New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-25

At Cape st. ROGUE begins the south
western trend of the coast Of Brazil. For
the first five degrees of latitude there IS little
change in longitude. From Natal to Macayo the
coastline runs almost directly south. In ms
easternmost section of Brazil are clustered four
of the smallest States, Rio Grande do Norte'
parabvba. Alagoas and Sergipc, with one of the
larger States, Pernambuco, in the centre, hanFed
in the interior by Plainly, undeveloped asri-
cultural region. The four small States are equal
in territorial area to New-England and West
Virginia Pernambuco corresponds in territorial
area to New-YOrk Piauhy is a little larger than
Kansas The population of this group OF SIX
Eastern Brazilian States aggregates 100000, or
about one-half of the population Of the State OIL
New-York These are mainly sugar and cotton
States PernambucO is the commercial centre OF
the region TO it are sent by steam tenders along
the coast and by OX-tcam and mule from Uhe
interior these two staples of Eastern Brazil FROM
it are distributed the imports brought INTO maroon
by steamers sailing under every flag OF marltiihe
Europe PernambucO ranks as the third Brazllah
city in population, and aspires TO DC second
Bahia having only nominal advantage over III i'll
the returns Of the last census 1t is one OF the
most flourshing cities the coast, with steadily
increasing trade, and with a prosperous future as
its manifest destiny. II is one of the most healIh-
full ports and on many accounts is the most
attractive place for permanent residence whlch
Europeans or Americans can find on the Brazlhah
seaboard II ought TO he great centre for
American trade, but it is virtually an English
port
The importations received at Pernambuco in
1855 amounted TO S15,116,5s3 81, on which a
duty Of S5.275.711 33 was collected. OF this
aggregate S6,604.ll7 81 was furnished by Eng
land. S24s22SQ4 40 by France, 81 81 $3.50 68 by
Germany. and 81 ,Oj0,Gl2 80 by the United States.
The merchandise imported here from New-l ork
consists chiefly of flour, kerosene, the coarse
cotton goods known as drilling, and hardware.
About one-ffteenth of the imports Is received
from the United States, while England supplies
between six and seven iftecnths, France one
sixth and Germany and Austria together nearly
onc-sixth. The warehouses and stores III the cltS
are filed with European merchandise, While only
a few odds and ends come from the United States
This entire eastern district. which is. as have
said. as large as New-EnEland, NewN ork, west
Virginia and Kansas, is practically clothed anu
Supplied with the Injuries Of life ny maritime
Europe. Some Of the negroes wear American
drilling, but the cotton, linen and woolen goods
are supplied by England Germany and France.
The cheaper grades Of hardware come mainly from
Germany. and the machinery and tools from Eng
land OF the thousand and one articles Of mer-
chandise sold in the shops by Portuguese mer-
chants only small proportion Is imported from
the United States. If flour and kerosene were
left ont of account the American export trade
with one Of the most populouS districts Of Brazil
would be too insignificant to be seriously CON
sidered
Our frcc-tradc economists will probably seek
10 explain this lamentoble default Of American
enterprise as the natural consequence Of the tanh
policy Of Tire United States They will assert that
maritime Europe meets with no difficulty IN selling
merchandise to the Brazlans, because IT IS Wiling
70 purchase raw materials and products in return,
whereas the United States Government has built
up a Chinese wall around its coast This eNplana-
ton must be dismissed preposterous at Klo'
Santos and Para. whence the bulk Of the coffee
and rubber products i shipped TO the United
States where +. i, received free Of duty. II Il
equally unreasonable at lrrnambuco, where a
product worth Si249,l30 IS was shipped TO the
United States There is duty levied IN Tie
Taited STATES on sugar, which is the cmel STAPLE
OF this district but that does not operate to smut
out the importation Of this crop. Out OF '"'"i
export Of sugar worth Sl,ls Ala 10 from feT-
uambucO in 1858, about one-haf, or TO he exact
4s,34S.211 kilOs, worth S2020,992 30, was trans
ported 70 the United States. Germany and France
take very little Of this crop, Yet largely outseH
the United States in the export trade to hraZH'
England receives the bulk Of the raw cotton, OF
which the United States, with its own southern
supply does not stand in need, and IN TINS way
swc is its impOrtations from this coast put the
United States remains one Of the best markets
for Pernambuco, as it is for Para and RIO. Inc
trade in goatskns, which are received duty free IN
New-York reached during 1855 valuation oil
S9s7.703 Ga for I,6l2 1866 hides. There are large
81 RrnZ l,ip
cultivation and where goats can Craze oil the
wear round 1t costs nothing 10 feed them, ana
their skins form a valuable article OF merchandise,
. which is exported mainly to the United States.
Nsugar and eoatskins, with cast0T-OH sccd
and rubber form the chief exports 10 America, ana
the aggregate is eight times as great as the I'M
ports received IN return No clearer GcmohSlI"-
lion can be required of the fallacl involved IN the
ASSUMPTION that il is the American tdrIh that
intcrtercs with the development OF trade VIII
Brazil, and that purchasers Tor our goods cOu!"
readily be found there II theirs could DC hOld III
return Brazilian products are freely sold IN the
United States, but American goods are not puI-
chased in return. ..-;., g..
the small share which Americans have IN the
export trade with Brazil III proportion 10 u'
enormous quantity of IupOrtahohs when lhcy Ic
ceivc. The first and most important cause Is Leh
Of enterprise i'm establishing mercantile agencies
and exhibiting samples. There Is one American
house in Pcrnambuco, Messrs Foster N Cos, but
it is not in a position 20 compete successfully
with German. french and English houses. ii
represents the American line Of steamers, and
handles all the goods brought 10 Pemambuco
from New-York. bat IL lacks facilities Ior dls-
PLAYING the manufactures and products OF the
United. States Other houses and agencies ar"
required. English and German merchants are
constantly sending commercial travellers 70 Brazil
They have complete lines of samples, and can
furnish precise information respecting prices
grades and qualities. American commercial
travellers are seldom if ever seen in Fer
nambuco. Portuguese merchants know what every
European country has to offer in their markets.
but are kept in ignorance respecting amer can
goods The courteous American Consul here,
II. Christian Barstcl. lays The strongest stress
upon this lack of available information respect
ing American merchandise. He asserts that the
only effective method Of enlargiug American
trade is the opening in Brazilian ports of com
mercial exchanges. where SAMPLES Of all kinds
can he freely displayed anG prices can be OBJ
fhass