Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-19
BTH L D FOR TRADERS.
a eI5.00O,O0O Trade offered "a
American shippers.

A eI5.OOO,OOO Trade ORered a
American shippers.
Philsdelphia Record.l
One OF the most important instances
OF the commercial fame which America
has obtained in South America has vet
to be chronicled. 1t takes the form Of a
proposition which is now under conside.
ration by the executives of two Of the
South American republics. which, il it
assumes practical shape, will result in
bringing to this country a trade the value
OF which may be reckoned by many
millions Of dollars. Every one familiar
with history knows that the republics of
Peru and Chill are chiefly noted for their
vast deposits of nitrate of soda and
guaRo, the fertilizing qualities of which
are known the wide world over.
In Peru the nitrate deposit is chiefly
centered in the district Of Jarapaca,
where it is extracted from an immense
plateau of several hundred miles in
area. The prime material is known IS
caliche, a mixture of nitrate Of soda and
earth, with more or less admixture of
iodine aud borax. The deposit contains
from 30 to GO per cent. of pure nitrate,
and is found in the p~latesus 10 beds Of
seven feet in thickness, and covered with
two or more feet Of earth. The caliche
is first extracted by picks or blasting,
aud is then conveyed by carts or tram.
ways to the factories, where it is washed,
boiled and c~rystalized by a peculiar pro.
cess identical in every factory.
The plateaus from which the deposit is
extracted are the property OF the Peru
Wan government, which has allowed the
r%etners TO dig unmelested, but at the
same time making them pay q royalty TO
the republic in the form Of a tax on
every ton Of refined nitrate taken out of
the country. The extent Of the business
can be realized from the fact that 49,.
900, 900 pounds Of refined nitrate, of
from 80 to 81 per cent. %6neness, are
turned out of these factories every wear
aud exported to Europe, where it is
used both rs and for chemical
purposes.
Recently the government has arrived
at the conclusion that they were not
making as much out Of the business as
they had a right to expect, and so after
mature elaboration they have notified
the present r%efiaers that they intend to
conduct the business themselves for the
future. Having made a clean sweep in
this direction, they propose to follow il
up by making an entire change in the
method by which the refined product ia
transported.
Hitherto all the carrying trade has
been nonopolized by English shippers
but the authorities have now resolved to.
give the preference in this matter to
Americans, and if q sufficient feet of
United States vessels can be obtained
this country will for the future be made
the chief point of distribution for the
world. The export of nitrate from Peru
now averages a value of about $40 O0.-
600 per annum, and the advantage which
might be derived from this vast business
being brought to this country needs no
calculation.
The same statement may apply also In
Chill, the government of which country
has expressed its willingness to put ies
gnano and nitrate carrying trade, worth
about $4,000, 900 a year, into American
hands. Several other offers are also held
out by this Government, At present the
mails for Chill. Bolivia, Ecuador and Pc.
ru are conveyed bv steamers sailing un,
der the English flag. which are recon.
penssd with liberal subsidies.
VI late years certain acts of the cor,
porations by which these steamers are
controlled have given displeasure to the
; subsidy granters, and as the contract ex.
plres July |, the latter have resolved that
If American steamers can be found 10
take charge of the mail, the English
shall have that soft snap no longer.
There ID no realizing the magnitude
of these offers which are now within our
grasp, says a gentleman who has re-
ceived an official notification of the facts
as given above. IF only a syndicate Of
a couple of dozen of mercantile houses
could be formed we could sweep the
whole West coast, and bring in a perma-
nont export trade Of not less than $780,.
600, 900 a year, while, in addition to the
gnano and nitrate, we could capture the
whole of the products of the siver and
copper mines, as we'll as the great wool
crops. The most s%anguine individual
could not arrive at a rough calculation
Of the immense amount of wealth which
a determined effort might bring to the
country"