Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-29
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
The National Commission Engaged In
Taking Testimony.


BALTIMORE, Oct. 2S.-The commission
appointed by President Arthur to obtain
information relative to proper means to
increase the trade of the United States
with South and Central America met here
to-day, Gov. Reynolds, of Missouri, and
Judge Thatcher, of Kansas, being present.
Thornton Rollins appeared before the COM
mission and stated that he is engaged in the
south American trade. He exported flour.
lumber, canned goods, lard, etc. He could do
nothing with manufactured goods He had
shlpped paper and cotton drills to Brazil and
always lost money on them. Freights were
very low on exports, flour only paying IS cents
per barrel. He did not know OF any customs
Jaws which could be modified to help the
traie. He knew of no custom laws in South
America which are oppressive. The tax on
raw materials prevented the United States
from competition with England In manufac-
tured articles such as agricultural imple-
ments. In the trade in white and yellow pine
iDer tirn t Ior Dultalng purposes, almost the en-
did not think drawback on such material as
are used in manufactured articles would ac-
complish the object. The cost of crews for
vessels is SO per cent. more on American than
English vessels.
IN ANTE BELLUM DAYS.
w. w. Spence, President of the Balti-.ore
Board Of Trade, in reply to ? question by
GOV. Reynolds, SAID that prior TO the war
there was large fleet OF Baltimore vessels in
the Rio trade. AT present there are very few
vessels employed, and the cost of running
them is much greater. The cost of equpping
English vessels is so much less than American
that the latter cannot compete with them.
There were also Norwegian vessels in the
trade, which carried chiefly salt
tiI1:ro n5h: The chief trade OF Bal
timore with South America is
IN flour, and the return cargo is coffee. The
pay OF Norwegian Captain is about S25 per
month, whlle an American is paid 800 per
month, and there is a like difference in the
pay OF sailors He did not think coffee free of
duty made any perceptible difference. Cut
ting OFF the duty caused an increase of the
price of coffee in Rio. Mr.. Rollins remarked
that whisky is not desired in South America.
the people preferring cOgnac brandy, which
can be purchased cheaply in Europe.
OTHER LOST IMPORTS.
Mr.. Spence resumed, and SAID that there
was at one time large copper trade with the
west coast of South America, but that had
ceased. There lsno copper ore now brought
here. There was also large trade in hides
with Buenos Ayres, but that too has died out.
The cause of the decline of the coffee trade of
Baltimore he attributed TO lower rates for
transportation from New York to the West.
The balances for the coffee over the export
cargo OF the vessel bringing it is drawn on
London, the coffee importer paying it in mon
ey. Very little other than Rio coffee is sold in
this market. In the past Cuba, st. Do
mingo and Jamaica coffees were i'm
ported here, but now there is none.
He was at loss to say what the government
can do TO increase the exports from this
country, except to encourage the building of
steam vessels for that trade. This country
can't compete with others in manufactured
articles. There is no obstruction OF the postal
facilities by way either of London or Lis
bon.
Capt Thomas. p. Baldwin was formerly en-
gagged in the Rio trade, and resided for some
Tune Tune in South America. He did not believe
that the government of the United States can
do anything. The evil was apparent but the
remedy did not suggest itself to his mind.
Before the war American vessels always had
the preference, but during that period fear of
capture necessltated the employment OF YES
sells of other countries and their employment
had continued since. No American house
was represented In Brazil, while France and
England had hOurishing agencies.
William IL Baldwin, dry goods dealer, had
little practical experience in the South Amer
lean trade, but thought that the United States
should have paid COnsuls who are merchants
The commission will hold another meeting