The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-24
AS|AT|C TURKEY
 IS GOOD MARKET Steamship Companies Seek
 Southern Ports SOUTHERN GOODS DEMANDED Report of Charles M. Pepper Indicates That This Section Could Find
 Ready Market for Exports
SOUTHERN GOODS DEMANDED

NaSnlnEtOn June 23.-ASlaIlc turkey IS an excellent market for southern products, according to the report prepared on trade conditions there by Charles M. Pepper the special agent of the department of commerce and labor. The report, after giving general information in regard to the geographical relation of the Asiatc provinces and their products and imports, takes up the question of steamship service. Though the special agents goes into trade conditions, was limited to Asl- atic Turkey and therefore the exports of the Levant, the question of the transpor- tation facilities includes the Mediterran- can, and MT. Pepper says the leading im- ports from the south into the Mediterran- can countries and the Levant are raw cotton rosin, phosphates, pitch pine, to- bacco, sponges and cotton fabrics. Some of the steamship companies, particularly those with headquarters in the Adriatie, have sought to develop direct trade with the southern ports.
 In their view. the saving of railroad freghts would be considerable if they re- ceived the cotton and other products at the ports nearest where the crops are raised. Notwithstanding that, a direct service is maintained with one or two of the southern ports, these steamship companies have not received the encour- ageemnt which they hoped in the way of assured cargoes at definite dates.
 This is especially noticeable since both Austria and Italy are increasing their transportations of raw cotton and the in- ,,,i, growing At some seasons the shipments of agricultural machinery from south- err ports to the Levant and the Black Sea are large.
 On Immigration.
 Attention is directed in the report to immigration from Syria and other Medi- terranean countries. The value of immi- grafton in stimulating commerce is recog- nized by the steamship companies. It is noted that owing to the large number of which return to their native countries for temporary visits "a demand is created for American products.
 With reference to the articles of Amer ican manufacture as demanded in Asi- atic Turkey MT. Pepper says that cotton
 
 that southern mills have not taken full advantage of the opening they secured some time ago. Manchester still holds the bulk of trade, though Italy is now a competitor.
 All the European countries appear able to undersell the American mills and they take more pains to meet the local pecu- liarites. limitations known as Ameri- cans, which are European counterfits, are now quite common. Italian cottonades have been very successful. The estab- ishment of permanent sales agents by the American mills to compete with Manches- ter in Italy is suggested.
 In referring to cotton seed oil, the inl- portation of which, in the crude form is prohibited, the report says that this should be valuable commodity, since the large majority of the 100000 inhab- itants of Asiatic Turkey are Mohamme- dans, who will not touch pork products. France is allowed to export sesame from Marseilles. although sesame is open to all the objections that are urged against cotton seed oil
 Bagdad Railway.
 Tn the general information presented concerning the products of imports of Asiatic Turkey and the probability of development which will increase imports Mir. Pepper briefly describes the Bagdad railway. which is ultimately to reach the Persian gulf and which now extends more than 5C0 miles beyond Constantinople This road of the state will open up a large area of agriculture and probably mining. The Redjaz railway from Dana scus to Mecca though it Is intended for the Moslem pilgrims, also will result in in- creased trade.
 Great importance is given to the intro duction of electricity which is very re- cent. Damascus now has trolley sys- tenn of street cars and is lighted by cleo tricity while concession has been grant ed for the electric lighting of Beyrout. 1t is thought that the opposition of the Turkish government to the use of tele- phones which up to this time has kept out all telephone systems. will not be indefinitely persisted in.
 In regard to the foreign trade of Asl- attic Turkey Mr. Pepper says that it ranges from 100,000.000 to 100000, of which sGO,O00, GOO to s65, ,000.O00 is imports. Though the United States buys s6.000,000 to s7000.0o0 from Asiatc Turkey, it's sales do not average more than $500 900 annual ". The exports of cotton manufactures In recent year were s10700O. Sugges- tions are made as to the best means of increasing the sales of American goods and the articles which will find the best market many of these suggestions apply especially to the south.