New Britain herald., 1917-03-29
BULGARIAN TRADE.

' xy8
 After the war is over American
 manufacturers will have q new fold
 for operations in Bulgaria. This is
 the opinion of Consul General Mur-
 phy who writes from Sofia of advan-
 tages that are bound to come in the
 way of American merchants if they
 but take advantage of certain obvi- ! ous opportunities. One effect of the
 war will be the widening of Bulgarian
 influence throughout the Balkan
 states. By. it's very position this coun- ] try offers a field of possibility for
 trade equal to some of those in the South Americas. We'll established
 bureaus have already been set up in
 Sofia by the ustro-Hungarians and
 the Germans for promotion of closer economic relations between those peo- pie and the Bulgarians The import arce of obtaining Bulgarian trade has not been overlooked by the Germans or those associated with them. That the war has put a stop to a complete
 inroad by these people should prove an advantage to manufacturers on this side of the Atlantic.
 According to the Consul General at Sofia, the Bulgarians have already
 stated their intention to cultivate
 closer commercial relations with the
 United States. Practically no Ameri-
 can goods are offered for sale on the
 Bulgarian market. There has never
 been pair of American made shoes
 sold in the stores of Sofia. What American machines are found there
 have been made by one concern in this country. After the war, reports
 the Consul General, machinery of all kinds will be needed throughout Bull
 garia. The demand will be so great
 that not even Germany and Austria Hungary will be able to, supply the
 needs in this direction. This because
 they will be too busy supplying their own, demands. The trade will be
 there. It will require only systemat- ic effort to get 1t. Enterprisifg Amer
 jean young men who are desirious of
 carrying the goods of America
 throughout the world have here an unprecedented opportunity. At pres ent the Bulgarians are paying high
 prices for inferior Russian goods.
 Yet, according to the consular re- porh if American manufacturers and shippers want Bulgarian trade, they will have to pursue totally different
 policy from that heretofore followed. More liberal terms must be offered,
 and vexatious delays in delivery
 avoided. Germany and Austria usual ly offer three and four months cred it after delivery. and longer if neces- sary. Their travelling men go through Bulgaria with regularity. Austrian
 capital some years ago esta blished the
 Banque Balkanique in Sofia with branches in the principal cities of Bulgaria, while German capital founded the Banque de Credit. Both are strong financial institutions. It is now announced that the Deutsche
 Bank of Berlin is soon to open, a branch in Sofia, while a German newspaper is to be launched there. A complete printing and publishing plant is now en route. Sofia, in all probability. is destined to be an inn portant capital. Its geographical po- sition, about the center of the Balkan States, and it's extensive railroad con- nections fit it to dominate the trade of tho entire Balkan peninsula.
 The Consul General believes thse the establishment of an American Bulgarian bank, which has been talked of in business and financial circles for year or more. would con- siderably increase American prestige. Such bank, capitalized at 20.000,O00 francs, would help to gain for the United States a great part of the Bull garian trade. It would be a powerful
 factor in the progress of the country, the extension of its railroads, the de- velopment of it's mines of coal, iron, copper, manganese, lead, zinc, and Ignite and the improvement of it's
 harbors, towns, and cities. One-half of the capital necessary for the estab- lishnent of an American- Bulgarian
 bank capitalized as indicated is al- ready within call in Sofia. and such an
 institution would undoubtedly do a,