The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-09
COMPLIANCE WITH
SOUTH AMERICAN
TRADE CUSTOMS
Paper Trade May Become
Permanent Costumers of
=. the United States
(Ry Aaaoclatad 30. )

bAIlenL or commerce by specia
agents and commercial attaches aft.
en- investigation in South America
the Orient, Africa and Australia
Information OF commercial peculiari.
ties and suggestions for meeting the
wishes OF foreign purchasers have
been prepared for the use of Am
erican business men.
Robert s. Barrett, special agent OF
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce, reported today on his
study of the paper trade in South
America. He visited every country
of that continent and listed the
equipment and requirements of $500
newspapers and printing offices. He
VIII undertake soon a trip through
this country to confer with paper
manufacturers and exporters on how
they can enlarge their South Ameri-
can business.
Compliance with South American
trade customs is all that is necessary
to make purchasers there perrnan-
emit customers Of the United States, "
Mr.. Barrett said. "EverywhAre
went I found the most cordial feel
ing toward this country and Ameri-
cans. They realize down there that
the United States entered the war
for altruistic reasons and at an
enormous sacrifice of men and
treasure. Having fought for demo-
cratic government themselves, they
admire with all the fervor of the Latin
race a nation which abandoned a. war
trade as great as ours. to fight for
world freedom.
The Mexican policy OF the United
States has removed whatever OF mis-
understanding may have existed re-
garding North American ambition in
South America Those who assert
ed the United States had territorial
ambitions have been disarmed by
our withdrawal from Vera Cruz.
Those who were jealous Of the pres
tige OF the United States have been
won over by the participation OF
South American diplomats In affairs
affecting this hemisphere.
The only thing standing in the
way of increasing our export trade
Is unfamiliarity with conditions in
South America which call for hand
ling of shipments that Is different
from our practices here"
Special Packing Required,
One such difference cited by Mr..
Barrett Is in the packing of goods
sent to the west coast of South Am
erica. Because of numerous transfers
OF shipment and lighterage in the
be protected by wooden shocks.
Paper not so protected arrives dam
aged, causing dissatisfaction and
loss. Domestic packing is adequate
for east coast shipments.
The use OF the metric system in
South America also imposes special
conditions on trade to insure con-
formity to sizes desired there. While
American publishers put their nat
paper on the basis or 500 sheets
Weighing 80 pounds the South Am
erican figures according to the num- |
Der OF grams to the square meter.
Peculiarities OF tariffs have to be
considered, large size paper, for in |
stance, taking small duty in Uruguay |
while smaller sizes pay heavy duty |
because classed as writing paper, |
which Is regarded as a luxury. In |
Chile, paper that contains is per cent |
or more Of ground pulp enters free.
There are styles Of paper desired |
in South America which have to be |
made especially for that trade, and |
which always heretofore have been /
supplied by European makers. |
Chief OF these is the so-called stamp |
ed paper, used for legal documents, |
in which the government has g.
for revenue purposes. 1t
liz handmade and watermarked with
the coat of arms Of the republic
where IL is sold.
Approval of trade acceptances by
the federal reserve board has re-
moved much of the difficulty which
formerly beset American export
trade. Long term credits generally
are required by South American
susnoS Aires Has 80 Daily Papers,
Modern equipment and alert bust
ness methods were found by Mr..
Barrett in his investigation of news
papers and printing offices. In
Aires alone there are SS daily
papers, of which IL are printed in
foreign languages, four in Italian,
.wo each in English, German and
Syrian and one in French. Until
.hree years ago, little news was re-
,eived from the United States, but
sloser relations between the two
continents and the growth Of the
2an-American idea have caused a
demand for American news which is
,eing met by increased cable serv-
ces. The South American papers
AVE a. more serious tone than those
II the United States Features" are
rarity and the comic supplement j
Unknown, but novels OF literary value
ire printed in daily installments, so
arranged in the paper that they can
'e cut out and preserved in book
orm.
Cable dispatches received by some
,apers are posted on bulletin boards,
where they may be compared with
he dispatches as printed, to show {
hat the news is genuine and was $
.iven the public without padding"
scare heads virtually are unknown.
Magnificent buildings house many
4 the newspapers, decorated in /
marbles and tiles, and containing art i
FORKS. A unique feature of one
ulldinE is a fencing room, reminder
Z the days when the code duello was
be arbitrator of personal disputes. G
/ master-at-arms still is employed I
v the paper to instruct it's staff in 5
sncing as a pleasant and profitable
:
The same paper has a powerful 4
which is uses to announce '
tartling events to the city. Until s
he European war began extra edi- S
ons were few and far between and '
he whistle seldom was heard As 2
rorld events became OF daily occur
snce, the whistle blew frequently. A
lty council antagonistic to the edi- =
Or Of the paper attempted to inn Z
ose restrictions on noises such as o
he whistle by providing a fine for !,
lowing whistles at certain hours. 2
he editor made out his check to
over q large number of fines and 7
le extra" continued to be sound !
1 for the city's benefit Finally r
le ordinance was repealed. Ii