The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-19
The Commerce OF South AmerIca-Our
Steamship Wants.

From The ~ Y. Herald.
While the commercial world is looking west
ward for its greatest development the fact that
an immense and valuable section of the globe
lies to the south of us appears to be almost
entirely ignored, at least neglected by our men
of enterprise and by our Government. In the
meantime the other nations are seizing with
the greatest avidity all those splendid oppor
tunities which exist in the South American
countries to build up vast foreign commerce.
There is scarcely month that passes in which
we fail to chronicle the establishing of some
new steamship route on the part of France or
England. The enormous advantages reaped
can alone be computed by taking into cen
sideration the effect of steam communication
between two countries. A thousand new en-
terprises spring into active existence as soon
as a new line is established. quick and GER
tain passage to foreign port induces the bust
ness men of the country to send out agents to
report upon opportunities for profitable Invest
ment of capital. The wants of foreign people
become known before it is too late to supply
them, as in case of the knowledge gained
through sailing ships. The steamers, more
over, offer medium for more rapid turning
of capital, and consequently its freer invest
ment. Such facilities create new demands,
and new demands draw upon the energies of
Y.
is eminently proven by the lines which have
been established. The commerce of England
and France with different countries has, thus
far, increased in an arithmetcal ratio with the
steamship facilities which they have forced
into existence and fostered under all eircum-
stances Upon the west coast OF South
America the English have absorbed nearly the
entire steam traffic, and consequently made it
an especial avenue for the promotion of
English enterprise, as opposed to the COM
mercial development of any other people.
The advantages accruing to them are best
shown by the fact that the English control the
greater part of the trade of Chill, Bolivia,
Peru and New Granada. So profitable has
this steamship policy shown itself in indirect
benefits, as well as direct, that new line is
now started from Valparaiso to England via
the Straits of Magellan and Rio Janeiro.
The east coast of South America presents a
scarcely different picture from the west coast,
so far as American steamships are concerned.
We have there, as elsewhere, let the vast and
growing trade pour its wealth into European
Golfers, scarcely attempting to divert it into its
more natural channel, the United states. We
have quietly looked ON and seen the first
English steamship line tap the Brazilian trade,
and struggle upwards by national aid until
English commerce with Brazil grew in few
years to gigantic figure. Then came an Eng
ish line from Rio Janeiro to La Plata, and the
vast and most fertile valley of South America
looked towards England for its supplies and its
principal trade while all over its territory
rapid communication with the mother country
enabled English capital to grasp the magnih-
cent opportunities to develop the countries
Internally and turn their resultant advantages
towards England
The French, with eyes wide open to the
| great truth demonstrated by England, that
s.ean lines are absolute necessities to com
lnelslal greatness, have made wonderful
lli s,rlass IN the past ten years. Their lines tap
the Plate river to Buenos Ayres. =
The splendid country Of Bolivia tbe Alto
Peru out OF which the spaniards reaoed such
2 harvest Of weRItfl-is poW seebin 10 de-.