The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-08
RECIPROCAL TRADE.
ran UNITED STATES MAY SUP
PLANT THE ENGLISH IN BRAZIL.

Country IN 1l1-OOnOitlOnoo aCAaSoS
Not Suited 20 the Exigencies Of
Brazilian Ports.
Faw business men in the United States of
North America, says John c. Cline in
Letter from Rio de Janeiro TO the Philadel-
nbia Press, fully appreciate the great op-
rpor.unities offered for increased trade with
he limited States of Brazil since the estab-
lishment of republic in that country.
II was during visit TO Brazil few
months ago that my attention was directed
nv both Brazilians and resident Americans
10 the immense opportunities extended TO
American merchants to reap a financial
harvest by catering to the demands of the
trade of that country.
With an area equal to that of the United
states of America, exclusive of Alaska,
and containing 14,000, 900 inhabitants, the
trade of Brazil is well worth seeking. The
,oreign commerce Of the country amounts
- AHA 900 900 wear, of which the exports
svsrare 500. 600, 900 and the imports SSO0O0,-
0o0 The aggregate foreign commerce of all
tha other South American countries per
YEAR is S275, 000, 900, being only about $780,
mo coo more than that OF Brazil alone
Of her total foreign commerce $50, Co.,
oO0 or about one-third, Is with the United
tafp
norts principally coffee and rubber, to the
fTnited States of America, while So, go. 900
represent American Imports into Brazil con-
sistinQ principally of -four, kerosene, ma
caiuery, lard and lumber.
ENGLISH INFLUENCES UPPERMosT.
In to the present time by far the largest
mart If the trade has been almost entirely
IN the hands of English and German mer-
chants This has largely been due to the
fact that the late monarchial government,
with natural sympathy aud preference for
countries having the same form Of govern
ment as its own used all possible means to
divert trade towards suca countries, rather
than in the direction of a republic.
But the chief fault has been with Ameri-
can merchants themselves who made no
effort either to push their trade or to cult
yate that which they succeeded in obtain
ing. Tnev declined to profit by the expe-
renee of English and German merchants,
and refused to prepare goods especially
shifted to Brazilian wants and tastes.
No effort has heen made to study the de-
lnands Of the trade, but, on the other hand,
their business principle seems to have been
to saw to Brazilians: Take what is offered
or leave it alone" This sort of thing may
do well enough in the case of ''trusts, /"
where they possess 'cinch" on the market,
but such proceedings are not at all feasible
where business competition is as sharp as it
is in Brazil American merchants at home
fully understand that if trade is desired in
their own country it must be sought for,
and, when once obtained, must be nurtured
and fostered Exactly the same principle
must be observed if Brazilian trade is to be
secured.
THE TRADE MUST BE CATERED TO.
Ca my way t. Rio de Janeiro the steam
ship by which travelled made brief stops
at the Brazilian ports of Para, Maranham,
Pernambuco and Bahia. At each of these
places | met American and native mer-
chants, who cited instances OF the way in
which North American merchants did busi-
ness in Brazil. In one case New York
house had sent to one of the principal cities
large shipment Of calicoes and muslins,
without LAYING properly consulted the de-
mands # the trade in that line of goods, but
believing that they could be readily dis
posed of under any circumstances
The goods were of excellent material and
would have been acceptable to North
American buyers, but they were neither
gaudy enough nor of patterns to suit natl We
customers. The result was thst the goods
were oil left on the shippers hands, and
eventually had to be sold at a great loss,
while goods imported by the English and
Germans, although inferior in every way
to the American article, sold readily at a
profit, because they suited the demand of
the trade and were manufactured with that
purpose In view.
The American merchants in question had
believed it possible to force their own goods
upon the market, notwithstanding advice
TO the contrary, which had previously been
given. The Brazilian customers very prop
erly refused to buy class of goods which
they did not want.
CARELESS SHIPMENTS MADE
Another instance was that in which a
ne" f0rk merchant shipped a large guam
uty OF flour to Rio de Janeiro. This was
puG up Ia lOo-pound lots In ordinary cotton
sacks. At none Of the Brazilian ports men
TONED can vessels go alongside of the docks
because OF the formation of the harbor.
they lie off shore distance of from 300
yards to two miles, all freight being trans
Ierred from the ships TO lighters. which
the1 unload at the docks. The work of
loading and unloading the lighters is done
ny gangs OF careless and ignorant Zuchias.
VINO nave no thought Of che cargo save to
get IL unloaded as soon as possible.
III nanoIlog the -four mentioned more
yuan one sack In eight was broken omen
.uIougn carelessness and the contents dis
TtOuted In the bottom Of the Lighter
nose sacks which reached shore in sound
Go s1 were piled up on the wharf and
Vos ~llnout tne least protection from the
HeaVhef In the humid climate of Brazil
uainpness penetrates everywhere very
quickly, the result being that in this case
tpe contents OF those sacks lying nearest to
.ue moor OF the wharf were ruined by damn
aaeSs, while, one of the sudden heavy rain
s peculiar to the country coming ND
quickly, the greater number of the rsst
were completely spoiled. The Brazilian
goods. o-1'0o W accePS Inc
eo Aoout the same time large invoice of
@ from England was received This
U uis el 10 Dig strong, oaken casks each hold
my Ioo pounds No amount of rough or
Habte ess handling by the stevedores in the
ttar' ,L could III any way injure them. and
, 10y were unloaded on the wharf in the
boa ,o manner that the -four in sack had
1torr, a ai altneugh subjected to a rain
4 nssn ~ an1 the natural dampness of the at
IniTrnS O. yet the contents were in no way
q The 80 ou Ihe shipper, it is true, charged
be caH stgnee more than would have been
acEa Use S nag the shipment been made in
Te 1a.e ouI this fact was not objected to by
ap ,aIter, who readily disposed of the cask
Tbn Than it had cost him.
sfcb tacs concerning the conditions in
"a atai I T., tae Two shipments arrived were rs
,ess a Wy tle Brazilian consiguee to his bust
.es1It associates and by them to others, the
81 gesa icing that all future orders from
AMI inraeeIc9ants for -four were sent to Eng,
'au Oh 10 the United States.