Morning journal and courier., 1882-02-13

Consular Reports-A Variety of Interest
ing Topics Touched Upon-Other Mat
tors.
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-THE monthly pub
LEGATION by the State department of consular
reports just issued has some interesting state
ments by consuls in various parts of the
world regarding American trade and its
needs. Consul Shaw, of Manchester, Eng
land, writes: At present American manufac-
turers and merchants suffer seriously from
the lack of three great aids to fight the COM
mercial prominence of foreign markets of
the world First, direct lines of American
ships to foreign ports; second, widely ex-
tended banking facilities in distant trade CEN
ters third, branch houses in every great
foreign market.
Consul Brooks Cat Cork says: The only
possible way in his judgment to establish a
proper equilibrium and readjust matters so
that Americans may be able to realize the ad-
vantages naturally belonging to them is, first,
by creating system of financial exchanges
controlled by Americans hinged upon the
condition of the American market; second,
as has been repeatedly suggested, by the re-
vival of American ocean shipping.
Consul Prindle Cat Bahia, BRAZIL says:
There exists here a large field for the extern
sion of American commerce, but it will be a
long time before it can be brought about I'M
less we shall be represented by a first-class
American house or house exhibit to defend
and push our products and manufactures
Another most powerful factor to very largely
increase the trade between the United States
and South America would be the establish
ment of lines of steam vessels under our
flag. 'T quite agree with all the consuls who
have written ON the subject. Without ex-
ception, so far as have seen, they advocate
the extension of government aid to certain
lines of such vessels I believe some mil
lions could be SO employed with immense adj
vantage to the general interests of the Amer
lean people,"
Consul Merriam Qquique, Peru) says: ''The
proportion of American vessels arriving at
this port compared to those of other first. class
powers is very small. During the last four
years only one American vessel arrived direct
from New York with an assorted cargo. I
have persuaded some merchants to send trial
orders of goods by vessels bound to Valpa-
raise, which after discharging the bulk of
their cargo there come here to load nitrate.
This indirect mode of Importation, however,
has its disadvantages, as a delay of weeks
might be suffered. New York wants vessels
bound to Valparaiso. The remedy needed is
more ships, whether sailing vessels or
| steamers, which come direct to this port
| Consul General Weaver (vienna) writes as
follows concerning the proposed line of
steamships from Trieste to New York, Janu-
airy 8. The Austrian Lloyd Steamship COM
pany announce their intention of sending
out on the 25th the steamer Trieste to New
York. This will be an experiment in order
to ascertain if trade between these ports can
| be made profitable. 1t is to be hoped it may
not be lightly abandoned but prove success
full and tend to the desired development of
trade between the United States and Austria
and Hungary. This may therefore be a
favorable opportunity for our merchants to
investigate, practically extending trade in
| this direction.
Consul Shaw Cat Manchester) says: "It is
not my province to point out the vast infu.
ence the English steamship lines exert ON the
commerce of the world. 1t is simply colossal
in magnitude, and the income from these
lines is believed by well informed experts tc
amount to the enormous sum total of G20O,
900, 600 sterling annually. A second element
in the race for commercial prominence il
foreign ports is complement of the first
and banking facilities must follow rather