REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the work of the Bureau of Manufactures for the year ended June 30, 1910: The last was not an exceptional year in the character and extent of the work accomplished by the Bureau. Since its organization in February, 1905, each year has been marked by progress that was logical and incidental to the constantly growing interest of manufacturers and merchants in the export trade of the country, a condition made manifest by frequent calls upon the Bureau for advice and assistance in the search for foreign markets for the sale of American manufactured products. The interest felt by business men in the work of the Bureau is exhibited in the increased correspondence, which exceeded that of the preceding year by 20 per cent. The letters received numbered 36,099 and those answered 23,413. Circulars and miscellaneous papers, which numbered 10,466, are not included in these figures. The correspondence is very comprehensive, embracing every field of industrial activity and every avenue of commercial development. Its scope and character have been outlined somewhat in detail in previous reports. CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE. That feature of the Bureau's work known as "Foreign Opportunities" continues to grow in volume and variety and expand in usefulness. Through this means much valuable information is constantly being transmitted directly to parties concerned, with the result that American products have been sold abroad in localities where otherwise they would not have been introduced. The work was begun by the Bureau in February, 1906. From that date to June 30, 1910, there were published 5,161 separate items, each of which represented an opportunity for the sale of a certain machine or commodity, and for the sale of which American manufacturers and merchants were given opportunity to compete. The number of such opportunities published in Consular and Trade Reports during the year ended June 30 last was 1,567. The high estimate placed by representative business men on this work is attested by numerous letters of approval and commendation received from them by the Bureau. The "Confidential Circular" service, which is akin to the ForeignOpportunities branch of the Bureau's labor, has also steadily progressed, and has come to be recognized as an important auxiliary in the promotion of trade. Through this agency business men directly interested are furnished letters of advice and information in detail that will be helpful in creating new or extending old lines of trade. The material composing confidential circulars is derived from reports received from commercial agents, diplomats, and consuls. It is withheld from publication, and furnished only to those who are known to the Bureau as having facilities and equipment to perform the required service. At times this class of information reaches the Bureau by cable, and instances could be cited showing that results obtained not only justified the relatively small expense thus incurred, but accentuated the business sagacity of diplomatic and consular officers in employing the most expeditious method of communication. Greater value and efficiency would be secured if business men concerned would authorize the Bureau to communicate the information in hand by wire and make such arrangement as would insure the Government against pecuniary liability for its transmission. In addition to information of this character, the confidential circulars are employed to communicate to manufacturers and exporters complaints of consignees and merchants handling American products touching deficiencies in the filling of orders, methods of packing, etc. Numerous cases of dissatisfaction with operations of American machines in foreign countries have in this way been privately brought to the attention of the makers, with the result that in nearly every instance correction was immediately applied. In some of these cases examination by expert agents of the American manufacturers disclosed that ignorance or prejudice on the part of the foreign operators was responsible for the defects charged to the machines. Confidential circulars sent out numbered 119, the following being among the subjects included: Subscriptions for American Publications in Foreign Countries; Warships for the Argentine Government; Rifles and Ammunition for the Servian Government; Cold Storage in Italy; Building Operations in Argentina; Opening in India for Coal-Cutting Machinery; Coal for a Greek Steamship Line; Building Materials and Machinery for Canada; Roller Skating Rinks and Skates in South Africa; Opportunity for Agricultural Machinery and Implements in Turkey; Government Supplies for Greece; American Shoes in England; Army Supplies in Turkey; Grain Seeds for Argentina; Explosives wanted in Scotland; Cotton Goods for Turkey; Long-distance Telephone Service for Cuba; Rolling Stock for Railroad in Cuba; Corrugated Iron Sheeting in Abyssinia; Market for Hand-graders for Corn in South Africa; Automobile Accessories for Australia; American Goods for South America; Electric-light and Power Equipment for Mexico; Public Works and Improvements in Siam; Machinery and Equipment for Mexico; Textile Machinery for Russia; Opportunity for American Goods in Chile; Potato Diggers for Scotland; Motor Cars wanted in Russia; Artesian Waterworks at Tripoli-in-Barbary; Boring Machinery wanted in Servia; Bids wanted on proposed Irrigation Dams near Bagdad; Shoes for the Greek Army; Electric Steel Furnace and Roller Mills; Opportunity for Package Dyes in Malaga; Dyeing Materials in Almeria; Filtration Plant for Russia; Electric Plant for Turkey in Asia; Army Supplies for Servian Government; Mineral and Rape-Seed Oil wanted in Servia; Lubricating Oil for Bulgaria; Agricultural Motor Traction for South Africa; Agency for American Cotton and other Goods in Abyssinia; Street-cleaning Machines wanted in Bohemia; Machines for Extracting Rubber from Landolphia Plants for Mexico; South Russian Iron Ore; Contracts for Sewage Machinery for Cairo; Locomotives for Bul |