New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-17
UNITED STATES MINISTER TO CENTRAL
AMERICA,

A letter from Colonel G. Williamson.
the Minister from the United States to the
States Of Central America, in which, with
out trenching upon his diplomatic duties,
he explains the measures by which trade
could be opened between the United
States and the State Of Guatemala, and
the whole coast of the States to which he
is accredited. he says in reply to in
quiries upon the subject:
II the Chamber of Commerce takes as
great an interest in the subject of promoting
trade with these countries as It ought, why
would 1t not be advisable to send an agent
out to this city? He could travel from New
Orleans to Balize for $40 United States cur
re1cy; from Balize to Izabal $40, gold, and
from lzabai to Guatemala ION mule back,
with servant and mezO, and baggage muIe)
he could travel in six or seven DAYS at a cost
of not exceeding $50 in gold. think such
visit would be advantageous, and NV
opinion Is, that on his return he would
recommend the organization of the Central
American Trading Company, with a capital
say Of 100000. This company. even if
well managed, should not expect to
make dividends for several years. Its
business. l suppose, would be new to
its organizers and agents, and some expe-
rlence would be necessary for success. The
object OF the company would be to deal in
American products, and particularly in
coffee, sarsaparllla, hides, India rubber and
precious woods. and to import into these
States and to Balize and the islands West
ern produce, agricultural and cutting imple.
ments, -four, canned meats and fruits. nat.
ent medicines, domestics, etc.
The company could not reasonably EXPECT
to compete for the trade that now seeks
the Pacific ports, except through the ports
on the Caribbean sea. Four schoouers
would be quite as many as it would need
to begin with. think such a COMPANY.
intelligently managed, would in a few
years get good returns on the investment
and might feel assured Of their being grad
ually increased from year to year as this
country develops and the coffee culture in
Vera Pay. Gracias and Santa Barbara
becomes more extensive. do not wish, nor
would be willing to incur the RESPONSE
blilty OF advising any one to put capital in
such an enterprise. but it seems to me to
be worth investigation by competent
agent.
The letter contains some excellent ad
vice in case any port of the United States
may wish to become centre for the
distribution OF tropical products"
Our young men must learn to speak and
write Spanish. When it is considered that
this language affords the only means of
with the millions that live
between the Mexican border and CAGE
Horn, it appears to be highly important.
To a young American who expects to be a
merchant, civil engineer, doctor, dentist, |
etc. or coffee planter or manager of coffee |
or sugar estate. it is very valuable-far |
more so than German or French, in my
Judgment.
This excellent letter will be found as |
useful to one American seaport as an
other, and if Mobile, Galveston and all |
Eastern ports would put on such a line as |
IS suggested it would be all the better for
he country. Adopting the reasoning of |
he REPUBLICAN in previous articles, we
10 not see why the railroad and river
ines may not put on their little schooners
md make the experiment. Their capa-