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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
Trade in Latin America.
WHY
EUROPE
SUPERSEDES
US
IN
THOSE
COUNTRIES—AMERICANS CAN BUILD A BUS-
INESS THERE
HOW TO GO AEOUT
LACK. OF INTEREST
PERS—THEY
IN THE
DO NOT KNOW
IT.
NEWSPA-
FIRMS
HERE—SOME MIGHTY INTERESTING
FACTS PRESENTED IN A LOGICAL
WAY BY A NEWSPAPER MAN
W
WHO WRITES TO " T H E MU-
.7^
SIC TRADE REVIEW."
*
"V
HILE seeking to extend their com-
mercial operations in different parts
of the globe, it seems to us that the man-
ufacturers of the United States are over-
looking the vast undeveloped field which
lies in the countries south of us. We have
received the following communication from
a friend of ours, who is a newspaper man
occupying an important post in the City of
Mexico. He writes: "I am astonished that
there is not more interest in the United
States respecting these countries; but this
lack of interest is perhaps why European
countries like England, France, Germany,
etc., get most of the trade thence, and if
the American newspapers were to publish
more and more exact news from Latin
America these countries would publish more
news from the United States, and the people
of these countries knowing the United
States better, and seeing that the United
States takes an interest in them, would re-
ciprocate by trading there. For instance, one
can go into any bank in Mexico, Central
or South A merica and buy exchange on even
the smaller towns in England, Germany,
France or Spain, and even Italy, whilst
only in some banks, and that in the larger
cities in the countries south of here, can one
obtain exchange on the United States, and
only on New York City. This fact speaks
for itself. Another fact is that I have seen
petroleum unloaded in a Central American
port which came from Hamburg, (Ger-
many), but which petroleum originally
came from the United States. Still another
case: A Guatemalan firm wanted certain
sugar machinery; they were informed by
my agent that they could buy it in the
United States, but they answered we have
never heard of the American manufacturers,
so we prefer to send to England for it, and
they did so, but they were astonished some
days ago, and so informed our agent, to see
that the British commission merchant had
placed their order in the United States, the
goods were shipped from the United States,
but the drafts to pay for same were sent to
London. These are but a few of the many
cases which have come under our own ob-
servation, and can be easily substantiated,
if you wish. Let the American newspapers
publish news from these countries and very
soon the people here will see this news read
—to see what foreigners say of us, (as they
say), they will subscribe for these papers,
and the diplomatic and consular agents of
these countries will send the papers to these
countries, and they will read the advertise-
ments, and thus build up trade between
these countries and the United States, par-
ticularly if the newspapers were to pay some
attention to the agricultural, mercantile and
industrial advancement of these countries.
I am by birth English, but have lived in
these countries for the last thirty-eight
years, and, therefore, know them thor-
oughly; their wants, their ideas, etc.
British advertisements and reading matter
are to be found everywhere in Central and
South America, and often in its tones bitter
against Americans and American com-
merce, and this should be counteracted.
You should see the interviews which I have
even now on my table with all the different
Presidents of Central and South America,
containing their opinions about the United
States, obtained referent to the formation
of a Central and South American league
against European aggression which was
brought about by the present question of
England and Venezuela, it might amuse
the American government and people. I
know that a great deal of literature is sent
to your country by occasional travelers
through these countries, and official news
sent by consuls and ministers, but is this
always to be relied upon when most of the
consuls are merchants, and, therefore,
working for their own interests? Mr. Emilio
de Leon, Minister of Guatemala, is in this
city, and his Secretary of Legation, leave
here to-morrow for the United States, and
will visit your city, and I have given them
letters of recommendation to you, as you
may be able to do some business with them,
as they go on a purchasing and business
trip, and I have referred them to you as in
charge of our affairs for the United States,
and I thought you might like to meet this
class of people for business and other pur-
poses."
The "Sohmer" Banner Floating.
ENRY DETMER, who recently secured
the agency for the Sohmer pianos in
Chicago, will not take possession of his new
warerooms, on Wabash avenue, for a few
weeks yet. In a recent letter, he writes:
"I expect to fit up the place in first-class
style. With a complete outfit in the mu-
sical line, with the Sohmer banner floating,
and with some of our old-time energy and
push, I hope the move will be a success."
H
To Promote Foreign Trade.
N important bill was recently intro-
duced into Congress by Representa-
tive Doolittle for the purpose of estab-
lishing a Foreign Commerce Commis-
sion with the object of increasing the
foreign trade of this country.
The
following is a summary of its main
points: The establishment at the seat of
government of a Commission of For-
eign Commerce, the general designs and
duties of which shall be to acquire and dif-
fuse among the manufacturing and com-
mercial people of the United States all the
information on subjects connected with for-
eign commerce, in the most general and
comprehensive sense, and especially with
relation to the demand in foreign countries
which may be supplied from the products
of American labor and skill.
This Commission shall be under the
charge of a Commissioner of Foreign Com-
merce, who shall be appointed by the Pres-
ident, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate; the office shall continue as
long as the occupant is efficient, and he
shall receive a salary of $5,000 per annum
and actual traveling expenses incurred while
necessarily traveling in the discharge of the
duties of his office. There will be a suffi-
cient number of clerks to transact the busi-
ness of the office.
'
A
E. A. Saalfeld's Will.
HE will of Edward A. Saalfeld has been
admitted to record in the Probate
Court.
Mr. Saalfeld, who was president of tb.5^
National Music Co., of Chicago, died Dec.
30. The schedule shows his estate to be
worth $32,500, $20,000 of which is personal
property. The bulk of the estate is left to
the widow, with the provision that she may
donate to charity what she wants to.
Herbert Saalfeld, a brother of the de-
ceased, is to receive 500 shares of stock
in the National Music Co. Other small be-
quests are made.
T
Will be Ready Early in April.
HE contract for the rebuilding of the
Krell piano factory, Cincinnati, which
was recently demolished by fire, has been
given out, and it is expected that it will be
ready for occupancy early in April. In the
Frank Meckel & Co.
meantime the Krell Piano Co. are working
with promptness and energy toward pre-
RANK MECKEL & CO.'S Christmas paring a fine line of instruments for spring
trade has dealt to a larger extent with trade.
out-of-town purchasers than probably any
other local house. A solid business they
Baumeister Removes.
have built up, which extends over such a
surprisingly large territory that no local
HE Baumeister piano will be manufac-
fluctuations disturb them. It will be a sur-
tured in new factory quarters, at 534-8
prise to most, to learn that their books West Fifty-eighth street, between Tenth
show shipments of pianos and organs, not and Eleventh avenues, after this week.
only to Dakota, Wisconsin and Kentucky, Two large floors will be occupied, thus en-
but to Germany, and even a shipment to abling an enlarged output of Baumeister
Russia. The Shaw and Decker pianos and pianos, which has been rendered necessary
the Chicago Cottage Organs are the leading owing to the increased demand during the
makes handled.—Critic, Cleveland, O.
past year.
T
F
T