The Washington herald., 1909-05-17
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.


The National Association OF Manufac-
turers VIII hold their fourteenth annual
convention in New York tomorrow
Perhaps the most important thing sched-
uled 10 come before them is the question
Of building up an export trade, espe-
cially with South America It Is probable
that they win decide 10 publish q journal
devoted 70 export business, giving the
American manufacturer an advertising
medium which viii be printed in the
language Of the countries in which IL IS
70 circulate The manufacturer feels
that he has outgrown the home market,
and that he must either get new business
from other parts OF the world OF tear
down the sign Of progress above the door
OF his establishment The association has
recognized this necessity for trade ex-
tension by establishing a bureau which
serves 20 bring the seller Of this country
and the buyers Of other countries to-
gether. Il translates fifty letters into
English or from English into any other
language free Of charge for its members.
II also gives lists OF wholesale dealers,
importers, and agents n any one line for
I've countries 70 each member annually,
and investigates ten foreign firms free OF
charge for each member during each
year.
Il viii be seen from this that the as
sociation IS alive TO the Importance Ot
building up the export trade in manu-
factUres, and 20 the necessity OF united
action IN the effort 70 do so. The services
% the association II this direction are
used far beyond the amount OF the free
service rendered, the annual reports show
ing thousands OF dollars turned in from
the nominal fes charged for extra serv-
ices One OF the amusing things about
the nicely with which the manufacturer
has TO handle the Spanish and Portu-
guese correspondent is the fact that the
American is scarcely able 20 write
letter that can be Translated 10 suit
him. The English is such a direct
language that a thought literally trans
lated from il into the Spanish viii often
give Onense to Tire punctilious Castilian.
SO that II has become adviable for the
exporter who seeks trade relations with
Spaniards 70 have his letters translated
By some one whose native tongue is
Spanish rather than by some person who
has simply studied the language
ration arise from their graves they would
surely think q miracle had been wrought.
Before the civil war II was declared that
America vas first OF all an agricultural
nation, and would always remain 50. But
their sons have lived 10 see the products
OF the farm yield second place 70 the
products Of the factory, and to-day the
nation which vas 10 their minds destined
10 be the agricultural nation OF the world
has manufactures aggregating IN value
$1,000, ,00Goo0 a year, and agricultural prod
Ucts whose total value Is $500 100 oo0.
More than One-half Of the entire product
OF the combined energy Of our 5000, 90
people IS represented IN the products Of
the factories Of the country. Il is said
that the total productive capacity Of the
people Of the United States IS valued al
S2S. 90. 90 a year. OF S3fS per capita
There are 100000 wage earners engaged
IN manufacturing. They convert S9.001.-
0o0,G00 dollars worth OF raw and partly
raw material into SI5.0Oo on. .00O dollars
worth Of the finished product Il VIII be
seen from this that their gross earning
capacity is upward Of Sl.000 a year
Ore is hardly prepared for the state
ment that in point Of value OF output the
slaughtering and packing industry is the
biggest in the United States, nor for the
information that there are more men en-
Eaged in lumber and wood working than
IN any other manufacturing industry in
the country. 404.0O0 Of them being so en-
gagged The manufacture Of things 70
eat and things to wear Is about one-third
OF all the manufacturing being carried
on IN the United States Add the iron
and steel industry, and the result Is just
about one-half Of the total manufactur-
ing output.
America now stands safely at the head