New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-29
TRADE WITH THE CONGO STATE.
CHANCES FOR AMERICAN MERCHANTS.


CHANCES FOR AMERICAN MERCHANTS.
REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES AGENT-NATURE
OF THE B-rsINEss-YAnvE INCIDENCE.
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-Thc Secretary OF
State has received report from W. r. Tisdel, ohi'eu
States TO the State OF the Congo Association who
travelled by special caravan to the interior OF Africa as
far as Stanley Pool around and to the north and east OF
which he made several explorations, calling at hnic-
hasa De Brazzavie and otherpons and visiting the
native villages bordering the Pool. His report Is con-
fined to the lower Congo and coast with Its commerca
advantages and his observations arc given Tor the pehe
fit of American merchants who may feel disposed 10 trade
there lie recommends in the first place. that Americans
who contemplate establishing themselves on the lower
Congo or any where on tho west OF Africa should
not do so unless supplied with large capital which
will enable them TO compete with tho long-estao-
lished Dutch, English. and German houses which
control almost the entire trade OF the
west coast. An American house must
first 5e assured that transportation for Its manu-
facured goods outward and for the products OF the
country honeward. This is OF vital Importance III
must have factories stations In different parts engage
help acclimated and familiar with tho country and the
natives, and with a knowledge OF both tho Portu
guese and FIote languages. mako presents to chiefs
OF tribes, and IN this manner induce the natives
to come into the newly established factories
mistake suppose that all OF the products which
are reported to from the Congo grown there
or do actually from there. Not oneeDth Is har
vested there The Dutch African Trading Company OF
Rotterdam has fifty three factories or stations the prn
cpa one being at Banana Point the manager for
the company resides The hftytwo remaining factories
are scattered from Loango, In latitude 400 40 SOUTH to
Benguela latitude 13o 40 SOUTH and TO the Interior
about one hundred miles, the limit OF the lowiand On
the Congo River proper they have only seven stations
and with two exceptions these are unimportant when
compared with many OF the other stations. The com
anIa
which ply detwecn Banana and the stations along the
coast and lower river BY this method tho different parts
are kept supplied with the articles required by the
natives the products OF the surrounding country
are gathered in small lots and transported TO BANANA
where packages prepared for shipment TO Europe
They shipped in steamers belonging to the company
The same plan adopted by the English. German ana
French companies, hence their Independence and ABILITY
TO control the trade OF the lower country.
Along tho entire the products not at all I'M
Ike the exports consisting principally OF rubber ground
nuts palm OIL palm nuts, cola nuts and gum copal.
Some ivory also ported, but In small quantities, tho
principal coast ivory being at different points
in Angola Common cotton and woollen goods, rum,
gn glass beads. guns, powder, tobacco, and common
cutlery make up the principal imports Fifty per cent
OF all the goods which go to the coast-incuding
provisions arc purchased In England. The
gin comes from Holland and Is manufactured expressly
for the trade the quantity being about 40 per cent OF
tributed amongst other countries. few bottles OF
trade gin will much further in trade with the natives
than ten times its value in CLOTH and often 1t happens
that traders compelled TO return 10 the coast with
out having accomplished trade because the natives
insist upon having gin. while the trader was
supped with cloth alone. native man can bc ln-
duced TO work factory for or twodays at time,
upon the that he at the expiration OF that
time have bottle two OF gin wAo f you olef hili
piece OF cloth tits doubtful whether he woud WORK OF
not The coast women fond Of CLOTH having
preference for the gaudy colors. They the work
people OF the country and it were not for their In
du.try little or nothing would be gathered for foreign
markets The men lounge about. drinking, gossiping,
aghting or hunting. as timay suit their tastes.
whether or not the cotton goods Of American manu-
facture can be laid down In the Congo and along the
coast "a cheaply as from England Mr.. Iisde is
not pre pared TO state he is satisfied that canned
goods common cutlery roadymado wooden houses lun-
Der. medicines. beads and Yankee notions gehetaly
can be delivered the traders along the coast a lower
prices than they now being inV"iced ron EUROPE
Agents representing American houses WISH @Mih,us 70 90
the European head oinces, and not go 10 thc coast
eIs anGrs ca. e Of hardship Snd suffering have
Cured where agents have been sent 10 the cost "th
out knowing where they going or what they were
going for. or course tits does not apply TO ANGOLA
South Of the Congo IN saint int.. TSuI ,Saro Ge
II is thought an Il, opportunity So,no to place nS
at all unlike that OF the Southern States aud the require
mcnts OF the people are much the same a.
T4S%s Goods iaSTo all kinds rs /, one n'aSs o Se
richest Islands in the world densey populated ana might
be made 10 produce everything required by the lnabt
ants hut they we'll satisfied with the production:
for export. OF coffee. sugar and palm OIL while al OF
their supplies consumption, excepting fruit,
come principally from London or Liverpool Mr. Ilsdel
saw in shop OF American sheeting ana pue
leans" which the proprietor SAID ne had
ordered especially through sn English house.
Mr. Tisde does not think IT possible for Americans to
got foOthOd In CAMERON where the Germans control
the trade In Fernando Po, under Spanish rule or ln
the Niger County. Dahomey, the Gold Coast ana
Ashantee, all English possessions. Guinea ~
country Of great richness, producing IN addition
to all the tropical products, gold, copper
and wax OF the finest quality known to the European
Interior offer extraordinary Inducements 10 the trader
English German and French traders have already estaD
ishcd there and IL Is Understood that osoh hou1P
has arranged for agency Ia Bssao, to which place II
turpOscs running sailing vessel monthly III connccil1h
with an already established line To the Cape de Nerdc
Islands, between which ana Boston gOon paying Uauo
A. well begun Gorec Dakar and San Luis, III the French
African possessions OF senegal are thriving DusIhes
places bat thc Frch look we'll after their own res
nsope that American merchants are not recommended
10 venture into Yankee enterprise has how
ever shown Itself In GOrce, whore American mousse
against great Odds Il doing fair business The canary
Islands and Madeira also oder Inducements to the Ame
can merchant andt n thought that Win agencies once
established the places herein named for the sale Oh
American goods purchase OF native products large
and well paying trade could be worked up and that
steamers struced for cargo with small passenger ac
ION would employ In month
ly voyages from and United States via the Azores
Madeira Canaes Cape dc Verde ana the west Coast Vi
Africa. - ~ "a. q, ~. -,..... r,..
sarge and Lancaster recently arrived III the harDOr OF
Banana aud saluted tho flag OF the Congo
state. Colonel DeWinton, the chief Official
of the State went the Kearsargo TO St. Vincent on
account OF ill-heah. He has since returned 10 NVl
OPPOSED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The Post tomorrow
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