The Washington herald., 1909-08-08


Recent tariff discussions IN Congress
and the changes in the schedules favor
able 10 trade in the islands gives COM
merce with the Orient added interest.
especially TO manufacturers in the South
eTn States. and a recent review OF the
trade situation in the Philippines by Hen
~ D. Wolfe. an observant business man
in Manila. is particularly interesting at
this time. A part OF his letter to the
Bureau of Manufactures in this city is
herewith given.
Prior 20 American occupation OF the
Philippine Islands in 1898 the importa-
tions OF American products were few in
number. California -four. kerosene oil, and
small lots OF canned salmon and Goldfish
were TO be found in Manila and uoilo
These goods were brought TO Manila via
Hongkong. but with the exception Of
kerosene oil formed a very small item OF
Importation. There was, however. a slight
import OF American drills. but this class
OF cotton goods was sparsely used.
When the United States army came with
Its enormous commissary and quarter
masters supplies. merchants, and store
keepers In all lines Immediately realized
the necessity OF purchasing American ar
ticles to conform to the needs and re-
quirements Of the American soldier and
civilian. In 1893 the first large lot OF
American provisions was brought 20 Ma
Mia BY an enterprising California busi-
f-
ognlzed as one Of the prominent export
and import houses in the islands
Other than provisions. the articles OF
American origin most in demand in the
early days of the regime were padlocks.
tools OF all kinds for mechanical and
field work. and general hardware. Pur-
chasers desiring the ordinary Yale pad
locks were surprised TO find that such an
article was unknown In Manila; cumber-
some house locks OF Spanish types. with
keys Weighing from l TO pounds. made
In Germany. were the only articles found
Tools for mechanics made in England and
Germany and such as no American aru-
Gan could or would use were kept in
stock. and the hardware stores catered
only 20 the Filipino trade. which demand
ed cheap and poor goods.
building ID Hardware Trade.
The advent Of American tools, brought
by the army, soon convinced dealers that
they must awaken TO the demands.
Strange 70 say. in 1899 the first direct i'm
portation Of hardware from the United
States was made by a wealthy firm OF
Chinese residents. whose establishments
as dealers I'm all hardware metals. and
ship chandlery dates from ISS2. This firm,
having been contractors for the Spanish
government. speedily assumed. and stin
retains, a very large portion Of business
with the army, navy. and insular govern
ment bureaus. Within a few years four
American firms have been established in
the hardware trade, and are doing a luc-
rative business.
Roofing Of the corrugated galvanized
iron type is extensively used in the
islands. but all of this iron emanated
from English mills until the last three
years. when the United States Steel Cor
porauOn began 10 send its manufactures
To-day its Apollo brand bids fair TO Dust
European makes from the market. Pre-
vious 20 lS9S wire nails were imported
from Germany. Austria. and Belgium,
but to-day the American mails hold sway
Mild-steel bars. rods, and plates and iron
in similar forms are still imported from
Belgium, Germany, and England, as the
quotations from these countries are re-
liable and guaranteed. and no concessions
in prices 10 favored buyers is given. as Is
the method pursued by American manu-
facturers.
The impOTtatiOns Of builders hardware
tools Of all classes, shovels, picks. and
other field implements have Increased TO
a very notable degree yearly Indeed.
were II not for the cheap articles in all
hardware lines that are made IN Europe
expressly for this market. and with which
no factory IN the United States can COM
pete, the market would be exclusively
supplied by Americans.
In the line OF window glass the Belgian
suppliers are still in the lead. as Their
product can not be competed against by
American glass makers
Paints, Oils, and VnrnIshes.
In paints. linseed oil. turpentine and
and varnish the American manufacturers
are not in evidence. with the exception OF
varnish. the superior and low grades
made in the United States having
strong foothold. So far as white and red
lead and various colors Of metallic base
are concerned, the English makers lead.
There does not appear 70 be a single
white or red lead factory in the United
States. with but one exception, that
makes unodulterated metallic base paints.
This statement Is borne out by analyses
both here and In the United States. The
American style OF packing in wooden
kegs IS valuelcss in the tropics. The wood
dries out and hoops become loose, causing
the contents % leak out and deteriorate.
Beyond the invasion Of the market by
colored prints and gray sheetings OF
American origin but little progress has
been made in the introduction OF textile
fabrics. and II seems as n no progress
can bo made The demand Is for cotton
and cotton mixtures of a light and dia-
phanOus type. 1t Is very doubtful II
American mills would make these articles.
the loom 10 weave them being special
and the profits too small, while, further
more, American mill owners will not
conform 10 the required patterns Eng
land (Ianchester). Germany. and Switz-
erland have supplied these fabrics Toy
many years, and with low paid labor and
cheap material produce them at such a
profit as would not be an inducement to
American exporters. even II the fabrics
were or could be produced IN the United
States. Such textiles as are purchased
by foreigners and the better class OF na-
tives can be made In the United States.
but prices. as compared with those OF
European makes, prohibit effective sales.
In fact, il Is surmised that even with free
entry for American products European
makes would stil hold the market The
American textile articles that have
have gained an asCendanCy are cotton.
canvas, and duck. but to-day the Japan
sse mills at Kobe and vicinity are enter
ms the market with product scarcely
setts mills.