Evening star., 1923-02-04
Up-tO-the-Minute Information
For American Export Traders

Uncle Sam has set up in the Depart
ment of Commerce a world trade
directory for the guidance of Amer
lean manufacturers and exporters.
which already approximates and
which Is destined to rival the elabo-
rate commercial intelligence service
of the British department of overseas
trade in London. AS a result of re-
organization and improved detail
work already we'll started, this serv-
ice. beginning with the new fiscal
year July l next, under a special
appropriation, granted for the first
time, will be able to give American
business much more exact and valu-
able guidance along commodity lines.
This world trade directory isn't a
look like a city directory. 1t con-
sists of printed forms, filled in on a
typewriter, giving just that specific
and detailed information about thou
sands of firms, in all parts of the
world that the manufacturer and ex-
porter In the United States wants to
know before he makes his overseas
connections. Briefly, it gives him
iimpartial reliable information as to
position to serve his interests" says
Herbert w. Gruber. who was selected
by Secretary Hoover to head up this
important work.
Information Checked Up.
The information typewriter into
these forms is supplied by the con-
sular offices of the State Department
after personal investigation in each
case. This information is checked
up against reports received by indi-
yidual American concerns from their
commercial representatives and again
with the experiences of American ex-
porters, so that 1t represents the low
down" and INSIDE stuff" on practi-
cally every trader or firm through :
out the world, in all countries, who is
looking for an opportunity or who is
fitted to do business with American
overseas traders.
This world trade directory repre-
sents the work of the consular service
of the State Department and the com :
mercial intelligence division, since 1t
nuts American firms in touch with
foreign buyers. To this commercial
intelligence division all of the com
modify divisions in Secretary hoover 5
scheme Of reorganizataion ana an " %
the district and cooperative offices or
the bureau must go to get for any
American firm a report on any concern
in any part of the world on any indus
try or commodity.
The commercial intelligence DIVISION
last year received 10000 of these spe-
cifc reports on individual concerns
To date there has been more than
as 900 received and they are coming
in at the rate of 400 or 500 a week.
After these reports are received on
Individual concerns they are assem-
bled by commodities and mlmeo-
graphed. so that an exporter or lum-
ber. for example. can receive from the
department a list of the reliable
houses all over the world prepared 10
handle lumber shipments.
Lists Being Expanded.
Having prepared such commodity
lists with the limited information
available, the commercial intelligence
division Is now expanding these lists
to carry such further detailed infor-
nation as would prove of the most
value to Americans dealing in those
commodities. For example, the first
Of these commodity trade lists is on
automotive products, giving the name
and address of the dealer in any
country. his nationality, the vehicles
handled, the selling organization,
storage facilities, service facilities,
yulcanizing facilities and side lines.
This work on automotive products is
we'll under way, with more than 1000
reports in carrying this detailed in
formation Similar reports on the
lumber industry are being received