The San Francisco call., 1906-04-09
Unfamiliarity With Transportation and
Other Conditions in Orient Is
a Serious Drawback
JAPAN IS STRONGEST COMPETITOR
Special Agents Crist and Burril Declare
Large Opportunities Wait for Us
to Bestir Ourselves.
EXERTION AND STUDY REQUIRED


at this port. The principal disadvantage
is that the goods arrive in such damaged
conoition as to at once place them at
nlgner price, allowing for consequent loss
than similar goods better packed The
allowance of claims for damaged cloth
is a constant element in importing Amer
lean baled goods, which does not figure
prominently in the calculation of the
prices of goods from other countries.
ROPES BINDING GOODS ARE
OFTEN BROKEN IN TRANSIT
''In looking over the stock of piece
goods IN a godown in Tientsin, which
represented between 500 and 500 bales
from different countries, it was found
that about 60 per cent of them were
American product. In the course Of their
shipment and trans-shipment from three
TO eight. and in many instances ALL of
the ropes had been removed from fully
SO per cent Of the bales In sight, with the
result that from the consequent bursting
the contents had become soiled through
contact with dirt and mud. Much of the
goods had been damaged through abra-
sion and tearing from exposure.
This condition was the basis for q
claim for discount by the Chinese mer-
chant, which has to be entertained; and
as no claim can be collected from the
shipping company the loss has to be sus-
tained by the commission house. Baling
with ropes is considered inadequate pro-
lection to the goods and does not admit
of reimbursement for damages sustained.
Some American manufacturers have
adopted the metal strap baling system,
the best and only appropriate method of
baling goods for this market. There is a
lightweight metal band used by some
American mills which is better than any
In use. 1t appears to be made of malleable
or wrought iron is very strong in tensile
OF hTrf l. cffT fN,-r Ix-& &I,a
hf started by small cut on the side.
METAL BANDS SHOULD BE
USED INSTEAD OF ROPE
THE metal does not rust by contact
with water or dampness, as do ordinary
iron straps. Rust frequently stains the
goods One expedient adopted by shippers
is TO coat both sides of the bands with
either black or red paint which mate
rally reduces the liability to rust All
Indian bales are bound with iron straps
having a covering of heavy red paint.
as the vicissitudes Of these goods are
many, four months often elapsing be-
tween the time Of shipment and arrival
at this port from India, the course of the
goods often requiring four transhipments
English baled goods in most Instances
have as an added protection from abra-
sion a piece Of farred gunny cloth wrapped
about the joint formed by the fastening
of the ends. This materially reduces dam
age from tflaC source.
Another phase of the question that the
American merchant should look into is
the Chinese character. The Oriental i'm
porter, according to Mr.. Crist, is inor-
dinately suspicious. He says:
A most serious difficulty which Ameri- |
can cotton manufacturers cause is one
which arises from a lack of proper at
tention to details, which doubtless ap-
pear to be insignificant and trifine TO |
a wifi he
Of the Chinese trade. 1 have been fur /
nished with three headings of cotton
sheetingc. all from the same shipment.
and bearing the same chop or trade
mark, vet no two of the headings are
alike IN certain respects.
CHINESE SUSPICION MUST
BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
Upon receipt of the goods the Chinese
merchant promptly refused to take de-
livery under the impression that they
were OF entirely different make from the
brand he ordered. Being unable to read
English he could not comprehend the
cause for the different labels, except that
the goods were either made by different
factories and therefore to him of differ
ent values and qualities, or that there
had been a lot Of inferior grades of the
same kind of cloth shipped from the same
mill. No argument win convince the
Chinese merchant that goods thus
marked come from the same source as
goods of ike quality. He firmly believes
that the popularity Of the brand he has
handled has become known in America.
ard that these sent him are limitations.
Another popularity is observable in
these particular pieces, and that is that
the ink in some of the labels Is dark
blue and boldly and plentifully applied
In the marking, while in others it is pale
and sparingiy applied. This in itself
would ordinarily make the Chinaman dis
trustfuI and cause him TO complain, but
when taken in connection with the omis- !
sions and variations noted, variation In
both arrangement and in wording to him
II is proof positive that there is imposi- !
ton and fraud in the goods"
The Americans should be working to
the end when their competitors in the
Chinese trade should be practically driven
away. Mr.. Crist declares that this will
be easy If this country will awaken to tho
before ii. Regarding the
cotton stuff market in China he says:
TRADE COULD BE BUILT UP
In COTTON-PIECE GOODS
sOut of a total value of cotton piece
FOODS sold in this market during 1904 of
,ver s6,50oO0O, approximately two-thirds
II the sum stated are supplied by Man
chester mills from cotton obtained in
America, shipped across the Atlantic
ocean, woven into cloth and shipped to
Northern China. That a greatly increased
share of this as well as of the entire
Chinese market can be won by American
manufacturers and held against all COM
,etitors there is not the slightest doubt;
lor is there doubt that that portion at
PRESENT going to American houses is being
;triven for by our competitors, whose ef-
orts in that direction seem to be at
ended with excellent results.
Japan, India and Holland must be in
.luded among the competitors that are
striving for commercial advantages in
he Orient Our strongest position is in
yray goods, and for the present the sale
# this commodity furnishes our greatest
opportunity, although England has not
ceased to bid strongly for restoration of
Ter lost prestige in this line. 4
There is without doubt more expendi-