228 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



It would be well for exporters to send samples of furniture panels with crossettes, 

 the panels to be about 15 centimeters in width to 20 centimeters in length (5.9 to 7.9 

 inches). This would give us an idea whether they would answer our purposes. 

 We do not import direct, our requirements in American woods being small, but we 

 purchase, as needed, from importers. 



Another firm says that unfinished furniture, as frames, etc., in the 

 rough might be imported to advantage, and asks for catalogues of such 

 material. 



Eegarding household and office furniture of American make, the 

 transportation expenses and customs duties are against us. yet some- 

 thing might be done in the line of fine furniture, which, as a rule, was 

 for years imported to this district from Paris, but owing to the pro- 

 hibitory tariff now being imposed on goods of French origin, the 

 imports of such articles are restricted, and I am confident that business 

 could be worked up with the American article. 



From some of these communications it may be readily seen that more 

 American woods are imported into this country than appears from the 

 statistics, the bulk being bought from German or English importers; 

 but if American exporters would make an effort to establish direct rela- 

 tions with dealers and large consumers here they would not only save 

 commissions, but no doubt largely increase sales. 



It would be well to mention to American exporters that goods sent 

 to Switzerland must be accompanied by a certificate of origin, and that 

 the customs duties, which are specific, are collected invariably on the 

 gross weight. 



EUGENE GERMAIN, Consul. 



ZURICH, January 11, 1895. 



SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. 



While gathering the necessary information on American woods in 

 Switzerland I entered into correspondence with several Swiss firms . 

 working up American and other woods, and incorporated a synopsis of 

 answers received in my report. To day I am in receipt of a communi- 

 cation from the Swiss furniture firm of Meyer- Mueller & Co., Winter- 

 thur and Zurich, which reached me after my report had gone forward. 



This firm being a prominent concern, I give a translation of their 

 letter: 



Answering yours of January 5, we beg to inform you that, up to date, to our 

 knowledge, no ready-made American furniture has been introduced into Switzerland, 

 but we are of opinion that unfinished American furniture in the rough (in pieces) 

 could be introduced to advantage. 



We have seen several Swiss furniture manufacturers who visited the World's Fair 

 at Chicago, and from these we learn that American furniture manufacturers sell 

 unfinished furniture and ship it knocked down. We think such furniture would tind 

 a ready market in this country, and could be finished in Switzerland to suit the 

 tastes, as to color and finish, of the SWISH people. 





