The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-22
TRADE IN PERU
STATES Is A DOM
lNANT FACTOR.
Several Products Wherein American
Trade Can Be Still Further
Extended in Iquitos.

Consul Charles C. E%berhardt furnishes
the following information covering the
articles of import most commonly used
in the lquitos district of Peru, and the
products wherein American trade can
still be further enlarged:
There are Il few articles in which the
United States, If not having a complete
monopoly, is so far In advance of other
countries that there can hardly be said
to be any comparison, such as, for ex-
ample, sewing machines, and cheap rifles.
1t is remarkable the extent to which these
articles are used here and the out-of-the-
way places TO which they have forced
their way, for there are very few huts of
even the poorer class of rubber workers
where some, IL not all, of these articles
may not be found as l have discovered
by my visits to many of them. during
trips along various rivers of this dis
trict.
Il have always been received with sim
pie but genuine courtesy by these people,
whose garments have usually been made
on an American sewing machine. an
American machete was largely instrument
tai in forming the clearing in which the
house was located, the home itself, SEEM
ingly,. perfumed for the OCCASION with
American Florida water, and such meats
as were served at the table having been
imported from the United States, unless
some animal killed in the neighboring
forests with an American rifle supplied
fresh meat. Even American beer is TO
be mad at some of the houses, although
such a luxury is not common, cheap
french wines usually being used, If any
departure is made from the common
water, staple coffee, or the ever-present
"cachassa," n native alcohol.
Our exporters of these articles are TO
- congratulated on the firm hold their
goods have obtained IN this district, a hold,
which, when once. established, Is hard to
break. For example, American soap Of the
common grade for household purposes is
used almost exclusively. Time and again
attempts have been made to introduce
other brands. but without success. The
people have tested the brand. ii gives salts
faction, they want no other, and as long
AS American manufacturers keep the ar
ticle up TO its present standard and price
there seems little likelihood of any other
make of soap being able to compel sue
cessfully with it. 1t is to be hoped that
other American houses, wishing TO extend
sales OF their goods into this district. may
use The same effective and successful
methods as the importers of the articles
mentioned, though it is to be remembered
that the same persistence with which the
native clings to the demonstrated service
able soap of American make will be>met
in regard to German or English articles
unless an article just as good or better, at
competing prices, cnn be made to supplant
The styles of houses in this district run
from the primitive hut of the poor native
to the home and business house of the
iifll tiitIfndHls anu tAttDlItIldl ODDDlIIl11IN
exists for the Introduction of some of the
materials of which these buildings arc
made. CorruRated-irou roofing, or some
roofing with less heat-attracting qualities.
which will last as long and can be sold
at competing prices, and cement. which
enters so largely into the construction Of
the floors and sides, cover quite effectively
all the materials which are used in the
construction of the houses. I'm the supply
Of which we might hope to compete. al
though certain grades and kinds OF Ameri-
rHn lumber are used In CDmn of tho haftoys
buildings, and there should continue to be
n limited market for such goods for years
to come, Ginss IS rarely used, though the
demand is increasing, but, knowing the
reputation of the American shipper for
poor packing, should hesitate to recon-
mend that he attempt to@supply any part
The homes of the poorer classes. which
are by far the most numerous. are. of
course, very scanttly furnished, and about
the, only articles used in such homes
which our exporters could hope to supply
arc candles, hammmtocks, and possibly cheap
iron bedsteads; These furnishings are now
being supplied mostly by Germany and
England, though the United States fur
nishcs most of the lanterns and oil which
are not infreqnently used; also cheap
chairs, whom such luXuries are INDUCED in.
TO replace the crude. homemade benches.
The table service Is of the chean grades
of cutlery and glazed porcelain dishes, and
2, good business might be worked up in
these articles.
In Iquitos most Of the homes of the bet
ter class are lighted by electricity, though
lamps are also very commonly used
throughout the district. and firms export
ing lamps should find this a desirable
field. Chairs Of both medium and good
grades, without upholstering of any Kind.
should find a ready sale II they can be
placed In I1uitos at prices to compete
with the German and French makes Gusil-
ally OF bent, black wood now generally
used. The same Is true Of %settces, la
blcs, etc.
There Is no demand for carpets. and
while pianos arc used In most of the best
homes ] should not consider the market
for these a particularly good one. There
10 a good demand for phonogrnphs, nearly
Anything which tends TO relieve the mo-
notonY Of their secluded life in the forests
Is welcomed by the inhabitants, and very
few homes Of either the rich or the poor
arc to be found without accordeons and
concertinas. The Germans have Il prac-
tical monopoly Of the latter trade, giving
particular attention, in the making OF
the joints are made, with some preparation
specially calculated to Withstand the hui
nudity Of the damp tropical climate.
AS Iqnitos Is situated In the heart Of
tho tropics. thefe is little demand for any
but the very iighteSt clothing, and that
worn by tho common people Is almost en-
tirely made up by the women from goods
imported from Germany, England and
France. the two former countries furnish
ing the bulk of The coarser and cheaper
grades and the latter the finer goods. So
$50
cottons imported are coarse drills. which
are becoming popular because of their
lasting qualities. even though higher priced
than those of other countries.
while many OF the poorer class still go
b~arohelded and barefooted. there is never
theless a large and growing demand for
hats and shoes. TIT cheap straw hat,
sailor fashion, which can be sold nero at
retail for from 81 to 50 gold. Is the popular
grade. American shoes are being slowly
introduced, but the people here, in com
-, NTH na.uf Gnaarfah-A "a piaan nc Efana
to prefer the lighter-weight. pointed
French styles to the heavier American
article. Several of our export shoe houses
are awakening to tho demands of Spanish
America in this line OF goods, and ara
finding a good market at other ports.
| There seems no reason why they should
not repeat their successes here IN Iquitos
II they employ similar methods and furnish
what the people want.
Except for the cheaper grades there is
very little ready-made clothing of any
kind on the local market, the finer gar
mcnts for women nearly all coming froiI.
Franco while the men have their suits