Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-02-29
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 90

1t Is estimated by the Bureau OF Manu-
factures, department of Commerce
and Labor, that there are at least
10000 manufacturing concerns in the
United States directly interested In
tho export trade.
The value of the export business
increased to the grand total Of $1,000,
DOC, 900 during the fiscal year 1911; OF
which sum fully one half represented
the vaule of manufactured exports.
Secretary Nagel is of the opinion
that this expansion of America
foreign commerce emphasizes the i'm
portance of the work of the bureau
of manufactures, which, by law is re-
quired Ito foster. promote, and de-
velop the various manufacturing in
dustries Of the United States, and
markets for the same at home and
abroad, domestic and foreign, by
gathering, compiling, publishing. and
supplying all available and useful
information concerning such indust-
ries and such markets., and by such
other methods and means as may be
prescribed by the secretary, or pro-
vided by law"
American manufactures are relying
on the bureau more and more for in
formation in regard to general trade
conditions in foreign countries; tariff
rates and regulations; their financial
and industrial status; methods of
developing business; suggestions for
packing; lists of foreign importers, OF
which there are 1"5,000 recorded;
lists of foreign newspapers and trade
journals in which to advertise, and
other details essential to an intelli-
gently directed and organized effort
to invade overseas markets. Increas-
ing interest Is also shown in the re-
ports, special monographs, confiden.
tial bulletins, tariff pamphlets, and
trade directories issued by the bureau
respecting investigations of goreign
markets. specific Industries, contracts,
concessions, and foreign and home
trade opportunities.
Fully 10000 notices Of specific op-
portunities for the sale Of products in
foreign countries have recently been
published by the bureau and these
have brought millions of dollars in
increased trade to American trades.
men. Hundreds of letters from firms
are on file in the bureau and these
state that their following-up such
trade opportunities has brought or
ders for their goods from all parts of
the world.
The outgoing correspondence Of
the bureau has grown from 23,410
letters in 1910 to 40,140 In 1911, an
increase of 20 per cent. and the dis
tribution Of its publications has been
c0rrespondingly increased. Letters
received in June 1910 numbered 1892;
in June 1911, 4.3as, gain Of nearly
40 per cent. Trade opportunity let
tiers numbering 20,043 were sent out
in 1911, as compared WITH 1887 in
$780,
Recently congress modified the law
in regard to the service of the COM
mercial agents of the bureau, per-
hitting them to extend their investi.
cations to the United States and it's
insular possessions. Thi 8 is mater
tally EXCHANGING the usefulness OF
these trade experts as it is enabling
them to make effective the results
of their researches, not only by writ.
ten reports to the bureau, but by the
direct and personal contact with the
commercial associations and manu-.
lecturers interested in the subjects of
their studies, and It Is also helping
to provide the bureau with definite
knowledge of momestic conditions re.
lated to its work. Already number
Of these experts are at work In this
country visiting the great manufac'
turing centers interested In the pro-