The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-06
COMPETING FOR
Panama \ TRADE |
European Dru,nners Have Out
done Americans on Istl1nus
thus FIJI.
WHAT CONSUL SUGGESTS
---- sa "
Agents From United States Must
Study Conditions With
Greater Care.

WASHINGTON D. C., May zs-consui Ael-
logg has prepared and forwarded from Coion
a report on trade conditions on the Atlantic
sido OF Panama, as follows.
Tho Colon merchants; who are or v 81 9is
American Floating Exposition with considerable
interest. However,. such trade effort must
as as oIreua tha q has come and gone I'M
ports from the United States consist OF shoes
straw hats, rubber artioles. lard canned goous,
troieum. monographs sewing machines, yp'.
writer's machinery, turpenttnc, rosn, furnl-
From Germany tho Panama people uro buy;
Ing ohinaware fancy goods cutlery ename ,nsl
ware nardware ronnonsery arus uao as
fancy goods. and furniture. From China ana
Japan they buy Silks, screens. fans. curtains.
clothing, ine cotton goods. haberdashery.
hosiery. millinery, straw hats. winos, liquors,
cutlery. and furniture. Great Britain sells
liquors. tobacco IN tins, Hhoos. felt hnts COZ,
ton and Teolen gods rope onoooi ana
small share is divided between Great Britain
1 Un,ed aiss III 1uk p cent
total Imports come from various other coun-
tries. some Of which are coal from AUS Aus
chandlse from italy, spain. ana Belgium. .,
Tine duties pesed Par gss
liter COS 9uaIts9 on rum. brandy. sin a n:
500 beer. so.io; condensed liquids. ,7:5e. Inn
oaa, t1ee 3, be ana dny
funded. Mineral and gaseous waters pay ~
per cent sal; pays 81 per auinsmi go pounos'.
The following articles are admitted free OF
duty: Animals for breeding purposes. ice.
ms ch vol l,u
kilograms, machines for making roads, cnrs
and material for railroads. telegraph ma. ma
bouts intended for navigation In the waters rs
Of the REPUBLIC OF Panama and materials fos
their construction. printing. bookbindlng, and
l!thographing materials. "a
import duty is 10 per cont. ad vnlorem. lrave!-
Ing salesmen must take out a license at q cost
OF sl25o before they can DO business here.
Fifteen such permits were granted in 1904
Obstacles to American Success.
American manufacturers have been handi-
capped ca IN the past f0m various some
American goods are frequently received In
damaged condition. due to cheap and careless
Americans endeavor ;a-sell articles made to
conform to the sellers ideas instead OF tho
buyers ideas.
credit to trustworthy par.ios. Notwithstanding
high interest can be collected
lack OF packing goods in packages OF
convenient size and shape suitable for trans
portat ton by pack mules.
a lack OF travelling statesmen who can speak
the native language and who posscss the pa
tIence to hunor and cater the dilatoiy.
methods and sentimental nature OF the Latin
American merchant if aEa
The lack OF large merchant marine which.
as carriers, become advertisers; ns MI ex-
ample Of this, one must point to what is
being done by England. Germany. and France.
might sum the situation up us told me by
American who has spent several years In
Latin America, thus: THE drummer must first
make tho acquaintance OF the merchant make
probably several visits In many days in
an endeavor to catch him In the proper frame
OF mind, then get the merchant interested In
the line OF goods. and lastly acquaint him with
where the goods be Procured AS the
European drummcrs especially the Germans.
French. and Italians, have made study OF
conforming TO these conditions. they have
evidently very successfully outdonc the Amer.
lean drummer SO far. The general rncrcnanGlse
retail business In this district is handled by
the Chinese. who have bonanza.
Exports and Steamer Lines.
The chief exports OF this district are ba-
nanas, cocoanuts ivory nuts turtlc-shelS.
woods (mahogany lgnum-vltae etc), crude
drugs. crude rubber and hides. The greater
part OF these articles are shipped to the United
States. There Is an export tax precious
metals OF per cent. There are four lines
OF steamers plying between the Atlantic ports
of Panama and tho ports OF tho United
states. They are the Royal Mall Steam
ship Company. the Hamburg American Steam
ship Company. the Panama Railroad Steam
: l. Ty,l