Evening star., 1914-11-23
GIVES BUSINESS WORLD
ALL TRADE INFORMATION
Chamber of Commerce of U. S
Working With Departments
Here for Its Members.

Through close cooperation with de-
partments of the federal government
here the Chamber of Commerce OF the
United States is keeping virtually the
entire business community of the coun-
try fully informed of all Developments
of the European war that reflect direct
ly upon the commerce of the United
States. domestic or foreign.
The national alliance of more than 500
commercial organizations was created
early in 1912. The membership OF the
chamber stretches into every nook and
corner of the country. Included in its
500 allied organizations are great and
small chambers Of commerce In every
state and every commercially important
city of the Union. Their total lndl-
vidual membership passes the quarter
million mark and every line OF indus
try in the country is represented
With the outbreak of the European
war the need of specific information as
to its probable and actual influence on
business conditions was very urgent.
Under the direction of Elliott II. Good
win, general secretary of the natlonai
chamber. the clerical force already or
Eanize6 here to form clearing house
of national and international informa-
tion on business conditions was aug
nented and its energies directed TO
meeting the emergency.
Bi-Weekly Bulletins.
The bi-weekly bulletins sent out to
members We're increased in scope. They
took up. subject by subject. problems
of neutrality regulations, contraband
procla1nations by warning powers, con-
gressional enactments to meet war
emergencies as they developed. the
banking situation. the cotton crisis and
every new factor affecting business
brought up by the war. Twice week
members were advised specifically OF
Developments i'll each case.
The chamber has a force of trained
men at work among the departments
following up every clue to information,
anG they are meeting with ready as
sistance from department officials.
Some of the information sent out is
of "A yery confidential character. and to
protect it publication of the bulletins
is forbidden.
Now a systematic study of the for
eign commerce of the belligerent pow
ers to determine just where openings
lie for increasing American foreign
trade has been begun. Additional bull
letins are being prepared. country by
country, showing, for instance, just
what articles comprised Germanys
trade with her present enemies or with
neutral countries now cut off from
her markets. Exhaustive investigation
of American. British. German and other
statistics for preceding years is being
made, and lengthy comparative tables
have been issued. The work is still
going on, and as it progresses manu-
facturers of any article will be able
to see at a glance just what oppor-
tunities await them in any country.
Charts Of Value.
Paralleled almost day to day with
of the financial situation
in foreign countries, showing where
exist and their duration.
what embargoes on expectation have
been declared, and to what extent war
have interfered with com
merce in any direction. the charts are
said to have proved of a most il
character to the American
business world. They bring down to
specific details the broad inquiries of
the government.