The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-04
AMERICANS AVOID
FRENCH EXPOSITION
Transportation Difficulties
One Of the Chief Drawbacks
to /. :. Manufacturers.
EXHIBITS SOLD IN route
sp-cici Correspondence 10 Tpr srx

FAIRS. MAY i7-in view Of tho fact
that SO many important American
financial and commercial organizations
are nursing ambitious schemcs ~ con-
ouertng y share Of tho foreign markct in
the reconstruction period following the
war I. IL unfortunate that u better
American representation Vas no; pro-
cured for tho interesting French Recon-
struction Exposition. La Cite Recon-
otituee. which opens In tho Tuileries
Gardens on May - under tho patronage
OF the Government.
With the opening a week Of not a
single American exhibit Is In place.
There have been several artificial difh-
oulties about procuring American ex-
hibits IN addition to the traditional
American reluctance TO take advantage
Of the opportunities Of foreign markets.
The question OF freights. primarily, has
doubtless prevented many from reserving
space In the large-too larGe-American
pavilion built on the terrace OF the
Ra rdens overlooking tho Rue d" Rivoli.
The failure Of the American Chamber of
Commerce in Paris to back the enter
prise with It's official stamp OF approval
was also a dcterring factor.
Lack of funds on the part OF the
French promoters OF the exposition and
on the part of the various American
individuals In Paris has also prevented
many manufacturers from taking part
In the show. More recently the pro-
hibition by the French Ministry OF In
terror of the Importation OF many
articles suitable for the exposition.
notably automobile trucks. has knocked
out many IF the most Interesting ex-
hibits.
object Of the Es position.
The plan OF the exposition dates from
about n year ago m was more or less
the result Of an agitation In the press
by hygicnists and architects of "A mod
ern turn OF mind in favor OF the total
new reconstruction of the devastated
wal areas rather than the mere rcplac-
Ing OF old. worn out things by their
copies. II was urged that now was an
excellent time to modcrnize French
cities and villa yes which had needed re-
construction sadly for a half century
The Government gave It's approval.
Edouard Thou. tho director OF the In
ternational Exhibition OF Mechanical
Arts and Industries at the Grand Palais
In 1919 was put In charge of the work,
and finally. after Maurice Damour's
study of the situation as regards the
necessity for American imports IN re-
Constructive material. Henry {. Long. an
American business man resident I'm Paris,
was asked to conduct the American sec
ton Of the exposition.
Dr. e. ". 4 Nedltz. commercial at
tache OF the American Embassy, has
worked indefatigably in the interest Of
the exposition and IL il to him aud 10
Mr.. Long that the credit for what has
been accomplished IL due. The number
of American exhibitors is between thirty
and forty and 1t is probable that as
many more will succeed in getting their
samples TO Paris before the close of the
AvpaGS,iop nm tnyias %, feV Ameri-
car shipments have been held up on ac-
count of the strictsess OF the American
authorities in d~iscouraging the sending
O 4 any articles which might he construed
O. contrahand of war.
Perhaps the chief exhibitor Ia the
Southern Pine Association, which has
sent over a representative to place OF
show an interesting collection Of al
sorts Of lumber and wooden articles
wood paving no ks. shingles, interior
woodwork for decorating, flooring, rail
way ties. SC. The orders already taker
In France by the associations repre-
sentative include "A million railway ties
with the understanding that his company
can procure larger contracts II the ties
stand the soil and climate. as we'll as
for large orders Of other wooden ma
terial.
The Underwood Typewriter Company
which has q large local establishment. Is
exhibiting handsomely. The Nationa
Cash Register Company, as well a:
many other large American machine anC
tool companies with branches IN Paris
IL prevented from showing by lack o.
stock. caused by the freight situation
Several portable house concerns hav,
sent over large stocks OF samples. !
number Of roadmaking machinery com
panies have reserved space.
The Chicago Bridge and Iron Work
In showing steel towers for railway an,
municipal use. The j /. Case Farm Ma
chinery Company is showing In impor
tant proportions. hut the Internationa
Harvester Company is prevented from
taking part by absence Of stock and tn
existence Of heavy orders consuming al
the goods IL can get through for tn,
next several months. The Allied Ma
chinery Company has a good exhibit.
Many concerns shipped SO late tina
their things will not be In place bcfor'
the middle of June at the earliest. II /
possible tina some trucks will bc shown
despite the decree, the Packard. White
Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, United an,
Federal companies having taken space
II is in,cu TO get trucks from por
to Paris, however,
Exhibits sold on the Road.
Recently one company sent it's mel
70 Havre to set VI its trucks and rui
them down 10 Paris under their owl
power. There were fifty of them. but no
one got through, all being sold on tn,
spot TO buyers who interrupted tn
caravan on the road.
The Vulcanite Roofing Company has a
important exhibit. and the Avery Com
.pany OF Peoria. Ill. manufacturer o
arm tractors, is showing some samples
An Industrial commission from tn
American Manufacturers Export Asso
Ciation viii conc over 10 inspect tn
show In June and viii remain into Jul
In order to gain an idea Of the recon
gtructive needs OF the country by
thorough visit TO such affected parts n
are not behind the German lines, u
10 be hoped they will carry back wit
them much needed suggestions to Amer
Scan exporters TO print their catalogue
for France In French. to quote prices /
francs, TO procure reliable local repre-
sentatives and to pack their goods afte
the French manner. These are all littl
things and We're tine strength OF the GeI
mans, who held their own in foreig
trade OF original conditions Of such n
~unfavOrahle character az would hay
driven eff even the most daring c
American merchants.
The French part OF H.. exposition
given over chiefly to plans Of cities an
buildings and to samples Of cheap typ
Of building cnnsi ructiOn, \ portabI
church IL one ~ the most curious g,
hibits.
The Belgian Government, through Il
We'll known English authority on India