Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-11-18
PROCEEDINGS OF THE VIRGINIA STATE AGRl.
CULTURAL SOCIETY.
REPORT ON GUANo.


CULTURAL SOCIETY.
REPORT ON GUASo
The undersigned committee appointed 10 visit the Presi-
den, of the United States and solicit his aid Ia relieving
tho country of the present monopoly in guano beg leave 10
make the following reports
1t was first deemed important by the committee to ex
anime records of the State Department at Washington
and ascertain what had been the action Of government
this subject and also collect all the Information which
10 Sc as Hhsh Very Sss e
The committee then proceeded 10 Baltimore, where the
agency for the sale Of in this county is established
sought from merchants and other sources within their
reach wacrct other facts might 10 throw light on the
course and character of This trade.
The sale of guauo is In the hands OF Peruvian compa
n.y. or properly mercantile house. which is established
10 England and has agent who conducts the business In
The United States This company has the exclusive pyi
lege OF trading in ia this country They enjoy mo-
uopoy entirely inconsistent with all usagcs opposed
interests, and Justly subject all the pre- udce enter
singular and anomalous spectacle presented of Foreign
government establishing on our territory monopoly which
embraces amount OF trade equal probably TO eight
millions OF dollars per annum and which must increase
with great rapdity from year, if the demand for the
article should be supptd These eight ten millions Of
dollars Of value in guano do not represent less than from
twenty 10 twenty-five millions OF dollars In grain cotton and
tobacco. For it is believed 10 DO fuir estimate that
average, dollar expended in euano gives in the three
great staple crops above referred to- from Two dollars and
half three dollars in the succeeding crop That s from
$50 200 cent upon the amount invested We have
then. this extraordinary result The Peruvian government
through exclusive AGENCY established among u.s. Is
trolling Inc poducveness of country to The amount OF
twenty or weDtyf millions Of dolars per annum And
II is only probable but nearly certain If some substitute
should be found for guano that this will very
be enlarged TO fifty Millions Ii must also be rccoleced,
that this production il for the most part In bread sus,
which, OF all PRODUCTS are the most Important 10 every peo
pie:
The commercial marine also feels the influence of the
nopoy in the transportation of this article 1t is stated on
good authority that 81 600 600 will be paid out in eghts
during the present year. Ii is probable that This amount s
exaggerated but II is certainly very large
The vas, amount Of tonnage engaged n this rude, is
thI
puuy by another Of similar knd-h is immacrial 30
far interests concerned in which OF these nodes
as IN either powerful and concentrated influence Of Tor
egn government brought department
industry. Whether has been exrr,cd far capricously
Or unjuslly, this committee cannot say.
Other governments establish monopolies within their
territories; but this is the first example far 10 known
to this committee Of monopoly chartered and located
within the boundaries OF another power Is il not In viola
ton OF those couresies and those friendly relations which
usually control the conduct OF nation towards anoter2
Is ii not inconsistent with the sovereignty of govern
mentl Can II be proper thus permit imperum Ia
impcrs 10 be placed among u.s. welding lnlu.
ence over the resource, The industry and the oducyeness
Of our count2 The hostility the caprice, the iudisr.
of trading company, may affect interests of
ciz to tho Of many millions of dollars aud
may bring embarrassment and distress thousands and
oven millions OF our population. AT this very tine large
portion OF the agricultural interest Of the Middle Sta,ea
say nothing OF other sections suffering from the neglect
OF TINS company to have supply Of guuno In the country
This is Peruvian Company, irresponsible regardless
OF our Interests isIless and almost Indifferent 1t would seem
their They belong race destitute of tho indus.
try and enterprise that among people This
county The mode in which this trade ia carried on Ia
tit example Of their energy and their capacity conduct
large industrial operations
With guano sufficient for The world with supply already
formed OF hundred and fifteen millions of tons accord
Ing TO their estimates they last year. and furnish
ed u The markets OF The wide EARTH 600 500 600
tons were removed every year. II woul require Of
two centuT and third The supply The bouu
ties of Heaven bestowed these people through the birds
OF the air. In The little isles Of sea- bordering their coast
valuable than the gold mines Of California if lhev
hat nj don
10 the manger they will not them themselves nor will
they permit others 20 use lhen ". they havo nothing
do avail themselves Of these 10 shovel tho
guano from their islands elevated above the level of the sea
into the vessels which along eide IT, Ihey
employ ships and permit them lilo idle for weeks without
10 load them The ships arrive Balti
more and with thousands Of farmers and their commission
merchants cowdiDg the office Of the Peruvian agent and
eagerly demanding guano these ships lie the whares for
weeks unl0aded With tho demand half supplied they
refuse TO permit the captains Of vessels to lo1d them
selves but force them 10 wait their uin Thus is this G!c
and obslruced tho beginning and the end by
The incompetent and lndolen managers who conrolit
Tho Peruvian government ilee lie not benefited by this
monopoly which is established among U.S. much our
Inconvenience annoyance and injury This useless
say nschevous machinery exclusive company here
might DO dispensed with, with much profit that gov.
ernmen as to ourselves They might well spare themselves
ing On agency here dispose Of il for them Tho simplest
Inc eases and The most profitable mode of conducting the
those who wsh to the Chncha Islands and buy the
suano. Let merchants and farmers send their own ships
Ind bring here and let free competition bring down the
Price TO proper standard. Why should the sale of this
commodity be placed different basis from that of every
the1 What would be the feelings OF The people of The u
Staes il the Chinese should establish here monopoly for
sale of tea should refuse permit II 10 be brought
sold here 10 any other way Than through exclusive
eency of thor own company 1
Bile 70 obtain is believed the Peruvian government
elves about sig ton for their guano and that present
average Of sls per ton paid for freight making
regae of $50 for this article delivered ports
allowing 30 Tor commissions and profits and other small