Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-17
Market Open to America.

Germany and Austria are both out of
the italian market for the time being.
Putting to one side Italy's present alb
normal demand for shells and powder,
and conceding that the buying power
of her people will be greatly lessened
by the war. and it still remains obvious
that the opportunity to sell goods to
her is greater than ever before in our
history. France has little to offer her
now. Englands productive powers are
greatly lessened. OF the great manu-
featuring countries the United States
alone is in a position to fill this mar
ket's needs. We cannot only take the
we can keep 1T if we know how.
Every returned immigrant is mis-
sionary for the American way of liv-
Ing" is the testimony OF american
has a kindly feeling for America. He
not only wants to live as Americans
do. but he wants to use the American
things he has become accustomed to.
Of US. If we will not he will buy
where he can. But he will never re-
turn to the scale of living he was once
accustomed to in Italy,
1 asked American business men here
and elsewhere why Americans are not
getting more of this trade-what they
had to do to get it-and how they
could hold it. Their replies may be
briefly summarized as follows:
I'VE must have more ships now. Later
We must have CHEAPER freight rates.
We must have better banking facili
ties We must change our methods,
and show some of the fiexibillty and
open-mindedness that have enabled the
Germans to seize SO great share OF
the worlds trade"
Any Ship Will Do.
1t is difficult to get more ships just
now, of course. Most ships are carry
ing goods of some sort to one or other
of the allied countries. Old iron square
graveyard for years have been resur-
rected and have sailed to handsome
profits under their cerements. One
hulk was bought in Maine for little
more than $4,000 and placed under
command of man who twenty years
ago retired from the sea to open a shoe
store. She cleared more than $4,000
on her first voyage. Another old bfig
was loaded with lumber. because the
humane owner thought that when she
sank her freight would help the crew
save their lives. She made more in
that one voyage than she had ever
earned'in year of brisk business. The
ship that can hold together for two
trips to England can sink and be
hanged to her on the third trip. The
~ y
side. Any derelict on which masts can
be stayed can get charter.
Under such conditions it is hard to
provide ships for the Italian trade. Blu,
II that trade is to be taken and held
the ships must be provided. This is not
matter of today's profit or tomor.
rows profit. 1t is profit for an entire
generation that Is involved. Shippers
may cry about the freight rates they
are forced to pay. but, after all, it i.
the Italian buyer who pays them in the
1org run. He isn't worrying about
rates. What he wants is our American
goods ! am told that practically ever,
ship that sails for Italy leaves good!
stacked high upon the pier. Sometime.
they have been left by three and foul
vessels.
How are ships to be procured a
| this time"'
No one processes to know The,
merely point to the fact that six ship
loads of American goods are wanted
here weekly, and that only two ship
loads arrive. In point of fact. NOR,
than two ships may come in eacf
week. or less. No one looked up Tho
returns The important feature is tina
consuls and business men and Italian.
of prominence in the commercial com
munity all agreed that not more thar
one-third of 1taly's orders are being
filled by America now. When the wal
pressure is over regular shipments