The conservatism which scratches the soil of Provence and Burgundy with a primitive shovel-plow, while the arsenals of the Republic are turning out some of the finest steel cannon in Europe, will be replaced by an enterprise which will stir the waiting subsoil with the plowshare The Government will have either introduced of modern agriculture. the telephone and made it as general and efficient as the telegraph now is, or it will have withdrawn its present control over all electrical apparatus and permitted the telephone to be established and used by private enterprise. Commerce, agriculture, and manufacture will be fostered, and labor, It will be recognized that a in all its forms, dignified and exalted manufacturer or a merchant can be at the same time a cultivated and accomplished man, eligible by virtue of his character and attainments to a social rank not inferior to those of the liberal professions and the army. Education will be broadened and more generally diffused; it will be directed more toward the practical every-day studies which teach young men what has been learned and accomplished outside the French frontiers since 1815, and fit them for useful productive lives. The present methods of manufacture will undergo important modifications. There will be a gradual but definite partition of the workshop from the home of the operative, an organization of manufacturing industries upon a larger and more effective scale. In discussing the marked decline in French ribbon exports during the past fifteen years, while those of Switzerland and Germany had increased, it may have been explained by American purchasers of that class of goods that they find the system of ribbon manufacture at St. Etienne too slow and cumbrous for the present requirements of business. In that once busy and prosperous French community the ribbon manufacture is so divided and managed upon so small a scale that the prompt fulfillment of large orders of uniform qualities is almost impossible. So the American or English buyer coming to the continent at the beginning of a season, goes first to St. Etienne, where he purchases a few cartons as patterns, for in taste and beauty of design the French artisans are still in advance of all rivals, and with these patterns he places his large contracts in Switzerland or Germany. All this will be changed in the future if the French ribbon-makers are wise. Instead of working his hand loom in his little third or fourth story domicile, the silk weaver of St. Etienne will labor with hundreds of his fellows in large, well-lighted, warmed, and ventilated factories, provided with motive power. The hand loom will be replaced by the power machine, and the manufacturer will be enabled to take large contracts for early delivery and of uniform quality. Without some of these improvements in organization, an adaptation of facilities to the modern requirements of trade, even the French workmen, with all their admirable skill and taste and frugal industry, will be left behind in the race. The lines of steamships which France has so judiciously fostered and which connect the ports of Marseilles, Bordeaux and Havre with all maritime countries, will no longer pour their cargoes of grain upon open wharves to be covered with tarpaulins and carted away in sacks, but will discharge them into elevators connected by rail with the interior. The great obstacle which now obstructs the progress of this country is routine, a willingness to tread patiently in the paths marked out by the fathers and grandfathers of the present generation. FRANK H. MASON, UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Marseilles, May 10, 1884. Consul AMERICAN PRODUCTS IN PALERMO. REPORT BY CONSUL CARROLL. After over a month's observation and "investigation," I have the honor to state that there appears to be a very large field in Palermo, and, indeed, in the whole island of Sicily, for the introduction of Amer ican products of nearly all kinds. Comparatively speaking, there are few American products imported into Sicily, notwithstanding exports therefrom to the United States amount to nearly one-half of the aggregate amounts to all other countries. I think this is due to the apathy or indifference of American dealers or manufacturers, or perhaps to their being uninformed as to the existence of an eligible market in Palermo for the sale of almost every conceivable kind of American goods. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, the energy and enterprise of Americans generally in all callings, their usual desire and efforts to extend and introduce their products into all countries, it seems strange that Palermo, and even all Sicily, with direct and comparatively short communication, should have alone been apparently neg lected in this respect. There are few industries or manufactories here, and these few are so crude and insignificant for a place so large as Palermo, that nearly everything is necessarily imported, and England, Germany, France, &c., are the beneficiaries in this respect. In consequence of little being produced in Sicily, everything is dear with the exception of wine, the manufacture of which even is only in its incipiency. It is believed that after defraying all expenses attending the shipment of American goods to Palermo, that they would be less expensive and more satisfactory to purchasers than are those purchased from countries previously referred to, and that this once realized by the people here, who know little or nothing practically of American productions, they would supersede to a large extent those of other countries. As previously stated, it is believed there is an eligible market here for almost every American product. But, to be more specific, it may be proper to mention that machinery, furniture of all kinds, clocks, watches, agricultural implements, cottons of the medium and lighter grades, carpets, silver-plated ware, lamps of all kinds and styles, gas stoves of various kinds, &c., would have a ready sale here. With a view of enabling those who may be desirous of extending their trade to this port of Italy to form a basis of profits and expenses, I have requested Mr. Belli, the vice-consul, to make a translation of the duties imposed by the Italian Government upon certain articles imported from the United States, which I inclose herein. It is, of course, in a brief report like this impracticable to specify all articles likely to find a market here, and it is still less practicable to go through and translate the entire Italian tariff in order to show the exact duty on each article of importation, but it shall always be a pleasure to me to hold myself in readiness to answer any question in this or any other respect, compatible with my official duties, which may be propounded by those interested. It has occurred to me that the better way, if not the best way, to introduce American goods into Palermo would be to establish a general store in which could be exhibited the various kinds of articles manu factured or produced in the United States, either sending a responsible person from the United States for that purpose or appointing one of that character in Palermo. Wood for furniture, 2 lira per 100 kilograms. Furniture of common wood, from 7.50 lira to 40 lira (according to the quality) per 100 kilograms. Guns, 600 lira per 100 guns. Revolvers, 350 lira per 100 revolvers. Beer, 15 lira per 100 liters. Beer, 15 lira per 100 bottles. Spirit, 12 lira per 100 liters. Petroleum, 36 lira per 100 kilograms. Cigars (Havana), 30 lira per kilogram. Cigars (other qualities), 20 lira per kilogram. Butter, free. Cheese, 8 lira per 100 kilograms. Lard, 1 lira per 100 kilograms. Wax, free. Honey, 5 lira per 100 kilograms. Wax candles, 15 lira per 100 kilograms. Organs for church, 12 lira per 100 kilograms. Pianos (upright), 60 lira each. Pianos, 75 lira each. Upon some of the importations there is a small municipal duty imposed in addition to the Government duty. PROPOSED INCREASE OF THE IMPORT DUTIES IN GERMANY. REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL VOGELER, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN. I have the honor to report that the German Imperial Government has just sent to the Bundesrath the draft of an amendment to the tariff law of 1879, which increases considerably the import duties on a number of articles and imposes duty on others which are now on the free list. This amendment, it is believed, will be adopted by the Bundesrath, whereupon it goes to the Reichstag. Inasmuch as the latter body contains a decided majority of members who favor a protective tariff, it is confidently asserted that the bill will be adopted by that body during its present session without material modifications, and thus become a law within a few months. It is for this reason that I deem it proper, at this early date, to report the material points of the bill, to gether with the arguments ("motives" as they are called in the parliamentary language of Germany) of the Government in support thereof. The Government say: The reform of our tariff system, inaugurated by the law of July 15, 1879, has in a general way brought about the desired results, in this, that it has not only produced a decided increase of revenue, which has greatly relieved the financial situation of the several German States, but has also strongly fostered the industrial activity of the nation. It would, however, contravene the public interests, which the tariff has to serve in the first place if legislation should, as is demanded in some parts, consider the tariff which has now been in force nearly five years as something nearly unchangeable. Such strict adherence to all the provisions of the tariff is forbidden, on the one hand, by the constant development of the manifold industries affected by the tariff; while on the other hand, in many instances, experience alone has enabled a competent judgment as to whether the provisions of the tariff of 1879 have hit the right thing (das Richtige getroffen haben) as well in the classification of the articles as in the height of the several rates. The efforts of the confederated governments to reform the tariff in this sense have not lately been successful, inasmuch as the bills of April 27, 1882, and February 11, 1883, relating to changes of the tariff laws, have not obtained the concurrence of the Reichstag. The confederated governments have therefore desisted from reintroducing these propositions. In like manner other suggested changes of the tariff are, for the time being, withheld on account of the conflict of interests concerned therein (betheiligte Interessen) and of the want of sufficient experience, which can only be obtained gradually. The present draft of an amendment, therefore, confines itself to such pressingly necessary changes of the tariff laws as to which objections of the nature above indicated cannot be urged, and the adoption of which can now be recommended without detriment to more comprehensive measures for the further development of our tariff system hereafter to be considered. The changes proposed are as follows: The duty is increased onARTICLE I. (a.) Laces and embroideries from 250 to 350 marks. (b.) Prepared ornamental feathers from 300 to 900 marks. (c.) Spirituous liquors from 40 to 80 marks. ARTICLE II. Ultramarine (heretofore free) to 15 marks. ARTICLE III. The words "watch materials and watch-works of inferior metals" are to be superseded by the words "works for other but tower-clocks and watches and watch materials of inferior metals." ARTICLE IV. (a.) Embroidered and lace dresses from 900 to 1,200 marks. (b.) Artificial flowers from 300 to 900 marks. Artificial flowers, parts thereof, from 120 to 900 marks. ARTICLE V. (a.) Watches formerly 600 marks per 100 kilograms are now to be assessed by the piece, as follows: Watches with gold or gold-plated cases 3 marks per piece. Watches with cases of other metal 1.50 marks per piece. Watches, gold or gold-plated, 1.50 marks per piece, ARTICLE VI. (a.) Variegated needle-work from 100 to 150 marks. (b.) Linen laces from 600 to 800 marks. ARTICLE VII. Removes certain articles from the free list, viz, engraved metal plates and lithographic stones with drawings, intended for impressions on paper. ARTICLE VIII. (a.) Sparkling wines in bottles from 48 to 80 marks. (At present all wines pay 48 marks.) (b.) Cacao, in beans, raw, 35 marks; roasted, 45 marks. (At present all kinds are rated at 35 marks.) (c.) Chocolate, ground cacao, and surrogates of chocolate from 60 to 70 marks. *All rates refer to 100 kilograms, equal to 220 American pounds. One mark equal to 23.8 cents. ARTICLE IX. Laces and embroideries wholly or partly of silk from 600 to 800 marks. This proposed amendment, in connection with the declaration and argument of the German Government in support thereof, although not in itself a great innovation, is nevertheless highly interesting and important as indicating a determination on the part of that Government to adhere to the protective principle in the adjustment of the tariff. Respectfully submitted, FERDINAND VOGELER, UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, Frankfort-on-the-Main, May 30, 1884. Consul-General. EXTENSION OF EUROPEAN TRADE IN THE ORIENT. REPORT BY CONSUL KIEFER, OF STETTIN, GERMANY. I have the honor to bring to the attention of the Department an article from the semi-official paper Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, copied into the New Stettiner Zeitung, of May 17, 1884, of which I inclose two copies. The article corroborates the ideas expressed in my dispatches No. 18, of March 8, and No. 32, of May 10, 1884, about the best method for the introduction of new articles into foreign countries, shows how Europeans are acting in this regard, and may prove of some interest and value to our own manufacturers. It reads, translated, as follows: A few years ago, as everybody knows, a number of manufacturers in Austria associated themselves for exporting purposes under the name of the Austro-Asiatic Company, which has sent out an expedition with samples to India. According to the reports received this expedition has met, wherever it appeared, as in Kurrachee, Bombay, Calcutta, and Colombo, with satisfactory, even in some places with really surprisingly favorable, results. It is nothing new at all that manufacturers go together and send experts as their representatives, but the fact is not appreciated by German merchants as it ought to be. Therefore it seems not to be superfluous to refer to the example given by said company, and to advise that it might be followed up. The traveling expenses and those of first setting up such an expedition, if divided among a number of partners, are according to experience not heavy at all, and will soon be refunded. Besides, it might be shown by this way that many articles of the German industries if exported will easier find a market, as it is usually expected. The imperial consuls in foreign countries, as it is generally agreed to, are very willing to give every information wanted about the countries and the people, to show the best ways and manners to be taken, to cause by their personal influence the introductions needed, and to find at the disposal of those interested all the knowledge of local conditions they have. They can aid very materially the business men, but they can sapply neither men nor their active work. This is the cause wherefore we want to recommend very earnestly the measures recently adopted by the Austrian manufacturers. I can only say "amen," and think, in my humble opinion, the same principle, if carried out in Europe, and especially in Germany, might prove equally successful here, and the same words-mutatis mutandisought to be told again and again to our American manufacturers. HERMANN KIEFER, Consul. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, |