The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-14
a r \ I o a.

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Hts Commercial Interest 20 the United States
The Empire or Merocoo-The Independence
and Trade OF Wcdnoon.
BY THOMAS N. CARR, LATE UNrrHD STATES CONSUL
FOR THE EMPIRE OF MOROCCO.
The interest which now attaches to African intel
lgerce, If whatsver character, but more immediate
" in relation to its commercial resources aud advan
tages, has induced me to send you this communica-
ton, which, If it possesses any merit, you are ct
liberty to give to your readers. The great advaa.
tage that must 'crue to any nation by possessing
command Of the avenues Of trade, aud the safe aud
expeditions transit Of the products Of the most veal
thy and DO pulous larts Of Africa to one central
port, afording easy and secure approach for ship.
ping are matters that will not be questioned. Va
rious schemes have been started, ahd thousands OF
lives have been sacrificed in the a.tem rs OF Euro
peans to get at the wealth Of the interior of Africa,
Opinion has finally settled down upon one point of
agreement, namely: that the productive wealth OF
Africa is worthy of pursuis, provided the means
Of obtaining it should not be attended with too great
q sscriice and SHOULD also be deprived Of any fea
lure OF inhumanity.
make these Introductory remarks because of the
Importance Of the subject matter which am about
to communicate-no less than the secure means Of
opening q trade and commercial relations with
power south Of Morocco, and at the southern
foot of the Atlas mountains, from which l anti
cipate benefits, in . national point Of view, that
seem to me to bs Of vast Importance and value
ment of the United States ut Morocco, having the
best means of information, / state the facts which
follow, on unquesiionabie grounds.
-
munication with the Sheik Bedrock, Of Wednoon,
(of whose precise locality will speak PRESENTLY
with view to trade, and the establishment Of On
American agency in enc Of his principal cities.
This project Is favored by the Shsk hi nsaf; and Of
this have had repeated evidence in interviews with
several Of his friends and agents, while on visits to
Tanger. His anxiety to open trade and CONNER
cial relations with other nations Is the more mani
fest from the fact that previous to the application
being made to me- Consul Of the United States to
entertain the proposition, the Sheik proposed the
same matters TO other consuls particularly the
French and English but, fox reasons which will
hereafter appear, the offers have not yet bssn
accepted.
The city Of wednoon Is in that part Of West
ern Bar barry situated on the Dor ters Of the
Atlantic ocean, and about the latitude OF the
Canary Iales. 1t is close upon the condaes
and north Of Sahara, or the great desert. 1t
is therefore, avoraby situated, and its chef to vns
communicate with the sea, by means OF navga-
BILE river Of the same name. The bay is large and
secure, aGoraing good anchorage; and tae means
for communication with t1e town sre easy and SAFE
fbe town now speak Of Is the one Ia which the
Sbeik resides, with o population Of about five
thousand. There are other inland towns or cities,
even larger than this under the jurisdiction OF the
Sheis butf,r all business purposes and Importance
the City Of the Sea-, as II Is called by the 1ors
is the one have now in view. The geographical
position Of Wcdnoon Is every way calculated for
and western part Of Africa, and the vast interior
Countries Il cas- to the north the thickly nha Died
and enterprisiDg country OF tho Bleditjerd to the
east the large dstri OF Suse, aud 10 the southwark
tries comprising the wealthy and industrious pso.
pie OF Tmbuctoo, Soudan, Barbara, and many
other populous countries. These last named coua-
tries are supposed TO be ths Eldorado Of Africa,
and are at any time within easy reach OF Wednoon,
by travel Of from thirty to forty da;s the latter
bepg the longest for caravans In crossing shat part
OF the desert II will from this be seen that Wed.
noon 10 the central point of African wealth and
The principal portion Of the trade of these coun-
tries finds its way to Wednoon, whtre the 50udaa
traders dispose of their produce to the merchants or
s s o. Morocco. during me travelling season
week, and as many as twenty thousand cames are
known to be collected In one spot with the produce
Of several Of these countries, and disposing OF tbs
same at Wednoon. British traveller, Mr.. David.
con, who resided some months at Wedn BON in 1887,
speaks In enthussstic terms Of tho vast amount OF
wealth which Is thus collected, aud Of the sacrifice
to Europe which Ia effected by its sale and dstribu
ton to other ports in Africa for European consump
distance Of few miles from the town Of Wednoon;
but without intermission the immediate neighoor-
hood Of Wednoon IL one busy scene Of trade and
OF the known trade Of the whole of this region OF
Western Africa. Something of an estimate Of this
trade may be inferred from the fact that the princi
pal, II not indeed the whole Of the gums, ivory,
Europe and the United States, first have to pass
through Wednoon before reaching the ports In No
rocco and elsewhere for reshipment. The writer Of
this has had frequent assurances, by native
traders and intelligent Moorish merchants,
that the Soudan countries send away - little Of
their produce q possible. In consequence Of the
sallness Of demand for It, and the frequent unsafe
ableness of their commodities. The traders of Sou
Wednoon some OF the advantages she is so abe Of
sffordipg. The Governor Of the town Of st. Cruz
assured the British traveller above alluded TO- "shst
from his district alone he could give constant EN-.
ployment to 200 ships" and We we'll know that at
one period St. Cruz, in tho district Of Suse carried
on great commerce with various parts Of Europe.
trust have been thus far successful in wing
the immediate advantages that would be derived
noon. This immense trade would find q sure outlet
from this port at one third its present cost. II
would facilitate and increase the trade Of those
countries already pointed on, while 1t would draw
from us our cotton m anufactures and such other
commodities as are required in the African market.
For time at least, specie would not be required
for the transaction Of business the part OF the
American trader, while the balance of trade would
be paid TO rs In specie the gold dust Of the int
rior. In letters from the Sheik received while agent
for the United States, he says, I'VE do no. want
your vessels with MONEY; We want your cottons,
muslirs, long Cloths teas AID SUGARS and for these
We will give you return csrgoes and specie"
The question doubtless before this has BEEN
askt d, why, with 10 many advantages as are here
Europe attempted the establishment Of this trade?
The answer Ia that the same has been repeatedly
atten pied, but failed through jealousy and the
threats OF var. In 1915, or after, the French
sells, and mechanics to put up WAREHOUSES, fT the
encouragement aud protection Of French trade. The
French Admiral entered into o treaty with the