Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-04
Il Glance for american Shoes

bought almost as much, or more than it
sold, making altogether, as l have said
a foreign commerce amounting to twenty
thousand millions OF our money
This gives some idea of the opportun'
ties offered to the United States In the
increase of its shipping and banking and
trade. Our foreign commerce in 1918 was
more than $4,000, 100000 We shall have TO
increase it over 800 per cent to equal the
value OF that OF the nations at war.
Figure by the Millions.
But let us get down to brass lacks. 1
once had an interview with Mrs. Hetty
Green, the richest woman of the world
in which she told me that her mind re-
fused TO comprehend more than 81 900 900
at one time. 1t is the same here. Let us
divide the sums and look at the items
Here are some selections from the myriad
wants of the individual countries which
show just where the trade is and what
we might do.
Take this little republic or Chile, with
its population of three or four millions,
and begin at the bottom. The nation
buys its footgear from outside nations by
the thousands of pairs, and the American
shoe is 30 popular with the better classes
that out OF the supplies sold last year
more than eleven thousand pairs came
from the United States. eight thousand
from Great Britain, six thousand from
Germany and two thousand from France.
We led in the trade. but we should have
to more than double our business to sup
ply the present demand In babies and
childrens shoes we did practically moth
ing. The sales OF such goods amounted
to 10000 pairs. and of these only 1000
came from our country On the other
hand, France sold $1,000 pairs, Great
Britain $4,000 pairs and Germany 5000.
What Chile wants to know is whether the
United States can supply the lack of
$4,000 pairs OF shoes for her babies bare
feet.
There are many other goods which come
almost entirely from abroad. This is so
with toys. More than two-thirds of them
have come from Germany and France,
and the Christmas of 1914 will be lean un-
less Uncle Sam sends the playthings.
America Little Slow.
And then take our cotton and wooden
mills. We have been shipping less than a
million dollars worth of textiles per an
mum to Chile, whereas the sales of Great
Britain and India have amounted to more
than ten million dollars; those of Ger
many to more than seven millions and
OF France to something like three mil
lions. The total amount OF goods of that
kind that has come from the countries
now at war is twenty-five times as great
as that from the United States. This
means that an increase Of $500 per cent
In our sales of textiles to Chile is among
the possibilities.
1t must be remembered, however. that
the trade is a special one. These people
have their own styles and wants, and
they viii not stand being made the
dumping ground for the American fac
tories. They use all sorts OF staple
goods such as cottons, woolens, and
silks; but, at the same time, there are
many specialties peculiar to the country.
One OF these is the black shawl or man.
tas. which every woman wears in church
and on the street. The most OF these
have come from Germany, France and
Great Britain. All kinds OF passamen-
teries sold are from Germany and France,
with only a small supply from Great
Britain. The bulk OF the carpets is from
the United Kingdom and Germany, the
most OF the underwear from Germany
and the United Kingdom, and the blan-
kets are from Germany, Great Britain.
Belgium and Spain. All the cotton lace
comes from Europe and all Of the thread.
The ribbons are mostly from Germany
and France; and Japan is the leader IN
the selling Of hsndkerchiefs.
Steel Business Growing.
As to manufactures OF steel our trade
with Chile, thanks TO the steel trust, is
rapidly Hrowing. Nevertheless, the most
Of the iron and steel still comes from
Europe, and there are opportunities IN
all varieties of such manufactures. The
country is using about 5000 tons Of cor
rugated iron and 1900 tons OF galvanized
iron per year. or the first. three-fourths
has come from Great Britain. and OF the
second. Great Britain has sold 14,00O tons.
We annually sell about 1000 tons OF cor
rugatsd iron and something like 400 tons
OF galvanized iron TO Chile. In this same
line Belgium has done a big business.
could write a whole letter on the
openings for railroad materials, and that