Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-21
SHOWN IN
PRINCIPAL PORTS
Unique Craft Soon to
Make Trip of co.
900 Miles.

A floating exposition, carrying dis
plays OF the goods OF American manu-
facturers TO the principal ports OF the
world and establishing American trade
where il has not yet solid foothold. Is
the unique undertaking Of the Export
Shipping company OF New York, says
the Brooklyn Eagle. \ big ocean
steamship. fitted out especially for the
purpose. is to leave New York about
April l next year. its cargo condens-
ed American industrial exhibition. with
Il representative of each OF the exhib-
itors on board. and sail around the
world. circling continents apd zigzag
ging across the oceans and seas to
make island ports in all chimes.
Seventy-hve ports in forty-six differ
ent countries viii be visited. and 1900
miles will be Travelled IN fifteen mouths
The continents of Europe. Asia. Aus
tralia and South America and the
coasts of Central America and the
West Indies are included in the itin-
erary
1t is to be an American invasion in
n most novel form. Extensive adver-
Using is expected to bring together
large numbers Of the native merchants
ut the ports where the exposition drops
anchor. Stops of from two TO seven
days Will be made at the ports OF the
itinerary. giving the exhibitors repre-
sentatives plenty of time To show and
explain their goods. quote prices. take
orders and appoint local agents.
1t is estimated that the cost OF the
floating exposition for the fifteen
h.
crs figure out that at the rate they will
get for the space there should be ST.
100000 coming IN. According to the
plan outlined in their pamphlets. the
balance OF 100000 will he refunded
to the exhibitors pro rata. The man
ayers of the scheme say they do not
expect to make cent except TO be ben-
Gifted In the same way as the eXhib-
itors. All money is to be paid into a
Manhattan bank and by the bank dis
bursed only on certified and itemiZed
vouchers which will be made public
upon the request of any exhibitors. In
other words. 1t is advertised as mutu-
al scheme for furthcring the interests
of the manufacturers participating.
Exhibit space on the ship will be sold
for $50 per square foot, and the mini
mum sold will be forty square feet,
but several exhibitors may group their
exhibits If they. SO desire. buying the
space together. The representatives OF
the exhibitors on board will be board
ed for 81 day. II has been carefully
figured out that the cost to an exhibi-
tor to thus show his goods to the many
foreign markets to be invaded will not
be over So per day.
SO that the exhibitors representa-
tiyes may be able to converse with the
merchants in the ports where English
is, not spoken. instructors In German.
French and Spanish will give free les
sons in these languages during the
time spent at sea. With slight knowl-
edge of these languages besides their
own 1t Is believed the representatives
will be able to make themselves under
stood In any port visited.
The managers OF the enterprise want
as great a diversity OF manufactured
products as possible, and they want
the most suitable in every line. 1t is
announced that competition between
exhibitors will be discouraged, al
though OF course 1t IS not expected that
II can be entirely eliminated.