The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-14
Rise of Prices I'm the United States
and the Increase i'm Foreign Tar
IFS Are the Causes.
COMPETITION Is NOW SHARP
DEMAND FOR FARM IMPLEMENTS
AND MACHINERY is GOOD.
Manufacturers Must study the Wants
tunity for Capital in Spain.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

of American export trade to the Euro
pean continent has passed. At least, this
is the judgment of some students of the
situation. The rise of prices in the United
States and the increase of tariff by Ger
many, France and other European coun-
tries are responsible for this condition.
The exporters of this country now find
sharp competition in the markets of that
part of the world which they formerly re-
garded good unloading ground.
Joseph ]. LANCER, United States consul at
Solingen, Germany, reports that the
changes to the new German tariff con-
sist chiefly in tariff rates themselves and
the official invoice appertaining thereto.
These being more specialized than hereto
fore will necessitate a more detailed dec
laration as well, particularly as to textiles,
hardware, machinery, etc. For instance,
as to tin, the thickness must be given; in
cotton goods, thread and relative weight
must be specified. Exporters to German
ports will, therefore, need to be most spe-
cific in the matter of invoices. This will
not only simplify the official inspection. but
facilitate it as well.
The bill signed by the President of the
French republic on July 81 last increases
the duties on cattle, hogs, and other ami
mails, and on dried and sailed meats. In
der the new tarin there is an increase of
duty on steers, cows. bulls, young bulls
and heifers amounting to s3.S5 per go 46
pounds live weight, maximum, and to $1.93
minimum. On calves the increase is $40,
on hogs, $3.2S5. On fresh mutton, pork and
beef it amounts to $3.4S, $40 and 81. 49, re-
spectively; while the increase on sailed
pork and beef is s4.S26 and 1886. respectively.
Hereafter. cattle. sheep, goats. hogs, etc.
and fresh and salted meats produced there
from will be subjected to the maximum
tariff If imported into France direct from
the United States, or if imported indirect,
through European country, there will be
an additional tax of 800 francs (69.5 cents)
per 100 Kilograms (22046 pounds.)
The American cattle and fresh meat trade
with france IS practically nil, due, in great
part, to the rigid sanitary measures pre-
scribed by the French government for the
inspection OF cattle and fresh meats i'm
ported into France. The trade i'm American
salted picked and cured meats has been
progressively declining for a number of
posed on those products by the French
customs law and the high prices which
have been prevailing in the United States
xxx
The demand for agricultural implements
and vehicles and for machinery for manu-
featuring purposes is growing steadily and
will continue to do SO while American in
genuity and shrewdness continue to pro-
duce the best and most needed articles In
these lines.
In Germany reaping and moving machin-
cry and horse-rakes are sold in large num-
bers. A few American cultivators, tedders
and disc harrows and some American bug
gies have been purchased, but no farm
wagons American farming tools and i'm
| plements, SO far known and used in
Germany, are well liked, but exporters of
| these goods should make a study of the
agricultural methods and conditions in that
| country In order that their machines may
| be modified or adjusted to suit the same.
American agricultural machinery has been
extensively copied in Germany when not
| protected by patents and the German made
articles, not having paid sea freight or
duty, are usually cheaper than the product
| from the United States
| The same is true in Sweden, though the
| imitation OF American agricultural imple-
| ments there is not yet so extensive Ameri-
| can manure forks, hayforks, horserakes.
mowers and reapers are quite commonly
| used. The more expensive implements or
machines, ike mowers and reapers, are
used mostly on large farms or country es-
| tates. On small as well on large farms,
| plows OF different models are used also
harrows. cultivators. seeders and grain
Il
| piece or In section, phosphate spreaders,
| horseshoes, straw cutters, grain cleaners
thrashing machines for horsepower, etc.
Consul William w. Canada writing from
| Vera Cruz, Mexico, states that on large
Mexican plantations cultivating sugar cane.
| TOBACCO, cotton, etc., and also in the dis
| industry is usually conducted in connec-
ton with the manufacture of sugar, ma
chinery is used extensively, much of it
American and some French. German man.
4 clxrx h
| ing their wares in this market and keep
ing up sharp competition for the trade
Flows, cultivators, simple farming imple-
ments, sugar-maklng machinery, ETC., have
| been preferred when of American origin.
| Modern baling presses for cotton, broom
root and tobacco ought to find a good mar
| reputation of being the best tobacco rails
ing section In Mexico Machinery for the
extraction, preparation and baling of the
| several varieties of fibers should also he
| readily sold in the Vera Cruz district.
Gasoline and oil engines for agricultural
| as well as mining purposes. for small plants
now running with Anticipated steam ma
| chinery, tubes and appliances for tube
| wells, mechanical devices for irrigatine
| purposes, coffee machinery (pulpers hull
ers, separators); machinery used in the
| cultivation and preparation of rice should
| all find ready sale.
Thessaly, in the northern part of Greece
| affords a splendid opening for the sale OF
mowers, harvesters, threshing machines
etc. One large consignment sent to Volo
| the principal seaport several years ago
| was sold 10 the last article; but whole
| ships cargo of similar machinery sent ont
| year later is still in the warehouses This
| is due to the fact that the farmers of the
country were not properly instructed in
| the use of the machines. which promptly
| got out or order, owing to mishandling
Xxx
The only way in which American EXPORT
ers Of agricultural and other machinery can
build up and maintain a successful foreign
| trade is by sending out experienced men to
sell their products and teach the purchasers
how to use them. These agents should also
be able to make all arrangements for the
| delivery of goods as the ordinary buyer
| knows very little about customs and duties
| They should speak the languages of the
| countries TO which they are sent and be
| prepared to thoroughly canvas the territory
and find out the needs of the people ant
the new articles that could be introduced
| and their chances to sell them The mex
step might be the establishment of branch
houses, fully stocked, at convenient ports
A practical method for introducing new
articles is by entering into special arrange
ments with old and reliable local firms
whereby the latter become agents for z
certain line of goods and thus natural
| ly led 10 take an interest in their sale
Lists of leading firms in almost every i'm
| portant seaport be obtained through
the Bureau Of Statistics at Washington