Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
that such things are now made in Germany
as cheaply as in any place In the world"
American Inventions Popular.

that such things are now made in Germany
| as cheaply as in any place In the world"
American Inventions Popular.
How about American inventions and
| novelties?" l asked.
That market will always be an open
one" said Mr.. Loomis "The Germans are
especially anxious for novelties, and the
! fact that thing is American is usually
an evidence that it is new. Every new ma
chine lamp, motor or fixture of any KIND
| that will do its work cheaper or better
than the article of the same kind now in
use can demand a sale in Europe. The
Germans appreciate the ingenuity and me-
chanica1 skill of the Americans. They are
glad to get our improved machinery, and
really good things will always find a ready
market among them. 1t need hardly be
said that all novelties should be protected
| by patents or trade marks and that they
| should be offered by skillful merchants
by agents who explain their merits
and who understand how to SELL
How to Build Up Foreign Trade
1T is this ability to invent and contrive
| new things that keeps our trade steadily
advancing, continued Mr. Loomis I'VE
| may loose ground In some directions, but
| we gain in others, and American wares are
! on the whole more popular than ever. There
| is no doubt. however, that we do not fos-
| ter our foreign trade as we should. Manu-
| featuring for export is little more than
side issue for many of our great concerns
and our consular reports brfstle with state
mentS OF the indifference of our exporters
| to what would seem to be primary cond-
| tons of success in pushing our goods
abroad.
We should have our manufactures special
lied for the foreign markets. and export
agencies specialized for handling our trade.
The work should go during good times
and bad and should not be dropped in or
der to supply the home market AS II Is
now we have no such arrangements, and
nevertheless we have within ten months
increased our manufactured exports by
$19,000O0O. Germany and Great Britain
have brought matters of this kind to a high
point of efficiency. When we do the same
1t is fair to assume that our advance in
the worlds market will be steady contin-
rous and practically illimitable.
Our Trade With Russia.
What are we doing in Russia. Mr..
Loomis?' asked
"Our latest figures through the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor show that
our exports to Russia increased up to the
breaking out of the war with Japan. In
the eight months ending with last Febru-
airy such exports exceeded those from the
same period of 1903 by more than three
million dollars"
What effect will the war have upon
that trade Mr.. Loomis?" l asked.
We cannot tell as yet" said the first
assistant secretary of state, but 1t would
seem that vast a country as Russia,
still in the earliest stages of it's develop
ment will continue for many years to inn
port, in increasing quantities, our machin-
cry and labor-saving implements. Our ex-
porterS, 1t is true, have now to contend
with the discrimination against American
goods imposed by the Russian customs tar
If of 1901. That was brought about as
retaliation for the differential sugar du-
imnDgad nv he nil
although the English and Germans have
gained in some lines of exports, our con-
suls write that American farming ma
chinery and tools are sold in larger GUAM
titles than ever. The people prefer our
machinery, and say that our goods are
better made and more practicable than
those of other countries. Consul Chambers
or Batum, for instance, reports that our
manufactures successfully competing
with those Of Europe because of their low
cost and their superiority, and this not
withstanding the 80 per cent of extra duty
charged upon them. Consul General Hollo-
way Of st. Petersburg writes the same as
to the superiority of our goods and their
popularity so you see they still hold their
own In the markets of Russia
American Factories in Europe.
II understand that several of our large
American Institutions have established
branch factories in Russia and other parts
of Europe. Will not this lesson our ex-
ports?"
Certainly it will replied the assistant
secretary of state 1T will not only cut off
the exports of those goods but it will give
the foreigners an object lesson as to how
to compete with us on our own lines. Such
factories save transportation charges; they
may have cheaper labor and they avoid the
customs duties, which in some countries are
very heavy as regards exports from the
United States. One Of the largest COM
panies of Pittsburg has a branch establish
ment or sister company in St. Petersburg
which works 500 men and has capitaliza-
ton of about a million and half dollars
The Westinghouse Electric Company has
great works in southern Russia and the
British branch Of that company has been
Incorporated with capital of more than
ten million dollars. It's great plant at Man
chester employs $500 hands and has what
are perhaps the finest machine shops in Eu-
rope There is French company which has
a capitalization of four million dollars en-
ployfng LOO men. The General Electric
Company has great manufacturing estab-
lishment In England and Is closely associat-
ed with some Of the German electric COM
panies. These companies make all sorts of
electrical materials for sale not only In
England. but in all parts of Europe Their
orders run high into the millions of dollars
their stock is owned by Europeans not only
is that business shut off from the same |
companies in the United States. but the |
profits received from 1t are largely spent in |
dustry which being carried on in the |
same way giving to their European fac |
tories all the advantages of improved |
American machinery and operative skill; |
for the managers and foremen are picked |
men from the factories of the United |
States The workmen mainly natives
but the system is such that each factory |
becomes a special industrial school where |
European men and boys are trained by |
American experts how to compete with |
American trade"
Can you give me a list of the great |
American factories abroad?"
No, although l can say that such fac |
tories are being established in Canada |
Mexico, Great Britain, Germany and Rus !
sia Consul General Mason writes that |
Germany has large number of them, and |
that they have definite advantage over /
their own or rival firms and companies !
located in the United States.' I
Our Consuls as Business Agents.
The conversation here turned to the work |
of our consuls In pushing American trade,
and l asked Secretary Loomis to their