The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13
THE.DAILY TIMES-SUNDAY. OCTOBER l3 1889.


"a singular fact with reference 70 the
recent great boom in building, railways
and manufactures in the Argentine Re
public is that practically all Of the lum'
Der and timber used there has been
brought from the United States. While
there re large forests Of soft woods IN
the country, they are so remote from the
rivers and the coast that II has been
found cheaper to import from North
American ports. Buenos Ayres has a
splendid harbor, which is constantly
crowded with shipping from all parts OF
the world | say all parts Perhaps
had better except the United States.
Though a large number of sailing vessels
from American ports arrive at Buenos
Avres each year, but small number OF
them hy the flag Of the United States.
Among hundreds of steamers in that
port | have again and again looked IN
vain for the flag OF your country. While
the trade Of the Argentine Republic with
the United States is growing rapidly,
believe there are not more than one hum
bred Americans in the whole republic.
There are thousands Of Englishmcn,
Frenchmen and Italians.
every time sit down to dinner here
and drink cup of coffee | think Of the
fact that you arc the greatest coffee con
suming country in the world, while the
Central and South American countries
represented in this congress are the cot
fee growers for the whole universe.
Therefore if we should over the coffee
reach better understanding Of our re-
ciprocal trade relations. it would be most
fitting. | am told that the people OF the
United States consume more coffee each
year than Germany, Great Britain, Aus
tria and France combined. Four-iifths
Of your requirements are produced III
Brazil and Venezuela, and nearly all OF
the remaining fifth in Guatemala, Mex
leo, San Salvador, Columbia, Costa Rica
and Hayti. Brazil alone supplies one
half OF what is regarded as the average
annual coffee crop Of the world. be
lieve american enterprise and American
machinery are needed in this industry
Why, the best Brazilian plantations de-
pend almost entirely upon the hoe. They
use the pillow very little. The coffee
farmers know little or nothing about
conserving the soil. 1t is never en-
riched. and the art Of rotation in crops
50 commonly practiced by your farmers
IS almost unknown To ours. COiiec is.
in many sections, the only crop and
when disaster comes 10 that, as it does
sometimes come, both planter and mef
chant find themselves on the verge OF
ruin.
During a winters residence in Cuba
became somewhat familiar with the
coffee industry there. 1t is a wonder C.
me that a greater number of Americans
DO not engage in that business.
"All over South and Central America
there are fine opportunities for your capi
tai and your men of ability and energy
Take. for instance, the Argentine Re
public. American trade with that coun
Try is confined chiefly to lumber and
petroleum, though something is being
done in agricultural implements and
machinery American pianos, cook
stoves, beer and salt and canned fish arc
also finding a market there. But in the
whole OF the Argentine Republic there j.
not one distinctive American importing
house. 4 number of wealthy firms handle
American goods, but they are either Eng
lish or German houses, which do bust
ness with the United States simply be-
cause it pays them TO do 50. Consul
Baker, Of Buenos Ayres, told me last fall
hat Of more thana million dollars worth
Of cheese imported by the Argentinian-
last year Just q thousand dollars worth
came from the United States. Your
country sends great quantities of chee,,
to Europe, and Europe sends cheese O.
South America So with hams. You
export hams los the shipload. bus sou g.
not export to us. OF 2l6 tons Of hams
shipped 20 Buenos Ayrcs last year only
thirteen tons came direct fromthe United
States, though nearly all of the imported
hams were grown and cured in youl
country and exported to England, OF
whom our people purchased.
"You ask me how American trade IN
Central and South America can be best
promoted Ny reply is, by the establish
ment OF regular lines OF steamers between
your ports and ours, giving certain ana
rapid communication. That is the lir-.
step 10 be taken. AND 10 must be taken by
the people Of the United States. il J,
easier for Us To- cross the Atlantic 60 Lon
don or Paris than 10 come % New York
or New Orleans. The Europeans BIAS.
sought us ont with their steamships. and
their commercial agents, Euslishmen
krcnchmcn. German, and Dutchmcu are
prominent in the commerce AMI finances
# many of our countries. IL i5uot yet
too late for the American, il he Will
jnly bcstir himself"
WAITED AlTTrrfAN