New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-14
SOUTH AMERICAN COMMERCE
UNITED STATES INTERESTS SUFFERING.

NEEDED on THE PART OF AMERICAN MILK
CHANTS, - q,
frpoN An ocC lsIoNAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRbuNE
VALPARAISO. Jan. 2O.-Since the reception of Mr.
Prescott by President Santa Maria, popular excite
ment has abatcd considerably, aud it Is confidently
expected that n satisfactory understanding VIII he
brought about through his efforts. Unfortunately
however this supposed change i'll the policy OF
the United States Government Is attributed 10
wrong motives by :ho Gillian populace, though
the governing classes of the country are 100 Wcl
informed TO he deceived to the real strength CT so
prominent n country as the United states. Ii seems
that an article in an American newspaper relating
70 the Naval Advisory Board, produced profound
impression here. and was extensively copied Ih lhe
papers of the country. That portion was particu-
lurly emphasized which contained the remarks OF
Admiral RODGERS wherein he said that Chris ileet
could easily destroy the United States commerce IN
the Pacific and menace the ports OF California
This ticllcd the national vanity. and tends to
make the lower and middle classes extremely arro-
cant: but the educated and enlightened people OF
fine country the business men and foreigners, are
NOT misled The Boivians are dlsgdsted with the
Peruvian alliance. Peru attributes her defeat TO
Bohyia's cowardce and incompetence ana Wheh
she appealed to the United States she ielt BOLIVIA
III the lurch Now Bolivia appears to be coquettlhe
with Chill for possession OF the Peruvian towns OF
Tacna and Area, in order to get an outlet TO the
sea. Ecuador is excited over n Iumored arrange
mert of Calderon with Minister llurbut fer the
csta blishmcnt of United States Navy Yard al
Teunbez a port that she claims but which Peru
took from her.
On nv way to Valparaiso ! stopped at the port
Of Tocopllo in Bolivia most iorlorn place it is;
not sign of vegetation meets the eye, and there Is
not a watcr-course for leagues on the coast,
A u1ar moi al
the very sea. and with their many coiored Slopes
present grand and impressive sight. towering two
TO three thousand feet above the Pacific. Ihough
devoid of vegetation these mountains are rlch Ill
minerals, gold, silver and copper hut al present 'he
latter metal is the only one that Is mined 10 any
extent The town of TOcupillo consists oil I'VE
smelling establishments, few good houses,
church, club, some few stores and collection OF
miners and workmen's huts, and about twenty-five"
hundred inhabi One British. one American
and one unknown bark were at anchor in the
bay Some six leagues from here nitrates are
found. and one of the vessels loading with that
commodity. delegation of Congressman and
merchants would do we'll to make a visit TO tits
coast and see what magnificent opportunities are
being thrown away from want of proper legislation
and enterprise at home. 1t makes the heart OF an
American sick as he one industry after another
monoroiizcd by tie English, especially as most OF
these ministries were originally developed by
Americans, The railroad and mines of COpiapo
were once owned and worked by Americans but
they are now in the hands OF En9l!shInen, ana so
are nearly all the other mines ana the railroads not
owned by the Governments Coal is dear here and
consequently the copper ore generally only g)es
through the first smelling and is reduced TO
substance containing about 40 per cent OF copper.
II is then shipped TO Swansea IN Wales in that
state. while ore containing as much as 20 per cent
OF copper is shipped without being reduced al all.
4 strong American company might establish sinelt-
ing works at their mines and prohtabiy run line
of sailing vessels with auxiliary stelm.englnes to
propel them In calms. They could bring ont coal
and general cargo and take home copper, silver and
lead ores WOOL hides and talOw aud coffee, as they
could trade with both coasts OF south America.
American custom laws may interfere with the
Introduction Of these into the country owing to
the high duties imposed, but | am satisfied that
manufacturers would reap immense benefit
from regular communication with TINS section OF
the world and that line itself, II honestly admin
Istered would yield large returns. The United
States manufactures all the goods IN demand on this
coast, but the English are enabled 10 sell INFERIOR
goods at high prices, on account OF the market uelhg
practically shut OF from American manufactures
In nearly all the cities Oh the coast clumsy slr'h
ire engines of English manufacture are TO I've seen,
though in Valparaiso a iich banker of Ehglisn
descent presented the city with beautiful AmtI-
can one. Heavy English sewing machines appear Ii
tIa shons with an Occa ,iOua American one English
machinery, axes. which they gdnd To good purpose
and agricultural tools are IN vogue. IN all OF which,
cycppt possibly mining machinery America eXcelS
American cOttOnS, carriages, poitanlo engines
tobacco. shoes, sewing machines ana agllcullufal
indictments have been introduced 10 limited cA-
tcut and they have found favor. They wOuld IN
all probability supersede inferior articles OF the
same type. could they be as readily introduced
French and German freight steamers low run along
the coast and the Germans especially are extending
their trade As Chill has about the same industries
aS California the wants OF thai State WOulu Dc Il
Good gauge for the requirements OF the ChIlian
market. fl is stated that Lake superior copper
lacks sOms essentials OF good shtathlng meiaI'
and requires to he mixed with certain proportion
of foreign copper to tit II for this purpose but as
thc duty on the copper itself Is 80 hlgh American
shiubuilirr. are deprived of much of their legltl-
mate work on account of the high price OF sheath
iug copper. Vessels now frequently make tnp 10
England uTshcathed, AMI have the work performed
there as the metal Is 50 much cheaper III that
counlry, This ~ only one of tho smaller adVan-
tages that might be reaped by developing this
trade England's predominant interests on tins
coast date from the establishment of steamship
line by Mr.. Wheelrght an American, who laiied 10
interest his own cOuRTynen IN the project. beIOro
that epoch Americans were the great rivals oil tne
English. and making tremendous strides III
advance. -, IL. ~.
Al l0nlnui there were thirty vessels loading nitre
Three OF these were American vessels, though that
doe, not represent the proportion oi nltrc America
takes. Iquiqui is one of the most barren places on
this coast where everything i barren. All fresh
wafer has TO be distilled or brought from AREA
Not a solitary thing grows here, and those who mn
mort articles OF food make an enormous proht.
rabbages that sell in CaliaO for cents piece. here
cost a dollar and quarter. and other things IN
crease III value in like proportion.
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