The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-01
Electrical Firms Prepdring For
 Big South American Trade

From the New York Herald.
 Assured that South Americans are pre-
 pairing to give to this csdntry a large
 share, If not all, of the electrical sup ply business which has hitherto gone chiefly to Germany, manufacturers or electrical supplies in New York are print ing complete catalogues of their wares in Spanish and Portuguese and getting ready
 an army of salesmen to lwoop down into Argentina, Brazil and Chilli and smaller republics to the south.
 That is one of the results of the war which is prostrating ind dlstres in the European continent and swiftly opening to this country markets which have for years been practically closed to 1t. Quite as enthusiastic over the outlook as are dealers in other lines, the dealers in a. kinds of equipment for electrical improve
 ments are getting ready for what they confidently expect will le one of the gi eatest booms they have ever known. They are especially jubilant over the prospect of seeing their goods permanent- ly established in the South American mar kets Once there, the manufacturers Ge- clare. the products of the German and other European factories will never be able again to replace thent because while somewhat more costly than the European articles they are so superior that as the makers say. Ito be seen
 means to be thoroughly appreciated and purchased"
 Tne managing director of one of the
 large electrical concerns in New Yorf .lax q l- most a certainty that as result of the
 war American manufacturers of electri-
 cal goods will be called on to turn out at least from $25 100000 to so, 900 worth
 oe materials more than customary. with in the next year. This, it was said, will be only the beginning. They have
 for years been seeking to wedge them selves into the big markets in the South American republics, but have been un- able to do so with any success. Now
 they aver their opportunity has come
 "While we regret of course that there
 must be war, there is war said Claude
 F. La Shelle, vice president of the firm
 of w. F. Ostrander & Co. of No. 22 Dey
 street. And with 1t has come new op-
 rortunities for Americans in all lines
 
 line, which is electrical. There is not the slightest doubt in the world that we shall experience an era of business now such as we have not known in yee-s and the most gratifying thing about it IS that 1t will not be temporary. What we gain now we will hold. It cannot be otherwise I have had communication
 with men in various parts of South America and they all say that the demand for American goods Is already starting on
 big scale.
 'The tendency in South America has
 been, in our line. to use goods from
 here. but the Germans have Deen able to sell cheaper than we could because labor is cheaper there. and they have got the
 business. Austria has also reaped a big share of it. But Americans make better goods. The South Americans realize it. We will make the best Trices that can
 be made and there is not the slightest
 doubt that we shall very soon be getting all the South American business we can handle.
 We are already having printed full catalogues in Spanish and Portuguese and men who go to Argentina, Chilli and Brazil next week or the week after will have the catalogs to take with them That will in Itself be a big help to us. The people there want to buy from us. In fact they are in a position where they must buy somewhere outside Ger many and Austria. Here is of course where they will turn.
 "I would say also that the label Made In America will rapidly supplant tho mark. Made in Germany all througl. Bouth and Central America. It is a l oplendid opportunity for Americans and W is very evident everywhere that they ihtend to take advantage of it.
 *But 1t Ia not alone here that. as a &kult of the war, our business Is to Qow. In Asia and other parts of the