South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-14
SOUTH AMERICANS
ASK FOR CLOTHES
Immediate Market for Ready
Made Article is Announced
BY u. S. Department of
COmmerCe-NeW Field.
BY VICTOR ELLIOTT.

WASHINGTON, oct. 14.-An i'm
mediate market for American ready
made clothing has developed in Cen
tral and South American countries
through the cutting off Of the Euro
pean supply on account of the war.
Correspondents of the department of
commerce, writing from various La
tin-American cities report that there
is at present a large demand for
clothing of all kinds, but particularly
OF cotton mixed materials.
American manufacturers have all
ready undertaken 10 develop these
markets in a small way and their
success is encouraging them TO ex-
tend the business In Cuba partic-
ularly American ready made clothing
Is very favorable known. \ number
OF manufacturers are now in this
field, but there is room for more.
Chambray, khaki and drill skirts,
denim Overalls. khaki and drill trous-
ers are imported by Cuba from the
United States. But the trade is not
confined to the cOurser kinds OF
clothing. There is considerable de-
mand for the finer grades of cotton
goods, and clothing made of cotton
and silks and cotton and wool. as
well as ready made clothing OF good
quality for women.
This is true of practically all the
Latin American countries and a very
favorable opportunity for capturing
the bulk of this trade is now omen to
American manufacturers. In many
sections including some large cities
n IS difficult 10 get any kind of a pre-
sentable suit for less than so Uni
ted States currency. Tailor-made
clothing is worn by all the poorest
people. Clothing such as can be
bought in the United states for SIS
10 $50 is practically unknown. III is
believed that a large demand would
develop for our ready made clothing
after the people became convinced
that they could save money by pur-
chasing American goods.
American ready-made shirts. hats.
neckware, hosiery and under gar
ments should find ready sale also.
Before entering this trade. mer-
chants should give close study to the
methods of handling ii. Information
concerning the tariffs and the condi-
tions imposed on merchants engaged
in the export trade can be had from
the bureau of fOreign and domestic
commerce in washington. but the
necessity for personal investigation
10y representatives of American man
ufaCturers should not be overlooked.
Among the important details to be
observed is the exact description of
the goods shipped. An instance of
some of the requirements is that on
goods shipped to Cuba. the duty on
ready-made clothing is based on the
duty of the component material
which is determined by the thread
count. SurtaXes are provided for adj
mixtures of wool, silk and other ma
terial. as well as for coloring or dye
ing.
Ready-made clothing generally
bears on every garment q reference
mark or number. The invoice should
contain separately the net weight of
garments Of each mark or number.
as well as the gross weight of the
packages. This is necessary because
certain fabrics that may appear to
be in the same class. actually have
more or fewer threads than goods of
similar appearance I'm the custom
house. 1t is by closely following all
the requirements of the trade that
delay and dissatisfaction may he
avoided and these markets rapidly
developed.