THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1876,

PHILADELPHIA.

PART II.

EXHIBITORS' COMMERCIAL GUIDE.

[Price 50 cents.]

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1876, PHILADELPHIA.

EXHIBITORS' COMMERCIAL GUIDE,

CONTAINING, AMONG OTHER PAPERS, THE

UNITED STATES TARIFF OF IMPORT DUTIES

UPON

ARTICLES OF PRODUCE AND MANUFACTURES,

IN ENGLISH CURRENCY;

TOGETHER WITH

AN EPITOME OF THE AMERICAN LAWS RELATING TO PATENTS AND TRADE MARKS.

COMPILED, AND ARRANGED WITH INTRODUCTORY NOTES, FOR THE GUIDANCE OF EXHIBITORS AND MANUFACTURERS BY THE SECRETARY OF THE BRITISH COMMISSION.

PRINTED BY GEORGE EDWARD EYRE AND WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

I. Introduction

II. Explanatory Statement as to United States Custom House Duties and
Exchange

III. Subject-index of Contributions by British Exhibitors to the Philadelphia
International Exhibition of 1876, together with the Names and Addresses
of the Manufacturers and Producers

IV. List of Articles of Produce and Manufacture admitted to the United States
Free of Duty

V. List of all Articles chargeable with Duty on being imported into the United

VI. The Patent and Trade Mark Laws of the United States

VII. Consular Regulations relating to the Authentication of Invoices
VIII. Custom House Fees

379

382

XI. Extracts from Post Office Act as to mailable matter

401

XII. Tariff upon British goods imported into France, showing the Rates prior and subsequent to the Paris Exhibition of 1855

405

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN the arrangements connected with the British Section of the International ExhiDition of 1876, to be held at Philadelphia, were initiated, it became evident that very few British manufacturers were acquainted with the details of the American Tariff.

It appeared, therefore, to the authorities charged with the conduct of the Section, that a statement, showing in as lucid a form as possible the details of a somewhat cumbersome and intricate Tariff, could not fail to be useful to the British merchant already engaged in trading with America. And as an International Exhibition might be expected to develop new commercial relations in many directions between the United States and this country, it seemed that if this Tariff were rendered into English Currency, in those instances where the duties are not ad valorem, further advantages must be secured.

The following compilation is based mainly upon the exhaustive financial works of Heyl, Morgan, and Dr. Young, but other eminent authorities have been consulted, and the British Commissioners desire to acknowledge the courteous assistance rendered to them in the preparation of the work by Mr. Comly, the Chief Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, who readily afforded them the benefit of his experience in solving difficult questions, and by communicating the latest Treasury decisions where there were apparent discrepancies. The compiler has been anxious to avoid entering into any discussion affecting a salient question of United States policy, concerning which American statesmen must be held to be the best judges. But one general inference may be suggested here, that in the long run it is the consumer and not the producer upon whom the imposts which are set forth in the fullest detail in the following pages really fall.

It may be useful to a British manufacturer who has not hitherto had commercial relations with an American customer, to state the regulations with which it is necessary for him to comply. Taking the case of a merchant in London, after three invoices of his goods have been prepared, stating quantities in weights, measures, and numbers, they must be taken by one of the partners in the firm, or by a duly authorised agent provided with a power of attorney, to the American Consulate, 53A, Broad Street, E.C., and the following declaration must be sworn to:-

1

I am

of

make oath and declare that of the goods, wares, and merchandise in the annexed invoice mentioned and described; that the said invoice is in all respects true; that it contains a true and full statement of the time when and the place where the goods, wares, and merchandise therein mentioned, and which are subject to any ad valorem rate of duty, or to any duty regulated or directed by law to be estimated or based upon the value of the square yard, or of any other specified quantity or parcel, were purchased, and the actual cost and quantity thereof, and of all charges thereon; that no discounts, bounties, or drawbacks are contained in said invoice, but such as have been actually allowed thereon; that the currency in which said invoice is made out is the currency which was