Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-07
TRADE WITH BRAZIL.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE CHAM
Der or COMMERCE DIRECTORS.
The Question OF Sending Committee 60
Washington to Consult with the Post
ma,ter-GeneraI 20 DO Decided.

Colonel John d. Purcell, president Of
the Chamber OF Commerce, has called a
special meeting of the Beard Of Directors
Of that body for noon to-day 10 consider
the following communication received by
him yesterday:
RIcmGoSD. VA. April c, 1891.
Colonel John p. Purcell, Presiden, Chamber Of
Commerce. CITY;
Dear Sir, i beg leave 70 ask you to ap-
point q committee TO 60 TO Washington 10
see the Postmastef-General in the interest
Of the United States and Brazil Mail
Steamship Company, now running from
Newport News TO various ports VI South
America
First. Because the United States and
Brazil Nail Steamship Company, starting
as It does from Hampton Roads. IL OF great
importance to Virginia and adjoining
States.
Second. That this line has increased the
business largely from Brazil and is benefit
ing the Stare o. Virginia. especially by the
large shipments of -four, which Is so popu-
lar in Brazil.
Third. That this reciprocity treaty with
Brazil IL likely 10 increase the business be-
tween the two countries. and we are anxious
that the State should have the full dement's
arising from 1t.
Fourth That there is a larger eXporta-
ton Of the products OF our state 20 some
of the other ports of Brazil than there Is TO
Rio de Janeiro. and one Of the greatest ne
cessitiesf for increasing the business between
Brazil aud this country IS the opening up
OF oil the coastal ports Of Brazil. That
that il more Of o necessity toward IN
creaslng commerce between the two coun-
tries than to haYe fast-mail service from
New York 10 Rio de Janeiro, without
touching at intermediate points. That
Para, with its three thousand miles OF Dayi-
CATION on the Amazon, is Of far more I'M
portAnce to the trade than Rio de Janeiro
of itself. That Marian IS also an impor-
tant port. That Pernambuco Is larger
port of distribution to the surrounding
country than Rio. That Bahia IL
is also an important port, and that MGceo
and Cree are also growing ports, and they
should not be neglected and given the
go-by for the purpose of putting last
mail into Rio.
SHOULD HAVE THESE PORTS orES.
These are facts that my experience for
number of years has shown that II is lar
more important to have these ports opened
and regular State-steamship service than II
Is 10 have one fast through service TO Rio
de Janeiro.
Also. our steamship service with Brazil
is an entirely different affair from what IT
is with Europe, for in Europe If YOU reach
one port you reach the whole. But in the
ports OF Brazil that these steamers stop at
there is no railroad communication with
Rio, and there 10 no more reason why a
direct mail service should be established TO
Rio than there should to either Para, Per
nambuco, Bahia, or Santos.
The foregoing reasons, which L nave
hastily given, are the main ones 10 urge.
The Postmaster-General and the Presl-
dent have it IN their minds that Rio is the
most important place TO reach from the
United States, and they want q fast mail
service from New York direct TO Rio with
out stopping at intermediate points, and |
say il is very grave mistake from COM
mercial point of view.
The United States and Brazil Steamship
Company at present stop at ST. Thomas,
Martinique Barbados, in the West Indies,
anG Para Marnaham, Pernambuco. Bahia,
Rio de ]aneiro, and Santos, IN Brazil, and
have been giving them service every
twenty DAYS. They propose to establish a
semi-monthly service, and at an early date
every ten DAYS, and TO add the ports of
Maceio and Cerea, and this is what they
offer, and they want mail contract for ten
wears with this route laid out and want to
start from Hampton Roads. They now
load large quantities Of naval stores, flour,
and lard at Hampton Roads. and the bust
ness is going to largely increase.
believe the Postmaster-General is DIS
posed TO consider the views of the South
so far as lies in his power, and this line
must of necessity be Of benefit. They take
all our coal from Newport News. the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway gives them large
amounts of freight, and they make that
their starting-point- II is there they re-
ceiye their mails. and it is the starting
point for the main portion of their pas
sengers. Yours very truly,
THOMAS BRANCH IL Co.