352 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE,

ns to make a lower price and maintain it because the selling expense would be
reduced and there would be no price cutting in order to get established. There
would be a standard price and both buyer and seller would be better satisfied,
the buyer especially because he would always know what his goods would
cost him. Also the manufactured product could be standardized by the selling
agency finding out just what was wanted and ordering only just what was
wanted.

A manufacturer of wood parts for automobiles and wagons recites
the following as advantages:
Could get the benefit of a trained manager; handle large orders; keep in
touch with markets; handle freight claims; divert shipments to other markets
when conditions are unfavorable; and in various ways work to the advantage of
the United States manufacturers.
A Pacific coast lumber manufacturer answered the question as
follows:

A great advantage. We can advertise our own woods as against those of
other countries and not depend upon commission men, who will sell the wood
put of which they can make the most profit.
A lumber creosoting concern thought the chief advantages would
ba *

To share the expense of developing distant markets, Insure uniformity of
grades and prices. These last two considerations being of essential value both
to seller and purchaser. Distant markets are unlikely to be developed by indiridual
 concerns in any industry, both by reason of the expense being greater
than can be carried by one and the danger of market being made of little
value by subsequent irresponsible competition taking advantage of efforts by
others in developing the market.

One of the important fruit jobbers’ associations said that there
should be cooperation to the end that supplies in the various markets
sould be reasonably regulated :

Without such regulation, there is the constant danger of excessive supplies of
articles that must be forced to immediate sale or be lost entirely, with a resultant
 scarcity immediately following when prices will advance, abnormal
figures inducing a repetition of an oversupply. The result * * * jg disastrous
 to both buyer and seller and does not permit of a maximum of consumption
 of a perishable commodity.
A small manufacturer of furniture thought that:
It would be an advantage which would lessen cost or burden. This cost
would be too great for a small or moderate sized firm to assume.
Another furniture firm replied:
Distinctly an advantage. Could operate to obtain lowest selling cost and at
game time facilitate credit information.
A structural-iron concern’s reply was:
If there is any export business for us, it must be done with some other concerns
 dividing the expense.
A cotton manufacturing firm’s answer was:
Believe it advantageous to cooperate, because we are not strong enough to)
work alone.

A hosiery firm doing more than a quarter of a million dollars worth
of business annually replied:

Yes; cut down expenses and get higher grade represenfatives. This would
increase the prestige of American goods.