'
)
8 'Cbe Conservative.
WHY AMERICA WINS.
Seine plain suggestions regarding
American business methods are given
by the British consul at Chicago ,
Mr. Wyndham , in a report to the
Britisli Foreign office , a copy of
which has just reached the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics.
The commercial success in the
United States , and especially of the
city at which ho is located is described -
scribed by Consul Wyndham as being
duo in part' ' to the education which
teaches the boys independence and
knowledge of their future responsi
bilities , and does not sot the profes
sions above business as a means of
gaining a living.
" Athletics of all kinds are much
encouraged in schools and universi
ties , but very few men continue to
take part in them after completing
their education. Americans are as
fond of outdoor life , shooting and
fishing , as arc the men of any Euro
pean country , but they gratify their
taste as a relaxation only and never
allow it to interfere with their busi
ness.
"Another cause of success is the
keeping of the money , which has
been made in the business , and the
brains which have ma'de the busi
ness , in it as long as possible , and
great thought is devoted to arrange
ments whereby , after the death of
the builder of the business , it shall
not fall into the hands of his heirs ,
unless they are practically fitted to
take care of it.
' "Another and probably the chief
cause is the reward of merit. The
percentage of men fitted for the
highest posts in business is very
small compared with the total num
bers employed , and the heads of the
big businesses , bank corporations and
wholesale firms , are always looking
out for men , not only among those
already in their employ , but also
outside , capable of filling some post
under them. To these men , when
found , large salaries are given , which
are drawn by them as long as they
show that they are capable of earn
ing them. Men employed in business
houses of all descriptions are en
couraged to discover now methods of
carrying on the business which may
in any way lessen the cost of pro
duction or carrying on business , and
specialization is carried on to an ex
treme point.
1' The advantage of a well-dressed
show window in every kind of retail
trade is more than over understood ,
and very great trouble , expense , am
ingenuity are used in getting good
results. Many shops now put mo
ohanical toys in the windows to at
tract the attention of passers-by. The
trade papers arc also taking up the
subject and give illustrations and
doas.
"In machine shops and factories
the use of the best machinery is un
derstood and appreciated by the men ,
but the success of the American man
ufacturer would appear to bo owing
not to the machinery but to the sys-
em of shop management. Every
man appears to be fully aware that
success depends upon his doing his
best work , and no idleness is tolerated
n anyone. The highest positions in
v shop are open to anyone who can
prove his worth and every man works
with this incentive.
"Many visitors from the United
kingdom blame the men there be
cause the same results are not ob-
ained from machinery as is done
lore , but the more the factories are
seen the more certain it becomes
; hat it is the incentive to work and
the energy of the managers , suporiu-
; oudents , and foremen , and the example -
ample sot by them that has the won
derful effect on the output. This
liolds good in every kind of trade
and business. In one factory the
manager , in six mouths , doubled the
output at an increase of 5 per cent
expense by re-arranging the ma
chinery. A great fault of the Chicago
cage system is the difficulty of a
man over 45 finding work. There are
many men in good positions over that
age who will in all probability re
tain them for some years and retire
on a pension , but a newcomer of that
ago has little chance of employment
as ho cannot expect to learn now
ways. A man who is out of work
at that ago is regarded with suspi
cion , especially when trade is good ,
because if ho had proved that-ho was
worth his position , which should be a
good one after many years' service ,
ho would not have been forced out ,
or if ho had , some other firm which
had come into contact with him in
business would try to secure his
services. No man can get on in Chicago
cage who works with one eye on the
clock or grudgingly , and the man
who is rewarded by promotion has
shown himself ready to put his work
before his personal wishes and in
many cases has offered to h elp in
other departments when necessary , in
this way acquiring a comprehensive
knowledge of the work being done.
"It is the purpose and aim of this
Consulate to keep in touch , as far as
possible , with the business men , seas
as to bo in a position to assist agents
of British commercial houses coming
hero on business or in answering in
quiries , but it is of no use if the
agents fail to como to the Consulate
for assistance or if merchants at
homo make no inquiries. The num
ber of inquirius on commercial matters -
tors ha s increased considerably dur
ing the past year , but no idea
can be formed as to what assistance
; ho information given has proved.
These inquiries are not answered
until as many persons as possible ,
engaged in the trade mentioned , have
been interviewed , and every effort is
made that the information given
shall bo reliable. Great courtesy is
shown by everyone in assisting the
Consulate in obtaining information ,
Government , State , city officials ,
and merchants giving all the assist
ance requested.
"It is reported that the French
Government is to found schools in the
United States for young men to study
economic science and engineering.
The reported plans are to keep about
200 boys for a four-year course in
Now York and Chicago for economic
science , and in Pittsburg and Chicago
cage for eugiueoriug. At these
places American methods would bo
studied and the energy absorbed , and
after the course is completed the
young men will return to France to
put the ideas and methods they have
gathered into practical uso. The ex
periment will bo interesting , espe
cially as to how the young men of 21
to 24 will persuade the older men to
adopt their methods , and whether on
their return to the old conditions they
will not either fall into the ways of
conducting business there or desert
their country and return to a place
whore their methods will be accept
able.
" The Consular district of Chicago
covers 14 states , having a total area
of over 1,000,000 square miles with
19,000,000 inhabitants. Over 300,000
square miles are still vacant and
there arc about 19,000 reserved as
forests. Of the laud still open to
settlement over one-quarter is arid or
somi-arid , and much of the other is
rough mountain land. There are 80
cities in the district , each with over
25,000 inhabitants. All these are
manufacturing towns to some extent ,
and in Illinois , Iowa and Wisconsin
every small town has ono or more
factories at work. Furniture factor
ies are scattered all over these states ,
and many manufacturers have found
the advantages of starting in small
towns , especially near the Lakes , to
bo saving in rent , wages , owing to
less cost of living , and raw material.
"Tho trade for the past year has
been the best ever known. ' '
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY.
Take Laxative Brome Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund the money if it
fails to cure. E. W. Grove's signature
is on eooh box. 25o.
j , 1 , j A
