Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-22

They are sent to all the leading newspa-
pers, and the editors quote and comment
upon them. Many of the reports te!e-
graphed to the papers from Washington,
being taken from the daily as they APP
pear, and important reports are also cabled
abroad. We aim to send the daily to
every large exporter and manufacturing
firm. We send it also to the industrial
schools. and to all parties who finan-
cially interested in foreign trade
The Government Reporters.
TELL me something about your machinery
for getting business information?'
I'VE have. you know. the American
consuls. One is located at every trade
center, and they are required by law to
respond to our inquiries, giving us such in
formation we call for. There are about
four hundred consuls, and they sent US last
year more than four thousand different re-
ports. In addition to that we watch the
newspapers and magazines, and Gull out
any authentic information of value. We
also get the reports issued by the British,
German and other governments, and make
such extracts from them as will inter-
est our people. Indeed, we try to gather
such information from every source as will
promote American trade, and enable our
people to get 1t. We aim to put the infor-
nation in the shortest possible space and
in the plainest possible way"
But is it advisable to give the reports
of our consuls to the world at large? Should
they not be sent under bond of secrecy to
our manufacturers and exporters only?
Some things are kept secret, but we be-
lieve that others can be published to add
vantage. The nations of Europe are more
scrupulously guarding their secrets from
year to year. The Germans, for instance,
now publish but few of the business sug-
gestions of their consuls. and they circulate
their trade reports only among their own
manufacturers and exporters, with injunc-
tions that they must not be sent abroad.
Great Britain which has been publishing
its consular reports, is now considering
whether they should not be withheld from
the public and the British press, strange to
say, is advocating their non-publication. We
know that our own consular reports are sent
abroad as soon as they are published. The
agents of the German government cable
every thing of value, and such cables relate
to every branch of manufacture and trade.
Some of our consuls, for instance, write
us that they hear of their own reports first
through Berlin rather than through the
United States. The cable is now largely
used in trade matters and by its means
Berlin is brought as close to Washington
as New York, Baltimore or Philadelphia"
Progressive Germany.
What nation pushes its foreign trade
best, Maj. Carson?"
1.-The Germans are far ahead Of all others
as to such matters" replied the chief of the
manufactures bureau. THE various in
dustries there are thoroughly organized as
to foreign markets and the government
does all 1t can to help them. Industrial
and technical schools have been established
with view to foreign trade. and young
men are sent abroad to be trained as COM
mercial travellers. They learn the language
of the country In which they are to work;
they study the patterns most liked by the
people and know all about credits and the
methods Of doing business. In nearly all
the foreign countries the Germans have
resident agents at the chief ports with sub
Inx@
agents often intermarry with the people
of the countries where they are stationed
The German government offers also special
inducements as to freight rates on goods
intended for export"
What other nations are increasing their
trader"
1.-THE Italians are fast coming to the front
as manufacturers and exporters. They
are sending more and more goods to South
America. and especially to Argentina and
Brazil. This is largely because there are
about million Italians in Argentina and
an almost equal number In Brazil"
Uncle Sam and the Manufacturers.
what arrangements have you for CIV
Ing information to our manufacturers and
exporters?" l asked.
I'VE are now making a classified cata-
logue of all the manufacturers and ex-
porters of the United States and we shall
have cross reference card index system
by which we can tell at a glance anything
we want to know about them. Shortly at
ter l took charge Of the bureau sent out
about forty thousand circulars to our va
rious manufacturers and men interested in
foreign trade. asking for detailed informa-
ton regarding their commodities for ex-
port, their capital. output and system Of
doing business. l have received many re-
sponses and we are tabulating and card
indexing the Information.
LAS 1t is now when we receive a report
from one Of our consuls as to a demand
for certain classes of goods we send out
letters to the persons making such goods
reaching them by our card index A
great deal Of this matter does not 60 into
the consular reports but only to the per-
son interested. For example, II we learn
Of a good market in a certain country for
boots and shoes we send it to the boot and
shoe manufacturers only, and II of a good
market for plows we send it only to the
pillow men. There is no use in circularizing
the boot manufacturers as to where to sell
agricultural implements, and the pillow
makers don't care for up-to-date fnfor-
nation about shoes. Speaking of boots
and shoes, we sometimes get up reports for
special branches of trade showing what is
doing in those branches all over the world
We did that for the boot and shoe trade
furnishing the manufacturer with a list Of
the dealers in every consular district and
describing the sort of shoes used and how
they should be marketed"
You have some special travelling
agents who go from country to country
reporting on American trade and how II
may be increased. have you notr'
Yes. There are four such men new