Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-04-14
FIRST EDITION.
south A merIcan Trade.

AuouINcLoss.
Mr.. W. s. Auchincloss delivered, last evening,
ut the request of the Board Of Trade, in their
rooms, lecture on the Importance Of extending
and developing our commercial relations with
South America. We print below the CONNER
cial statistics and deductions upon which Mr..
Auchincloes very justly concludes the desirabili-
| ty Of the extension OF American trade in this
direction, regrettng that our space will not per-
init the use OF the full descriptions OF the
| country, upon which he 30 intelligently dwelt.
Upon the walls of the room were hung maps and
charts Of South America,
PICTURES OF THE SCENERY
IN different parts Of the empire, but more par
ticularly about Rio do Janero, gathered by Mr..
A. in his late visit, while upon tables were
spread on; thirty-one kinds OF native woods, min
| erals, newspapers, &c.
The Board of Trade room was very well
filled, there being in the audience several gen.
tlemen from Philadelphia. Henry Mendinhall,
Esq Vice President of the Board of Trade, pre-
sided and introduced the lecturer.
Mr.. Auchincloss, in opening. said South
America il 80 closely connected with us geo.
graphically, and 70 thoroughly indoctrinated
with those liberal and progressive principles
which claim our own country asltheir birthplace.
that she has abundant claim upon our neighborly
appreciation and regard. In still greater de-
gree her striking physical features and the vast
abundance variety, and value of the products
she offers in exchange for our manufactures
CHALLENGE OUR ADMIRATION AND OUR ENTER
PRISE.
Devoting himself especially to description Of
Brazil, he dwet at length on the natural and po-
litical features of that vast Empire, equal III
area to about one-fourth the Western Hemis-
phere or nearly one-sixteenth Of the land sur
fuce Of the globe. He dwelt in detail on its
sea-coast, 5000 miles in length, the conforms
ton of its surface and ita division by the mount
ain ranges, its lakes. it's great river system
which is without rival in the world-its eli
mate, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, its pop
ulation, government, religion, etc.
Under the head of population Mr.. Auchn.
Gloss said that the one great want OF Brazil was
more people. With an area equal to the United
States, 1t has population only about one-third
as great. Hence the Government encourages
immigration, and on their arrival does all it can
to assist new comers. The most recent return
fixes
THE POPULATION AT II, 100000,
including 1850, 900 slaves and 100000 savages
Slavery, however, is being rapidly abolished, and
entire emancipation is being hastened by annual
subscriptions made for this purpose i'll the
provinces and by other means
The system OF government was fully explain
ed, and the standing army stated at 16, 900 men,
exclusive of the officers, but the National Guard,
with the reserve, number GIT 900 men.
Over commerce the Government exercises
fostering care, not only by providing every safe
guard, but by encouraging new lines OF com
munication, which are suitably subsidized. In
this way 1t annually expends $1,952, 600, Of
which sum the U. s. anc Brazil Mail receives
sl12, ,00O the remainder being distributed with
ocean lines measuring 1070O miles, and 1900
miles of river lines.
THE CLOSEST INTERCoUBsE
is maintained with Europe, and so great is the
competition for the carrying trade that the man
ufacturers Of Great Britain are enabled to ship by
steam at the same rate we pay for sailing ves-
sells, the distance in being nearly the same.
The field is very inviting one for American en-
terprise and one in which the prospect is daily
improving for with reduced wages and cost Of
materials our country is the better able to COM
pete successfully with European manufacturers
Lighterage is almost universal, but the people
are becoming more alive to wharfage, and native
companies are forming for the construction Of
docks.
The railway era has but just dawnod on the
Empire but it is destined Mr.. Auchincloss
Thinks in the early future to work great social
al well as political changes. Thus far but
FEW TRUNK LINES HAVE BEEN BUILT,
all Of which aim to bring the products Of the in
terror to the principal sea-ports. The introduc-
ton of horse railways has been more rapid, in
fact Brazilian capitalists have invested in snch
enterprises in Brussels and Lisbon. This has
had marked effect on society, up-rooting ori-
entail CUSTOMS, anu plhclub peOple IOTe III
consonance with tho spirit of the age. The
two principal companies are the Rio de Janeiro
Street and the Botofogo Railways, the former
with capital OF g., goo, ,000 divided into shares
of 800 each, which are very profitable. In the
latter only small portion OF its authorized cap
tal was called in at first This also is quite
profitable, the par value OF the shares being
$50, but year ago they were selling at S4O0
each.
BY way Of telographs, cables have been laid
S-a ,l,n,,t 80 atoIt, audi IN III,
de Janeiro and the river Plate, from Pernambu-
co to Para, from Para to Trinidad and st. Thorn
as. Last year cable was laid from Rio de ia
nero to Buenos Ayres. or inland lines about
5000 miles have been constructed.
EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE
are not neglected. Primary and secondary
schools, with numerous colleges, have been es-
tablished. Throughout the Empire there are
1858 schools with 176 900 scholars, which are
maintained at an annual cost of 1885,, ,000., or
about one-sixth Of the provincial receipts. Ag-
rcultural institutions have also been established
at various places. Agriculture Itself returns
most generous rewards, and where scientific
treatment is pursued the yield is enormous.
Manufactures, although on the increase, are in
| their infancy aud fall far short of the demands
| of the country, and the Brazilians are conse-
| auently heavy importers especially of paper,
building supplies and materials boots and shoes,
porcelain, glass, cutlery, rubber goods, medici-
| nal extracts, &c, these having feen neglected
| in order to provide facilities for the
construction of steam and sailing vessels.
| The policy, however, seems to have been wise
| one, for it encouraged the establishment OF for
| eign lines, which brought the products Of other
nations as we'll as distributed those of their own.
| European markets have heretofore been greatly
favored in that Brazilian engineers have pursued
| their studies in France and Belgium, to intro
duce into their own country on their return the
| manufactures Of those countries, but now the
| tide is turned in favor Of America and we shall
| reap the same benefits.
Referring more particularly to the
| COMMERCE OF TIE EMPIRE,
| Mr.. Auchincloss said there are $1,000 CONNER
cial houses in Brazil-29, 900 being conducted by
Brazlans, 1S 900 by Portuguese, and 5000 by
foreigners. or these 46, 900 are tax-payng
The staple articles of export are coffee. cotton
| sugar. leather, caoutchouc, tobacco, Paraguay
| tea and tapioca or coffee alone 100000 tom
were exported in 1874. The following table viii
show the rapid increase in some of the leading
articles:
1871. 1872
Coffee .......... $11 1860, 900. .... $40, ,694, ,OOt
1861. 1872
Cotton, .......... 80, 66O, 600. 800, 24O, ,OO
Suear........... 6,200 600. ...... IA, 800, ,00
Leather, 4,4i0, ,000... .... 6.700,00
Caoutchouc. ....... 1,620,000.. ...... 4,26U, ,0O
Tobacco, ......... 1850, ,000....... 3,S30,0O
During 1873 the following
ENTRIES OF IMPORTS
we're made at the port of Rio de Janeiro:
Flour, 934 500 bbls rice, 10, 900 bgs.; macar