Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27

anxious to find a suitable mart for the
growth of wool from its 100. 900, 900 sheep,
has frequently offered to pay half the
amount necessary to subsidize lines OF
steamers between its ports and New York,
but the apparentindifference of our Govern
ment to such proposals has not only de-
fested its object but provoked the present
commercial estrangement.
Our foreign mails give yearly profit of
$735, 900 and over to the Government, thus
| affording it the means desired Of materially
assisting our commerce without the need Of
taxation. IF the $3.50, 900, 900 we pay in one
| year to foreign vessels in ou- carrying
trade, were discreetly expended in sub
sidizing American vessels, a commercial
navy with an aggregate tonnage of over
| 5000, 900 in excess of Great Britain's, could
with the steady cooperation of business cap
ital float our products to every land.
BOLIVIA WANTS TO TRADE.
The imports of Bolivia are chiefly cotton
goods, machinery, small hardwares and
canned provisions, amounting in all to
about $40. 900, 900. Bolivia is anxious to
trade with us and has offered concessions in
tariff, but the limited credit our merchants
extend to them and our system OF putting
up goods in immense packages, leave this
commerce almost wholly to European
powers. As the principal part OF our busi-
ness with the Republic OF Colombia is car
ried on with our own ships, we enjoy fair
share of its trade, but the unsuitabieness OF
our cotton goods and of our system of pack
ing, gives a maximum of that trade to En-
gland. 1t is a regular system with English
vessels to bring the products of these States
into our ports, load up with raw cotton and
start for home. They bring on their next
voyage to them cotton goods specially made
for the trade and again repeat their former
voyage. Thus while we may be able to get
the products of these Southern States here,
it is far more difficult matter to send ours
there. The result Is they buy their goods,
with our purchase money, in Europe.
That the Brazilian Government is favor
able to increased commerce with this country
is shown by her subsidizing steamship
line to New York, to which our Government
would pay nothing. Our imports from
Brazil are nearly twice that of England's,
while our exports fall below one-ffth of hers.
In the last 80 years, owing to this, we have
indirectly paid British merchants $79S, ,510..
600, besides freight amounting to $2, 464,-
$50, and exchange at three-fourths of per
cent, s., ,610, $50.
THE TRIANGULAR COURSE.
The cause for this is the triangular course
of European commerce. In our trade with
Brazil at least eight times as many steamers
come from Rio de Janeiro to New York as
sail from New York TO Rio de Janeiro. OF
the engines used in her railway traffic 213
out of 252 in use are of American manufac-
ture. This is very significant.
If we advert to our commerce with Chilli
the same distractions are relevant. Her
commerce in 1888 amounted to S12S. .000, 900,
in which traffic 81, $50, 900 indicates our part
about equally divided between exports
and imports. OF the total exports OF this
state about two-thirds are raw materials,
mostly nitrate, copper and silver. Of this
important trade England enjoys fully one
half Owing to a contract for the building of
750 miles OF railroad at cost of SIS. 900, 900
awarded last year to American contractors
our exports are likely to receive a vigorous
impetus. Chilli already supplies Peru, Ecua-
dor and Bolivia with breadstuffs, and, un-
less in the near future we can offer cheaper
freight rates, California millers will lose
their largest and most lucrative market.
The imports of Mexico and Central Amer
lea come chiefly from the United States,
with the exception OF cotton goods. They
require cheaper grade of drillings, sheet
ing and other fabrics than our home markets
demand, and consequently purchase IN En-
gland where the manufacturers pander to
the trade. It is anticipated that before
many years the custom houses along the Rio
Grande will be abolished, and with them
the petty restrictions and annoyances which
now embarrass and restrict our trade.
WHAT WE PAY TO BANKERS.
The Importance of proper banking facili-
20
American commerce cannot be overesti-
mated. As S136, 900, 900 of our yearly i'm
ports from these States is paid with 9O-days
drafts on North American merchants upon
London banks. which charge q per cent, we
not only give them practically the use OF the
money for the time these drafts are drawn,
but actually pay 81 ,000, 900 per year toll as
forfeit for our stupidity.
Our sugar trade with Central and South
America has long formed one of the most
important factors in our commerce. In 1888
out of the total import of 2,7O0, ,248, ,157
pounds there was received from these Span
countries 2, ,103, ,67S, ,66S pounds
valued at S56, 139, 239. Our exports of refined
sugar for the same year to these States
amounted to 10000, 900 pounds valued at
about $500, 900, which is the lowest since 1882
In 1888 our export of refined sugar to the
at $3S; in 1879 it amounted to 5.632, ,623
valued at S4S1, 900 and in Uruguay
it has declined from 1924, 740 in 1881 to
merely nothing in 1889. This great change
has been wrought by the now extensive man
ufacture of the beet sugar of Europe, which
threatens to crush the sugar-cane entirely
out of commerce, unless something be done
quickly and reciprocally by the Govern
ments of the two Americas to protect it
against European beet sugar.
WOOL WE SHOULD HAVE.
The Argentine Republic ranks second
among the coarse wool producing countries,
yet so imperfect are our transport facilities
with her that we buy there less than 10, 000,-
900 pounds in our total yearly purchase of
10 900, 900 pounds. In 1858, when Ameri-
can vessels carried II per cent of all
our exports, the Collins Line of
steamers asked for mail pay at the
rate of $685., 900 per annum. it was re-
fused and the Collins Line collapsed.
In the same year England increased the pay
of the Cunard line from $785, 200 to about |
successfully compete with the Collins
line. to which our Government de-
cided to give nothing than the |
5000, 900 per annum that it might the more |
port of her mails. This example explains |
the disparity in the amount OF commerce in |
the two countries-serving as a universal |
of the conduct of the two govern |
ments. Only when the wealth of an Amer
ican private citizen shall equal the wealth |
OF subject of the English crown, backed by |
the treasury Of the United Kingdom, may |
we, in pursuance with our preseut policy, |
Justly hope to enter into that competition in !
commerce, that our natural resources, me- |
chanical skill and proud empire demand.
j. A. MCDONALD. |
REPORTED DEAD, YET ALIVE.