Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27
WHAT BLAINE WANTS
The Vast Trade of South America
That Now Goes to Europe.
FIGURES THAT ARE SURPRISING.
How This Country Suffers From Triangular
Steamship Routes.
A SAD LESSON IN OUR EXPERIENCE
WRITTEN FOR THE p1spArcH.I

i
factories in the United States is more than
adequate to satisfy the conditions OF the
home market. The continual mutations in
the scale of wages and the expedients con-
trived to regulate production are palpabIe
expressions of the power of supply over de-
mand at home and the instability and rela-
tive infrmity of our markets abroad. In
the early times of the Republic the Gov
ernment recognized the importance of es-
tablishing foreign commerce on basis COM
mensurate with the natural wealth of the
Republic, but its successors, less provident,
permitted the genius of other nations to so
cripple and demean its power that from our
ships carrying in 1860 "a per cent .of
| our commerce it has now fallen so
low as IA. The importance of the Re-
public's controlling its own carrying trade
is but very imperfectly expressed when we
! say that in 1889 upward of $3.50, 900, 900 were
! paid other nations for the transport of our
commodities, furnishing work to thousands
of foreigners in pursuit which specially
| appertains to home labor.
While the conduct of such a large pro-
portion of our commercial trade is in the
hands of foreign nations, its growth will be
retarded bv the distractions and machina-
tions of rivalry, aud its full benefits weak
| ened by hireling service. As early as 1925
| an attempt was made to hold an Interna-
tional American Congress. but no basis of
commercial reciprocity was formulated than
what is implied in treaties of friendship.
ABSORBED BY THE TARIFF.
During many subsequent years our Gov
| ernment was so preoccupied with the crea-
tion and adjustment of the tariff to meet
| the Jealous rivalries of the North and
| South, that she permitted other nations to
| forestall her in trade our country
| is : pre-eminently adapted 20 control.
In 1850, Great Britain contracted for two
| lines of steamships, one to do business with
| the ports of the West Indies, the others
| with the harbors of the South American
Continent. The former, the Royal mail
steam packet, was paid yearly subsidy of
81 1850, 900, the latter. the Pacific Steam
Navigation Company, receiving $685. 900,
thus furnishing them the means OF entering
into successful competition with all rivals
and of maintaining lucrative trade with
States, which events have proved to be
highly productive in agricultural. .and min
eral wealth.
The United States Government first took
into serious consideration the Importance of
developing our Central and South American
commerce in 1884, and in order that its re-
quirements might be definitely ascertained
"commission" was deputed to visit the
several seats of Government and to make
report OF the most feasible means Of estab-
fishing harmonious commercial relations
with these countries. The report was made,
discussed and approved. Its currency
awoke considerable enthusiasm among
the people but the apparent indesision and
temerity of the Government in supplying
the first requisite for such traffic-suitable
transport-showed the invincibility of a
conservatism which to-day threatens to set
contracted limits to the progress of the Re-
public. Something was done, however, to
repair the disorganized condition of our YES
sells, but the great disparity between it and
what remained 10 be accomplished rendered
the work scarcely perceptible in our COM
merce.
SOME STARTLING FIGURES.
When the phenomenal growth of this Re-
public is considered-how since 1870 the
population has increased over 26, 000, 900,
manufactures 1900, 100000 and natural
wealth S26, 900. OOO, ,0O0-it is surprising to
learn that in 1888 our commerce with Latin
America amounted to only $244, 219, 900, or
less than one-fiftn its total foreign trade,
990, 900 to the grand total of $483, ,695, 100 i'm
ported into these States. Wherever we have
proper transportation facilities our COM
merce is in no languishing condition, and if
its progress there be not sure and rapid our
manufacturer Indifference to the quality
and kind of goods shipped is to blame A
comparison between our trade with Ven
ezuela and the Argentine Republic will
furnish an apt illustration of the truth of
this.
Our exports to Venezuela have increased
over 800 per cent since steamship communI-
cation was established, and in 1888 our total
trade with that State amounted to $13, ,0S9,-
900 or nearly one-half its foreign business.
The red sd" line of vessels which ply be-
tween our ports and hers comprise six
steamers, with an average gross tonnage of
1,S46. We cannot say that these vessels are
subsidized since they scarcely received up to
1888 S14, 600 rom the United States Gov
ernment, while there are eight other SUBJ
sidized lines and three without subsidy, car
rying only cargoes, calling at the same ports
with European goods in regular com petit
ton. When we consider that the cost of
building vessels is fully Is per cent more
here than in Europe and the expense of rum
ming them from 80 to 35 per cent more, the
disadvantage of this line without any regu-
the European lines heavily subsidized and
of fully ten times its tonnage is only too
manifest.
SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN GOODS.
The ascendency of our trade here can
only be ascribed to the superiority of our
goods; in fact, with the single exception of
flour, this is universally. admitted by all
these States. The English exports to that
country are chiefly cotton goods and railway
iron. The iron trade is the consequence of
the large investments of English capital in
the construction of railroads and her pre-
eminenee in the cotton trade in comparison
with ours, was primarily due to the effects
of the war on its production here, and is
now due to the Indifference Of our manu-
facturers in meeting the requirements OF the
trade. However, our cotton trade with
Venezuela since 1880 shows an increase of
over 1, 100 bales each year, and with proper
judgment in meeting the demands of the
market and increased facilities for trans
portation the relative amounts of the En-
glish and United States trade in cotton may
easily be reversed within the next Is years.
The country abounds in iron ores, offering
to the genius of American industry and cap
ital rich harvest. A treaty OF reciprocity
by which they would admit our bread stufs,
petroleum and lumber Tree in exchange TOR
the free admission OF her sugar in our ports,
would greatly increase our commerce with
her and would give strong impulse to her
sugar industry.
In 1888 the Argentine Republics total
commerce reached the amount Of $3.50, $780,
600, of which SIG, ,602, 900 represents the
share of the United States. The cause of
the impoverished condition of our trade is
apparent In 1887 not one steamer bearing
the "Stars and Stripe" entered at or departed
from the ports OF the Argentine Republic,
while there were % different European
lines, comprising 6,607 steamers, or about 1S