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World Markets for American Lumber 



ISV Iir MAXWELL 

 FIRST ARTICLE 



Editor's Note 



'111. iiiii \|r, . I. (I I.. -ihiiiiiL' uf the war in Europe, and the certaiutv tli.ir it- .Hi- . ,ii i.. ui i . m. hini:. put tbe 

 Amvii HI III. I i.ii; II I,, lace with new problems. Many o( the Km ; ■, i i i i li,/ products 

 of .mi ' : I, ri nil. period. At the same time, many sourc- i i ' , , I i ; ill be closed. 

 Marki 1 i|i|.lipd must look elspwhere. Dealers in th. i : i i - n -s in some 

 quart' I ^ in i i- jiior." than offs.-t bv ;;:iins in .ithrr rr^-i.U]- \\ i _ ni/.ation and 

 loss due t" h- I .1'-- ■ ..i;i.r -i.|. -1 i!.. -■,! i:i. i,:i. .,.,-. i„, i, ; ■■ .rtunity to 

 recoup their l<- - mi i.. ■, i ■ -i •_ r, r i i .to further 

 that object. « ii' 1' I .11 !■ in', n. ■ ■! .i ' i^^ • , .. , m. i. -~ for new- 

 business. Tli. ,11] . ,, 1, 1 ■ 1 1 .; i„i, mU- purpose 

 will be to point ..111 luii, .1. I. l^.,^- .. ^a i., i, n .,.|. m;,:, '.. 111. 11,1-. .1 I..M ill. i|. ..111.,, I, -1. desire for 

 additional markets: l)ut in nuinv instances th.-re exists a v:i«uc idea only as tn where markets are and how to reach 

 them. The following article takes up the subject of United States Consular and Trade licports, issued daily by the 

 Department of Commerce at Washington : 



Consular and Trade Reports order any particular report can do so by giving the name of the 



The United States government, through the Department of Com- article and the date, 



mcrce, publishes daily a report from consuls and trade agents in all The reports on particular subjects are not books. Most of them 



the leading countries of the world, their object being to make known are short. They vary in length from half a page to ten or twelve 



opportunities for trade. The men who collect this information and pages each. 



prepare it for publication are highly trained for the work. They are The topics are of general interest to lumbermen and manufacturers 



quick to see opportunities and skillful in explaining them. These re- of such forest products as are liable to find sale in foreign coimtries. 



ports have been continued during many years, but four years ago — Rough lumber, logs and dimension stock are the most important in our 



that is, early in July, 1910 — the organization was made more perfect oversea trade; but manufactured articles are likewise sold iu large 



than ever before, and since then the daily reports have been a power in amounts. These include furniture, shooks for barrels and boxes, 



promoting American trade with foreign countries. vehicles, agricultural implements, refrigerators, paving blocks, and 



Presumably, most manufacturers of lumber and other wood com- many other classes of articles manufactured in the United States in 



modities, jtarticularly those interested in exports and imports, are quantities large enough to permit liberal exports to foreign countries, 



readers of the Consular and Trade Reports; but it is doubtful if The following list gives a few of the most important commodities 



many have kept files which can be consulted now. The set of reports is made in this country yearly: 



voluminous, and many business men, for that reason, have not saved *'ect of Lumber, 



them. The reports from July 5, 1910, to July 14, 1914, aggregate 2:::i^'l^"^'^: :! i!! i.:::: y.! y.:. i! :::::::: i! ! V'Im^'I'Z 



24,104 printed pages, and the average business man will hesitate before Furniture 944,677,000 



undertaking to read these through, or even to search the voluminous Agricultural implements 321,239,000 



indexes and work out the references, in order to see what has been Handles 280,234,000 



going on in foreign lumber trade and similar industries during the Refrigerators 137,616,000 



past four years. I" addition to these, cooperage is already going abroad in large 



In order to relieve the lumbennan of the necessity of making that quantities, and the trade ought to increase rapidly, 



preliminary investigation for himself, a synopsis has been worked out I" the proposed series of articles, of which this is the first, trade 



and appears in the following columns. opportunities, and the present state of trade, will be considered, not 



Means of Investigation only f*"' ti™t>er and lumber, but for all wood manufactures as well. 



The following summary, or rather an index of topics of interest to The total lumber output in the United States in 1912 was 44,505,761,- 

 lumbermen, which has been published in the Daily Consular and Trade "00 feet, exclusive of hewed crossties, veneers, pulp wood, tanning 

 Reports during the past four years, wiU make it easier for dealers and materials, poles, and cooperage. The output of wood-working factories 

 manufacturers to take up and carry on such investigations as each totaled 24,673,846,000 feet. It is apparent that an enormous amount 

 must make to fit his individual purposes and facilities. It is assumed of business originates in the American forests; and the markets of 

 that the manufacturer will select from the list such reports as promise the world offer a field for the sale of all the surplus after home mar- 

 information along the particular line, and if he does not already have I^ets are supplied. The problem is to find the markets and establish 

 them in his own files, he will get them, and proceed to study them fade. A better opportunity may never come, and it is the part of 

 for the purpose of outliniug his trade campaign in foreign countries. wisdom to act quickly. 



If his field, for instance, is the west coast of South America, he will Abstract of Trade Reports 



readily find all the reports relating to those countries, and he need Following is an abstract of Daily Consular and Trade Reports, so 



not waste time with reports of countries which do not concern him. far as they concern American lumber interests. They cover the period 



If his field is the eastern countries of Asia, he can pursue a similar from July 5, 1910, to July 14, 1914: 



course; or he can do so if he seeks trade in the Mediterranean eoun- 1910 



tries, or in South Africa, or the West Indies, or in any other quarter "-American Trade in Mexico." Consul W. E. Alger. Mazatlan Mex July 



' ' ' • ' 7. It is pointed out what American manufacturers must do to hold and 



of the world. increase trade. 



In short, the purpose in summarizing this voluminous set of trade "Travelers in South America." Vice-Consul Charles F. Baker, Valpa- 



reports has been to provide the busy manufacturer with the means of raise, Chile. July 8. This is valuable to firms thinking of sending repre- 



getting into the fight for foreign business immediately while the field sentatives to South America. , ^ , w „ « .., t, * ,>-,■ 



? *^ ^ ^ = „ , , .„ . ,, , , , ,, , "Lumber Trade in South Africa." Consul E. A. Wakefield, Port Ehza- 



is opeu. Great volumes of trade will quickly change hands. Much i^^j,, jy,y 9 g^^rt account of uses of important woods, 



commerce will seek new outlets and new inlets in the next few months, "Canadian Match Trade." Vice-Consul Clarence Carrigan, St. John, 



and those first on the ground will stand the best chance in the new N- B. July 13. Probable opening for American business, 



distribution. "There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at "D""'- ""'' ^'^"^"^ Screens." Consular Agent A. E. Carleton, Aleria, 



^, „ , , , ^ . ^ , , Spain. July 13. Screens are not used in Spam, but are needed, 



the flood, leads on to fortune. ..^^.^^^ j„ Honduras. • Vice-Consul J. H. Watts, Puerto Cortes. July 



What the Summ.a^rt Shows 25. Refers to conditions and requirements of the north coast. 



The summary of the trade reports shows, (a) the country or citv "Assistance of American Consuls." Consul Isaac A. Manning, La 



,,.,■» .. /, N i, 1, i, J, ^,' \ Guaira. Venezuela. July 26. lliis is valuable for business men who 



covered by the information; (b) the author or authors of the report wuan.i, vcu«uci<i. j ■ .v <^. 



•' ! y J F expect to correspond with consuls, 



and the address at the time; (c) the date: (d) occasionally a lew "Lumber Purchases in Switzerland." Consul George Gifford, Basel, 



words indicating the substance of the document. Those who wish to Switz. July 28. Lists some American woods used there. 



