New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-12
TRADE WITH SOUTHERN LANDS
RED TAPE AND OTHER HISDRANcEs.
FORTHCOMING REPORT or THE SOUTH AMERICAS
coNx,sstoS-THx MEXICAN TREATY.

of +ba cbief obstacles Is the oppressive tariff
reouIatons. which English. French and German
merchants escape to a considerable extent by TIER
intimate relations with Mexican customs oilciais
That trade is IN tho hands OF foreign merchants.
Jews and Others who reside in Mexico and resort
10 a species of bribery which Americans reioso W
entsr into Bat there arc few American merchants
IN Mexico In the CITY of Mexico there is only one
aud he is a news and book agent. A gentleman
WIN has travelled extensively in Central Americs
saws that he never met an American merchant
resident In that country. As to the customs ex-
actions in Mexico they due to the fact that tho
officials get one third Of each fine they impose.
merchant of this city recently sent ten CARLOADS
of compressed cotton into Mexico. The Mexican
customs officials at FL Paso. to see that nothing
was hidden in the bales. tore every one apart Inc
result was that it took twenty-five cars to carry
away the cotton that taken to the Custom
House in ten cars which took away all profit to the
merchant In an instance of a sealed car customs
officer who was too short to reach the seal, allowed
railway officer TO break it open. he being the taller
of the two men, The customs collector then fined
the railway man 81 900 for breaking seal. and
sent word privately that he would remit the fine on
receipt of a loan of $500
CONSULAR RED TAPE.
A well known commercial agent tells OF his ex
perience in getting goods through at Paso del Norte
There have to be two manifests, two consular IN
voices and three dispatch or clearance sheets Tor
each importation. Tho presence OF SIX customs
ooploves is thus required to check the seven docu-
ments, the merchant having one. Six persons
not fond OF their work have thus TO be "concili-
atedY and the work must DO done at specified
hour set by the collector IL several importers come
on one day and tho documents happen to be long.
only ono can be attended to that on day. Alter
the checking is through the goods arc consigned to
an inspector for examination. They must be
brought to his platform. small building winch
accommodates only four ears at time. III
there happens to be ten or twelve carloads 1t takes
a week to make tho examination and clearance,
while in the meantime other merchants must wait,
and porishable goods are spoiled. Every box anu
bale is opened in the hope of finding some error or
excuse for imposing a fine. No matter how many
cars of merchandise Of the class such as corn
coal coke ETC., there may be in one importation.
each one has to be unloaded. pound by pound and
each sack has to DO opcnni, rcsaoked and loaded
again There are very few cases in which line is
not imposed. Each in transit TO other parts OF
the Republic, under bond and sealed with fiscal
locks, still has to be accompanied by customs in
spector These are some Of tho difficulties which
this merchant relates coming within his own
everyday experience in Mexico
4 second difficulty met with IN Mexico as related
bX
American Commission IL the lack of bonded ware
houses. The duty entire importation must
now be paid in bulk before any Of the goods can be
sold On a ship load this will amount to large
sum- often more than $4,000 The En- gish aud
Germans advance the money for that purpose. as
they have houses there to look after 1t. Amercan7
have no houses there and won't make the advance"
Ii il said that many things from this country could
be sent there with profit. Bacon tor instance re-
tails at G2l2 cents pound in Mexico CITY. pre-
served hams for 81 pound. and canned goods for
four times much they bring hore In New
Orleans. American loaf sugar. however is cheaper
there than Mexican sugar
II Is not thought here that tho Mexican Treaty
would benefit trade much with that country, rs 1t
does not include in its provisions hardware, cotton
goods and other things for which this country
might find large outlet in Mexico
HOW TO COMPETE sUCc issFULLY.
Mr.. Abram Cutler. chief engineer of a projected
railroad in Honduras. which is being pushed by
company of business OF this city. sailed recently
70 prosecute work on the road. Mr.. Cutler has had
extensive business experience IN Central America,
and while hero he gave tho South American Com
mission the benefit of his There - not. he
says. an American house in Central America. while
there are English and German houses carrying
stocks of goods valued rs high as half "A million
dollars. These live there. study the wants and
whms of tho people. take their goods IN traffic. give
long credits TO native merchants and traders, and
make immense profits. As an Instance of what can
be done "a New Orleans house with small capital
started a fruit trade In Honduras and have made
large fortunes in comparatively short time. run
ming three steamships 10 this city ana importing
annually $4,000 worth OF fruit. Mr. Cutler de
clares that the climate Of Honduras is agreeable and
healthy and the soil wonderfully rich. Offering great
advantages TO capitalists. lie says that his expert
ence in the Central and south American trade Is
that the American merchants do not send there
what the people want Iio gave an Instance OF a
peculiar shawl which n German house has made q
large amount of money from because manufactured
especially for that country. American merchants
sent better shawl there. but 1t did not suit the
whims OF the people and would not SELL This agrees
with the testimony OF commercial agent in Porto
Rico who told of a small firm OF importers rho made
large amount OF money by the importation Of uni
taton Madras hSndkerchleis manufactured IN Eng
land for the headwcar of colored women. The de
sign made on the island to suit tho fancy OF the
people and then sent 10 EnglsnA, whore the goods
were manufactured. Another instance of this
adaptation Of goods TO the tastes and fancy Of
toners was given to the South American Com
mission by a biscuit manufacturer In New-York
lie said that his business with South America was
unsatisfactory until he went there several years III
succession and found out exactly what the people
wanted. Now no controls 90 per cent Of the trade
and is able TO compete successfully with the largest
| English house.
Mr. Cutler said that the presence Of English
agents there enabled them 10 extend credits AT b
rates of interest. aud Americans must do the
| thing. The safety or unworthlncss Of merchants
and traders in those countries must he found out
and known. For this purpose. well the general
| solicitation OF trade. American houses must keep
competent travellers there. European houses mako
up their catalogues, price lists etc. more in the
language of tho country employ foreign correspond
| enco clerks and pack their goods especially for
| those markets American trade has been injured
| by dishonest packages. American goods to a large
extent arc now sent 10 England and then shipped
| to South America. Testimony before the South
American Commission shows that the Iirazils alone
annually import from England $1,000 900 worth of
American butter.
THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION
| This Is the most important question and will oc-
cupy large share of the Forthcoming report of the
preliminary work of the South American Com.uis
l.. III. L.