The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-09
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA.
Hon. "Billy" Williams's Idea of How American
Commerce Gould be Improved.

New York Herald.
Mr.. Williams, late United States minister to
Uruguay and Paraguay arrived home yesterday,
and this Afternoon reporter met him at the
Grand Central Hotel When asked what kind
of a report he thought the South American Com
mission would make to Congress those two
countries, he said: "Oh, think they will advise
closer trade and a subsidy for mail steamers
every ten days from New York to Rio Janeiro,
Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. If the United
States wants that trade, it will be necessary to
subsidze steamship line TO compete with other
countries.
Brazil now gives 500, 900 to the line that runs
from New York to Rio Janero. Without that
amount the steamship company could not pay
expenses. There are very few passengers to that
country, and the freights are very low. The
many tramp. lines, we call them, plying be-
tween the two countries put the freight traas
down. Think OF carrying coffee at twenty five
cents a sack (l60 pounds) distance of 5, 500
miles; yet that is done between New York and
Rio. The steamship Finance, in which l came,
brought eighteen thousand sacks of coffee and
one hundSed tons of raw rubber"
''How often does the American Brazil line run
steamers2"
only once month; and they stop at Rio.
But the European steamers not only to Rio,
but to Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. They catch
up all the trade in tAe la Plata country. Tn
American line, by stopping at Rio, loses very
rich trade. Three more steamers put In the
trade from New York to Rio direct and thence to
Uruguay and Paraguay could capture all that
trade 1t will require subsidy at first. l have
had eight years experience in Congress and four
years in South America, and if l were a member
of Congress now, would vote for any reason
able subsidy to put mail line between here and
that country. The trade would increase from
three to FIVE millions year. Buenos Ayres Of
fered to give s.. 600 subsidy toward a mail line
and Montevideo offered to concede all port dues
aad light dues free. Our government has only
to adopt liberal policy The merchants there
would rather trade in New York than in London
but now everything has to be transferred from
Rio, causing great delay. 1t takes six months
to get bill of goods from here and only thirty
three days from London. The American goods
go out of fashion before they arrive"
What should our merchants dol"
'NThey should form syndicates and establish
branch houses in those countries in charge of
natives Our trade last year with South Amer
lea was $40 900, 900. 1t could be increased easily
one hundred per cent. in few years if Congress
would adopt the proper policy and our merchants
sell on the same terms as they do in Europe. No
failures have occurred in Montevideo, city of
100, 900 inhabitants. for the past four years All
the prominent merchants own large ranches,
well stocked with cattle and sheep. They have
the slaughter and wool crop once year, there
fore the credit system is in vogue and they are
paid generally once year The English have a
strong hold on the merchants They sell them
on time at six per cent, while the americans de-
mand cash before the goods are delivered This
does not suit the Spaniards. They want to see
the goods before they pay"