Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01
FOREIGN COMMERCE
BUREAU HERE TO HELP
OUR MANUFACTURERS
Sample of Goods Wanted
Abroad Displayed and In
formation Given in Wide
ner Building
5000 ORDER WITH 2 CENTS

on the 18th floor Of the wldener Build
ing, in connection with the Chamber of
Commerce, there Is a department which
every manufacturer in Philadelphia who
already does not know all about 1t should
get In touch with as soon as possible for
his own interests. II is known as the
Bureau of Foreign Trade and Domestic
Commerce, and Is a direct emanation OF
the Federal Department of Commerce,
with which 1t is in direct touch.
| Every day the bureau receives from
| Washington samples of various kinds and
classes of goods with inquiries as to
where they can be obtained These in
| quiries are principally from foreign
countries, in many cases stating the
manufacturer called at this bureau few
days ago, saw some samples of goods
| he could furnish and with the aid of n
two-cent stamp secured an order for
| $500
Here are some of the samples which
came In this mornings mail:
Materials. such as tapes and metal
stffeners used in the manufacture of
corsets. The samples and inquiries came
from England, and were for 1000 and 500
gross lots.
From British Guiana came samples of
cotton piece goods. some bleached, some
unbleached and some In colors such as
are used In this country for jumpers and
overalls.
From Paraguay came samples of cotton
cloths, ginghams and other goods, all
OF which are made right here In Phila-
delphia.
There are men in charge of this bureau
who have had practical experience in ex-
plotting foreign. especially South Amer
lean, markets, and 'ho ar prepared to
give all information and assistance to
merchants and manufacturers who desire
TO go into these markets. AS there are
5000 different manufacturers operating in
Philadelphia, they find 1t a difficult mat
ter to reach all of them. These samples
are changed every few days, but new
ones for all kinds of materials are con-
stantly coming along.
The men In charge of the Bureau say
that many manufacturers are timid about
entering the foreign field. on account OF
possible difficulties in the way. This
they claim is largely imaginary and they
are prepared to show how easily any
difficulties can be overcome. The
services of the Bureau are not confined
to members of the chamber of Com
merce. but are free to all.
LACE PRICES LIKELY TO SOAR.
Imported lace goods are likely to be in
creased very largely in price In the near
future. Most imported lace goods for
fmerly came from Nottingham, England:
Calais. France; St. Gall, Switzerland, and
Plauen, Germany.
In Nottingham more than half of the
plants are closed on account of the short
age of labor. The girls formerly en-
ployed In the Nottingham lace factories
left their positions to take up work in
munition plants. where they were offered
In many cases three times the wages they
could earn at lace making. In Calais not
one-third of the lace machines are run
ming in factories os that city. Plau |, in
Germany, is practically in the same con-
dItion, and as for st. Gall, the great diff
hculty is in getting the raw mattrials.
Some shipments from st. Gall to New
York importing houses have been on the
way for three months and have not ar
rived yet, and no one knows when they
will arrive.
Since Turkey and Persia have become
involved In the European war the Oriental
rug market Is up in the air." One of
largest importers of this
class of goods says that a small guam
tity is coming from Persia. but none from
Turkey or Asia Minor. His firm, as well
as a few other large importers in New
York, had laid up large stocks, and they
are drawing on these now. Unless the
war ends soon. as suddenly as It be-
gan, he does not see where additional
supplies will come from. Nothing, he
says. can take the place OF a genuine
Oriental rug or carpet. There has been
a machine invented to weave Oriental
knot, but they are at best limitations and
are inferior to even poor handmade
Oriental rug