The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-09
South American Trade.


South American Trade.
Philadelphia, the city par excellence OF
railroad enterprise, has the credit Tor pro-
iecting an attractive scheme for developing
the commerce of the Valley OF the Amazon.
Il The Philadelphia North american thus eX-
plains it: ..
4 "Tbe Dlan is to construct a railroad on
the shortest line feasible which will allow
the Madeira. a tributary Of the Amazon, to
be employed and Bolivia reached through
both streams. with the short railway re-
uuired to supplement water communication.
This specific purpose is one OF so much
prospective value to Brazil, bringing, rs it
would, the rich products OF the Atlantic
slope OF the Andes-both Bolivian and Bra
zilian.-into the market, and providing the
same region with the essentials for In
dustry, comfort, and welfare, that the
aid OF the Empire and the Republic can be
safely anticipated in the undertaking. The
intention deserves all the encouragement
and assistance that can be given it.. 1t
would speedily place more numerous Amc-
rican steamboats, on both rivers; plant
steam saw-mills where the saw has never
been heard; create towns in wilderness,
and industry out OF idlenesS; and it would
give this country control OF the develop.
ment OF central South America that could
not be wrested from us. The enterprise is
worthy of Philadelphia inception and the
assistance of every city, for all would profit
by it." .-
Philadelphia is, indeed, a'city OF an en-
terprise that has sometimes trace OF the
heroic. Up to the time OF the opening OF
the Erie canal that city had the advantage
Of New York. That canal, however, gave
an impulse TO me prosperity OF New 7 ork
that rapidly impaired the commercial con-
sequence OF Philadelphia. She lost nearly
all of her foreign commerce, including the
rich East India trade, which had filled her
lap with golden treasure. All her fine
London and Liverpool packets were driven
from her port, and her imports dwindled
away to the catalogue OF small things.
But Philadelphia turned her attention to
new sources Of thrift. Every. house almost
within her limits became mandatory OF
some sort OF thing, and every square
counted its many steam-engines. Money
flowed in and population increased, and
wealth and power were so multiplied that
the industrious city triumphed over the
adversely that had robbed her Of 80 much,
and over combination of pecuniary mis-
fortunes which at one tims threatened her
with almost hopeless poverty. 81
Her Punishment from the sea of COM
merce seemed only to stimulate her energy
in the prosecution of her enterprise in the
internal commerce Of the country, and she
seized upon railroads with signal energy,
and became, as we say, the city OF railway,
enterprises. g. U
We know not enough OF this South Anne
rican scheme to speak more particularly OF
1t. But we have this to say concerning the
commerce and development Of the great
South American continent: that it should
command at this time the deep interest OF
the people Of the United States. South
/ America produces staples OF the most i'm
portant nature, since they are found in
every civilized land, and in every house,
until they have become indispensable. Our
people have the advantage OF other nations
In intercourse with South America in many
respects, and those advantages should not
be lost. H.
/. Besides the products Of gardens and
felds-of tillage-South America is Won
derfully rich in minerals. The United
States should occupy the vantage ground in
the commerce with that continent-should
be the chief auxiliary in its development
and Improvement in comfort and wealth.
The white man is the ruler amongst the
races, and is destined to occupy exclusively
all OF the most desirable parts OF the globe.
The time for this consummation, OF course,
is remotely in the future; but the rich pro-
ducts and rich minerals Of South America
should warn those who control the desti-
MES Of North America that 1t would be well
for them to occupy no second place in their
relations with the continent south Of the
tropics. -