Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
Adv a nta ges


Severa. days ago Mr.. J. Hampton Moore.
chief of the bureau of manufactures Oe'
partrnent of Commerce and Labor. ad-
dressed a letter to Mr.. Will +. GUIDE. presi-
dent of the Business Mems Association.
asking for certain information as to the
best general method of promoting manu-
featuring in the United States, what Is the
best general plan for advancing the exports
Of the United States and whether or not
II would be well to call general convan-
ton of commercial and business men as
means for developing our manufacturing
interests abroad.
The letter addressed to the association
was as follows:
''In the matter of plans to make effective
the work imposed by Congress upon the re-
Gently organized bureau of manufactures.
Department of Commerce and Labor tSee
section g. act of February IA, 1913, IN
Closed), 1t would be agreeable TO the Secre-
tary of The department to have the beneht
of your experience and judgment on the
following points
''F'irst-What general method of promot-
ing the manufacturing interests within the
United States would you advise? Q-ocally,
raw materials. labor cost display of sam
pies. state regulations. credits and trans
portation are appropriate for considera-
ton)
"Second-What general plan of advancing
the exports of the United States would you
favor? CREATES and tariffs. consular ser
vice and reports. means of attracting for
eigu buyers. methods of displaying Ameri-
can goods, commercial ratings. credits and
barking; packing goods and shipment.
transportation rates, etc, are suggested as
reloyantJ
"Third-Would it be advisable. in view of
our foreign opportunities. to call a general
convention of commercial and manufactur-
ing associations to consider ways and
means of developing the manufacturing in
tereStS abroad?
''If you can make it convenient to formu-
late a brief reply. during the next two
weeks and forward it to the bureau of
manufactures Washington, d. c., l shall
be greatly obliged.
Mr. Shoemaker Appointed to Respond.
When this communication was read 1t
was referred to the association. The asso-
citation by unanimous vote selected Mr..
Louis P. Shoemaker to make the reply on
behalf of the association. Mr.. Shoemaker s
letter to Mr.. Moore is of such vast local
Importance that The Star deems it well to
print 1t in full. 1t follows:
Office of the Business Mems Association.
Hon. J. Hampton Moore, Chief of Bureau
of Manufactures, Department of Com
merce and Labor.
Dear Sir: Attempting to answer your first
question, which reads as follows:
What general method of promoting the
manufacturing interests within the United
States would you adviser
/ will refer more particularly to the Dis
trict of Columbia. Railroads from the
south, north and west reach Washington
Raw material can readily be obtained from
almost every section at small cost for
transportation. Coal fields, cotton fields
and tobacco fields are near at hand. There
is ample market at home and in the
near vicinity. New York is only 22S miles
away. accessible by the Baltimore and Ohio
and Pennsylvania railroads. passing the
while Norfolk. Portsmouth and Newport
News, distant less than 200 miles. are &C
cessble by the Potomac. This river is al
ways open for navigation and at It's inter-
section with the Chesapeake bay there is
one of the finest harbors of our country.
from which the markets of the world are
available.
Water Power of Potomac.
The water power of the Potomac at Great
Falls is notably extensive and valuable ana
could be utilized for many purposes. There
is considerable territory, probably more
than a thousand acres OF land, lying along
the upper portion of the Eastern branch
traversed by the railroad toward Benning
and beyond, and all of this territory is re-
moved by distance of several miles from
the White House and from more i'm
pcrtant residential sections Consequently
we may feel assured that large manufac-
iIlllB lUltTtSlS could De tSlaDllSneu dlDnt,
the Eastern branch. as well as below Great
Falls. and conducted without annoyance or
Inconvenience to the residents of Wash
ington.
Some persons have contended that mani
featuring interests should not be encour-
aged in Washington. They evidently dc
not realize that Washington is identical
with the District of Columbia, which con-
tains over 10000 acres of land and popu-
lation of little more than 10000 people
conferred to great extent within the orig
inal limits of the old city.
The District of Columbia is the home OF
the United States government. over which
Congress has exclusive jurisdiction. TIE
dividing line between the old city and the
outlying territory of the District of Column
bia has long since been obliterated Tax
alton is being increased every year and i'm
posed upon those who happen to own this
outlying section. 1t is true that some of II
has been subdvided and thrown into town
lots but much OF it remains unimproved.
The fertility of the soil is not sufficient
TO justify its cultivation or to yield a profit
from agriculture. The population of Wash
ington is increasing only as a demand ex-
lists for governmental employees who at
tend TO the duties imposed upon them
Many admit that these employees are not
factors in the development or improve