National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-11
THE LAND OF COFFEE
VENEZUELA AND HER GREAT RICHES.
An Interesting Talk with the United States Consul
at MAracalbo- What Is Needed to Develop
Commercial Relations with the
South American Republics.

REPUBLICAN, representative met at the Ebbitt |
House yesterday Captain H. II. Plumachcr. the |
United statcs consul aud commercial agent at
Maracaibo, Venezuela. for the last four years |
Knowing that the Captain was well yersed IN
the commercial condition of that warm South |
American Republic THE REPCBI lCANeproceeded |
to CLEAN some information for It's readers on that
subject.
" How ABOUT the trade Of Venezuelan said THE
REruBuCAN
"Thetradc orvenezuels has been, unfortunately,
controlled by European nations, the Germans
taking the leadership. while Engands commands
the remaining balance American firms are not
numerous while Hamburgian houses direotlyrcp-
resent and trade in exporting the main staple pro-
ducts aud goods as coffee. cacao, Onsam copabia,
quniue bark. various kinds Of dye wood, dividivi,
aud hides"
"What is your principal porlT'
"The city Of Maracobo, and II Is also the key
to the neiehborlng sister republic of Colombia by
way Of the Lake of Maracaibo, lake Of great i'm
porlance to commerce now aud IN the future
What about the exports and importsR'
The export trade to tho United states and to
Europe is extensive, and statistical reports show
especially on coffee which finds Its principal
market in New York. transactions 10 the amount
of four to five millions of dollars annually have
been made. Tho import business TO Maracaibo
aud to the adjacent Republic Of Colombia, via
| MarHcnibo has been estimated at about two mil
| lions of dollars per annum aud vessels carrying
| freight are mostly owned by foreigners the Eng
liah flag being largely represented and taking the
| lead, ship their cargoeS directly from New York.
| The American vessels which formerly came reg
ularly to MHracaibo were withdrawn on account
Of q successful competition which the British
steamers inaugumtcd."
Then the stars and Stripes are not seen onen
| In those wacrs2'
NO The American flag has vanished from the
blue waters of South America, aud British aud
Danish commercial specuators carry of the profits
and command the trade with the inhabitants Of
| Venezuela and Colombia. Ridiculous as 1t may
appear II is n sad fact that nations thousands Of
miles away from their own country have assumed
entire control OF the trade which lay right before
our very doors, our own country taking Il back
seat"
"How can this be remediedy'
Through prompt and wise legislation, chang
lug our shipping laws, and permitting us to buy
| our vessels where we can get them cheapest. The
protective tariff may benefit IL few, but Is surely
not Il prudent policy by which our Nation, aud
| especially our commercial navy, might profit"
| "Is Venezuela rich cOuntry?'
| "Vene2uela is garden spot of nature, blessed
with all the Creatorgavc TO make people happy. 1t
has most wonderful variety of climate From
the pleasant atmosphere of the upper region Of
down to the hot, sandy do3ert OF Maracaibo, the
mild temperature of Switzerland, and the eucrvat-
ing heat of the tropics may he found in the differ
ent parts of the republic which abOunds in min
erals as well In variety Of rich soil. What Is
needed In Venezuela Is stability OF government
aud foreign capital to develop the gifls Of God,
| American merchants and moreover our Southern
radcr should direct their attention to the positive
fact that the exports and imports of Marucaibo
find their way In a very profitable manner via
New York direct and especially should tho me-
tropols of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans
tako interest in this matter, and take steps to
open direct trading and communicating line OF
steamers between herself and Venezuela. Before
the war this city ranked high as market place
for coffee and she should by all means to regain
the old remuneratiye position and make strong
efforts TO influence the United States legislators to
inaugurate ways and meant to facilitate and resur.
rect her carrying trade
"A direct steamship line, then, would be profit
able?"
yes taking into consideration the long dura:
ton of the sea voyage via New York, the great
risk on the water sailing around Cape Hat.
teras the enormous insurance on the cargo
the heavy expenses In shipping goods and pro.
ducts over monopolized railways to the interior o
our country, compared with the short line from
New Orleans to those republics no doubt can cx-
ist that immense benefit would result from the es.
as suggested. All the imports OfVenezuela to- day
from New York can be furnished much cheaper
, from Mississippi and the Middle States by way o.
New Orleans. This, the safer and shorter voyage
= and smaller insurance rates, should be taken int
consideration"
"Are there many commercial drummers il
South America -
t "The manufacturers and merchants of England
Germany, and France send their agents to almos
every place of importance In the West Indies anC
. South America; the American agent is rdrd All
n seldom seem, consequently our products an,
Q manufactures are scarcely known Let our South
ern States begin to wake up; let them send thel
agents TO South America; let New orleans start
= line of steamers of suitable size (sny from 400 Il
500 tons-large and costly ships are not:needed)
let them establish mercantile houses in Ycnzuela
and try to study The wants Of these countries,
. above all let them give the same length of credi
4 as the English and German houses do, and 1t col
be with safety predicted that in few years from
hence our southern states will gain good and re
munerativo market for their products aud wares
be the same import or export, and New orlean
will soon re. ente into her old and well l-repute'
, commercial standing, 4 line of regular steamer
= from the port of New Orleans to the different
ports of Vcnzuela would be greatly favored by tn
Venezuelan government, and might be made
II. very profitable undertaking."