only ten
stories. 1t is, am told, the only ten-story
building in Europe; 1t is a giant in Rotter-
dam, although in New York it would be but
baby. 1t is perfectly plumb, notwith-
standing 900 trees were driven down into
the sand to make it's foundation. The ay-
erage building of Rotterdam is of from
three to five stories, and many bulldiyAs
lean this way and that so that parts Of the
city are apparently drunk
The American house has electric elevators
worked by little Dutch boys dressed in
white smocks. 1t was by them that went
from story to story calling on some OF our
largest American agents. 1 find that the
meat men here are selling vast quantities.
OF our meat and lard not only to Holland.
Dut 10 all the countries along the Rhine,
and that the American Cereal company Is
pushing its goods into this part Of Europe.
1t has its offices in the American building,
and its advertisements are everywhere. In
deed, the Americans are far better adver-
tisers than the Europeans and YOU see
hwaker Oats" American typewriters, ko-
oaks and California fruits everywhere
nnd great many American sewing ma
chlnes used In Holland. They are scattered
over the continent, and are considered far
superior to any made in Europe. One ur two
OF our firms are pushing their foreign busl-
ness more than any other, and especially
the Singer company, which has its adver-
tisements everywhere and branch houses
in all the cities Of England and the conti-
nent. In fact, l found a store here on the
Hoogstraat-the Broadway of Rotterdam
whlch had photographs Of some OF the sew
ing schools Of Holland, in which the little
Dutch girls are working away on American
machines. One Of these pictures is OF a
school at Alkmaar, one of the Oldest towns
Of Holland
Not far from this shop are hardware
stores, with a great variety of American
goods, including Philadelphia lawn now
ers and Michigan pitchforks, and in the
music store, just over the way, saw win
doWs hlled with the marches of Sousa
printed with the American flag on the
cover. They are made by a Rotterdam
nrm and sell in sets at 40 cents a copy.
The American shoe does not seem to be
walking into Holland as rapidly as could
be desired. The climate is so wet that
thicker soles than ours are needed Never
theless' 1t is no worse than England. and
our shoes will sell II properly pushsA
lhere Is one store in Rotterdam with a big
sign above 1t advertising American foot
wear and another store, which was in
tended for selling American shoes. is
vacant. The Dutch merchant opened his
place on contracts which he had with
Americans, leasing one Of the best places
ana planning to make our shoes a speciality.
his goods, owing to the carelessness of the
american exporters, failed to come on time.
and the result was that he compromised
his lease and gave up the business
indeed, the Americans have a bad reputa-
tion In Europe as exporters and traders.
We make the best goods, but we don't know
how to sell them. Such trade as we have
is because our goods are so good, and not
because of our business ability in selling
or care in filling orders.
Take for instance an order which a STA
tionery dealer here sent to New York and
had hlled at loss. The man has a shop
right next to the Witte Huis, and dropped
Continued on Seventh Page.)