New-York tribune., 1890-01-13

THE UNITED S4N4i@1'
rvpox sr,rF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRTsrSsl
Maranhao. December II.
The foreign trade of the northern cods' VI
Brazil is practically controlled by tne
Fnolisb. There are two great mercah'ie
houses Represented al Ceara, MaIanhao' i"i''
Nanaos. and intermediate ports, which handlc inv
bulk of the imports received on this coast anu III
the Amazon Valley. and have a large share OF lhc
sxnor+ trade They control commercial eN-
changes because they have the carrying uaue
largely in their own hands One OF the th-hs"
steamship lines makes regular trips between LiN-
erpooI. Lisbon. Ceara, Maranhao ana fara' anu
obtains freirhts for New-York in returning. An
other line plies between Liverpool, lAshon an"
Naranhao. third makes an al-around tramp
inr VOYAGE. starting from Liverpool, putting IN
nj Hamburg Havre and Lisbon, and subsequently
ar Maranhao and Para, and returning py way u
Ncw-York when freight can he secured III COLI
nection with these lines smaller tenders are en-
ployed 10 collect and deliver goods al the shal'oI
norts of the northern coast of Brazil. Al Para
connection is made with the sixty steamers plying
on the Amazon and its tributaries. These YES
sells while under the Brazilian flag, are largely
owned in England. and have been built TO meet
tie requirements Of the river trade Inc chlel
line on the Amazon, with forty steamers, receives
nent. The ocean steamers also carry the mails
wlenever thav can get them. taking them to New
York in intervals between the monthly departures
of the United States and Brazilian line, and form
ing regular lines Of communication with European
norts These various lines offer ample facilities
for The movement of freight 10 and from the north
ern coast Of Brazil and the Amazon Valley. EN-
norts are carried 10 Lisbon, Havre, Hamburg, LlV-
ernool and New-York and in return imports are
received Orders are sent TO Europe for dry
goods hardware, wines. and nearly everything
that is needed on this coast and in the Amazon
Valley and the trade is mainly controlled oy inc
English houses In this summary Pernamnnco'
Bahia. Rio. Santos and other ports on the south
westerly trend Of the coast from Cape ~. Rogue
are not included. but only the northern ports
from the eas,ernmost headland 10 Guiana
THE AMERICAN MAIL STEAMERS.
There is a considerable number of sailing YES
els under various European flags employed IN
carving ocean freights TO these northern ports
but they are gradually disappearing under the
pressure Of competition from tramp steamers
The only serious competition offered for the New
York trade is by the United States and Brazilian
mail steamers Perhaps hslf-a-dozen American
sailing vessels are seen al Para in the course Of
wear; but the mail steamers are practically the
sole represeptativcs OF American commerce III
these waters There are three of these steamers
now in service the Alliance, Advance and Finance,
leaving New-YOrk once a month, and, after drop
ming the mails at StThomas. Martinique and
Barbados. for distribution by English steamers III
the West Indies, calling at Para, Naranhao. Fer
nambuco Bahia. Rio and Santos in Brazil. These
are iron steamships built at Chester, Penn, by
Roach & Son, one Of 3.0o0-tons burthen. with ac-
commodatons for 100 cabin passengers, ana the
other two 2,6OO-tons each, with accOmmoda-
,ions for ffty-two cabin passengers.
These vessels are well-oficered and admirably
managed with reference TO the comfort Of passen-
GERS OF one Of these steamers, the Advance,
I can speak with positvencss after protracted
voyage against wind and current. with hish
sea running good portion Of the time. II IS
a thoroughly seawoTthy and comfortable snip
with the least possible roll in rough wafer and
with an almost imperceptbe jar Of machinery
It Is commanded by Captain GIifiths, most
cspabTe and accomplished officer, whose courtesy
and high character are recognized by ali who
sail with and under him. All these vessels. how
ever are specially designed for carrying large
carCoes and their business has increased 10 such
an extent that additional steamers are now
chartered 10 take surplus freight, and TWO new
ships are To he put in service during the coming
wear The steamers leave New-York and New
port News heavily laden with freight for Para,
Pernambuco and Rio and return with corgoes
Of coffee sugar and rubber. In competing for
passengers and freight they have been p'tted
against numerous English tramp lines, whose
running expenses are much lower than their
own: hut they have gradually gained ground
and have done much 70 develop American trade
with Brazil. The scope Of that trade VIII he
considered in subsequent letters of this series
~ Porn amin nd a
restricted view Of the question is here presented
in its relation with the commerce Of the north
EN- coast
AMERICAN TRADE on TIE NORTH COAST.
Al Para there are two American mercantile
houses which have competed with English and
German houses for the trade Of the Amazon
Valley. and with a fair degree Of success. They
rot only export nearly all the rubber rcceive1 IN
New-York. but have also struggled TO introduce
American breadstuiTs calico drilling, cotton
goods hardware, kerosene, machinery, canned
goods and other merchandise If they have not
succeeded in dislodgins their formidable CON-
petitors. trey have opened the way for a large
development Of American trade under favor
able conditions in the near future Bu, when
Para has been passed there is no
market on the north coast Tor Amer
lean goods At Maranhao very little impression
has been produced by faint-hcarted com
petition with the English. Both exports
from and imports 10 New-Nork are inconsiderablc.
little -four and kerosene comes in, and a few
goatskins ostrich feathers. and minor articles Of
merchandise go out. The English command the
trade Of this town, bringing in and taxing out
everything Of real value. | asked the Consular
Agent here whether there were any American
merchants in the town. d" Oh, yes, lie replied :;
there is an American dentist here Dentists
are useful and necessary members of modern
society, hut they can hardly be considered
pioneers Of commercial progress. There is one
mercantile house with American connections. but
il is not competing with any vicor or spirit with
the English. Further down the coast lies CeaTa.