Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-29
The Congo Country.

English nor Commander Brldgman, TWO
officers of our navy, who are qualified
from actual inspection and observation
to express au opinion, has any confidence
I in the future of the Congo country. They
/ do not believe that it would pay Ameri-
! can merchants 10 establish commercial
houses there, and they even think that 1t
would be unwse for this government to
/ establish coaling station at the mouth
/ of the Congo.
This country took quite prominent
\ part in the conference of the representa-
tives OF the States of the Congo Associa.
/ tiOn W hich met at Berlin a few months ago,
/ and Mr.. kasson, who, at the time, was the
United States Minister 10 Germany, was
severely criticised for his action at the
/ conference because it was said that he
did not contne himself within the limits
of his Instructions. He believed, how
ever, that the valley of the Congo was
| destined to become the seat of great
wealth and OF an intelligent and indus
\ trious population. He was naturally
anxious, therefore, that this country
should have its full share of whatever
| benefits that might flow from trade with
the new country.
/ Not very long ago this government sent
Mr. W. p. Tisdel, as special agent, to
the states of the Congo Association with
instructions to report upon the country,
! its advantages and prospects for com
mercial purposes.
Mr.. TisdePs first report was received at
the State Department during the present
] - IL III.
aging. He tells American merchants
that the entire trade of the west coast OF
Africa is monOpolized by long established
Dutch, English and German houses, and
that if they want to engage In this trade
they must have plenty of money, must
provide their own transportation facili-
tiles, must locate stations in different
parts of the country to collect products,
and must secure persons to man
age these stations who can speak
both the Portuguese and Fiote languages.
1t is apparent that to do all these things
will take both time and money, and that
no return can be expected for at least a
year after operations are begun.
Mr.. Tisdel says that probably there is
no richer country in the world than that
which borders the sea, beginning at lat
10 deg. N. and extending to lat. 18 deg.
90 min, having an average breadth of 100
miles. The products OF this country are
rubber, palm kernels and palm oil, gum
| copal, grOund-nuts, ivory and wax. The
supply of these articles is far below the
demand although 1t could be increased to
almost any extent. The trouble is that 1t
is about impossible to get the natl 'es to
work, and owing to the deadly climate,
Europeans cannot be utilized.
The natives do not like white men,
and it is dangerous for them to travel far
away from white settlements. The ma
tives are quite ready to trade for cloth
and gin, but their chief anxiety is to trade
for gin.
The goods that make up the bulk of the
imports Of the Congo country are pur-
chased in England and Holland and con
sist of common cotton and woOleD goods
rum, gin, glass beads, guns, powder, and
common cutlery.
The houses Of the Congo country are
very poor affairs, and are not suitable for
protection against the heat or the rain.
MIR. TIsdel thinks that the portable wooden
house companies Of this country might do
an excellen4 business in putting up
houses there. He saw one portable
wooden house at Bona which completed
cost $4,000, and which could be dupli-
Gated at a profit by builders of this coun.
try for $4,000. The house was manufac-
tured in Belgium. Although there are
dense forests on the lower Congo and on
the coast, Europe furnishes what timber
is needed because there is no woodwork.
ing machinery in the Congo region, and
Mr.. Tisdel says 1t is not possible to intro
duce such machinery at present.
Mr.. Tisdel has very little to say that is
T calculated 10 induce American merchants
to seek trade in the Congo region. At st
, Thome, north from the Congo, there is
he thinks. q possible market for Ameri
can goods of all kinds, and the Canary
Islands and Madeira also offer induce
4 ments to American merchants. South o.
the Congo, in st. Paul de LoandO, Benguels
and MOssamedes, where the climate il
something like that Of the Southern State.
= of this country, there is, in MIR. Tisdel'i
l opinion, an opportunity to place Ameri
can goods There is large population
/ and many rich commercial firms who
D would like to trade with this country
I The lack of communication Ia the only
D thing in the way. Mr.. Tisdel's repor
does not indicate that he is very enthusi
, | astic about the Congo country