Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-02

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Boston. Chicago and other large cities are
sending trusted agents to South and Central
America. with instructions to examine the
fields which are to furnish Uncle Sam with new
markets and to bring back the fullest possible
information respecting the wants of these
peoples Of the southland. As soon a. it has
been ascertained in this way what they require
the mills and factories everywhere will be set
agoing to produce the merchandise demanded
In order that means may not be lacking to con-
vey the goods to the freshly acquired custom
ers Postmaster General Wanamaker is at
present preparing plans for securing the estab-
lishment Of service BY. new Flines Of steamers,
which will travel astlInd distribute freight in
the shortest practicable time at all the import
ant ports of the southern Continent But Of
this more later.
At present the merchants and manufacturers
OF the United States are altogether ignorant Of
the wants Of the southern republics. It will
not do for them to send thither precisely the
same goods as are turned out to suit the tastes
and requirements of buyers in this country.
For the South American trade different lines Of
manufactured articles will be requisite-dif-
ferent styles and patterns in cotton goods,
leather goods, hardware, glass ware, cutlery
machinery there will be special notifications,
doubtless. 1t will be necessary that in every
particular the nature of the demand shall be
learned in order that it may be met
JUST WHAT THEY WANT.
So much having been accomplished, there
will be nothing to prevent Uncle Sam from alb
sorbing effectively all the trade with these ma
TONS In Q general way it may be said that
everything he makes is something that they
want. He can produce the goods they require
for as little as their cost of manufacture in
nd ttIny fharr in fro a,Hfl ,,xx, he
can sell them for much less. so as to drive OPP
position out of the market. Furthermore the
goods he makes are of better quality than those
turned out for this commerce by England and
Germany, which now divide all the South
American business between them. Particu-
larly does this apply to machinery and agri-
cultural implements and from patent harvest
ers to kitchen stoves-which latter are being
newly introduced as an institution down there
by Yankee enterprise-United States products
SO far as they have been imported, enjoy
the greatest popularity. Nor does this apply
alone to manufactured things, for is not New
England Goldfish regarded as a national dish all
over the southern continent being priced as
highly as is terrapin here brought dried by ships
from Boston and Gloucester? Yea. verify. AS for
implements of agriculture. it may be well
imagined that some new types of machines in
this line will be required in Brazil, portions of
the Argentine and other vast areas. where the
soil Is SO exceedingly fruitful that without ex-
traordinary means Of cultivation man is unable
to grow any crops successfully upon it, because
they are smothered by giant grasses, Brob-
dingnagian weeds and endless vines. which
grow faster than he can destroy them. In con-
versation the other day, Maj. ]. w. Powell
called HE STAR writer's attention to the fact
that all peoples have at first dwelt upon and
titled the most barren fields they could find.
because they were unable to subdue the exuber-
ance of nature with primitive tools on more
fruitful lands. That is the reason, he said, WHY
the earliest civilizations of Europe grew up
along the Mediterranean, where the land was
comparatively infertile; likewise on this con-
tinent in Peru, and on the African land mass in
Egypt, where the inhabitants were able to rely
upon an annual overflow for the growing Of
grain, which would not otherwise have sprouted.
MUST BE PACKED WELL.
One thing to which United States merchants
will be obliged to give great attention in their
shipments to South America is the packing.
Owing to lack of railways goods for consump-
ton in the interior have usually to be trans
ported on muleback for hundreds uf miles.
frequently over mountains. This is the way
in which even bread, in the shape of rolls,
ready baked, has to be carried from the cities
on the seaccast inland to supply the people of
these regions, which cannot be made to pro-
duce wheat. Therefore, it is advisable that no
package OF merchandise shall weigh over 1875
pounds at the most, and care ought to be taken
terial. Bales are preferable to boxes always
The Europeans have reduced this packing bus
mess to fine art and it is by no means equally
well understood on this side of the water.
An important duty intrusted to the conf
dental agents who have been sent to the
southern republics by United States manu-
facturers and merchants is to bring back
samples of goods of all kinds which England
and Germany sell in those quarters. Thus il
will be ascertained what improvements, if any,
have to be made in our products in order to
render them equal and, if possible. superior to
the foreign. Firms in this country will soon
issue illustrated catalogues in Spanish for cir
cuiatiOn among these Latin-American custom
ers. The latter employ the metric system of
weights and measures, and their commercial
dealings with Europe have always been in
English pounds, shillings and pence There
fore the catalogues will quote all prices in ster-
ling and give metric weights and measures Ad-
yertising firms in New York and other cities are
considering the advisability of appointing agents
IN each OF the republics, who will be authorized
to contract for space in native newspapers
receiving in part payment such goods OF
United States manufacture as are adver-
tIsed. This will render it necessary that
the advertising firms, through their agents,
Shall become In manner middlemen them
selves; but those whose informant ton is regarded
as authoritative in such matters declare that
otherwise the result of advertising would be
nil. British and German manufacturers have
limited their South American advertising
always to notices printed In Spanish periodicals
at London and Berlin for circulation among
South American merchants; but the experts
quoted assert that such information should be
published in the native press, SO that it may
meet the eye of the buying public. 1t is fur
Their recommended that the study of Spanish
shall be adopted in all commercial schools in
the United States, suggestion which would
appear to have very practical value, in view
OF the expectation that such intimate trade re-
lations are to be established before long be-
tween this and the Latin republics of America.
One difficulty in the way Of this plan for re-
ciprocity is the lack of banking facilities for
financial transactions between merchants of
the United States and those of South America
Up to the present time all such transactions
have had to be settled in London implying so
much additional complication, as we'll as a tax
on every dollar paid and received. European
dealers, too, have given these people longer
credits because Of their banking connections
with them and by reason of the better acquaint-
ance between buyer and seller. All this, how
ever, will be changed without much trouble.
THE MATTER OF TRANSPORTATION.
The most important thing to be attended to
at present is the business of providing means
for the transportation Of goods. Mr.. Wanna
maker has taken that subject in hand with his
usual vigor and is considering the establish
ment for the purpose of a great system of
freight and passenger steamships. Today only
six lines are running between the United States
and these southern ports, while fifty lines con-
meet the latter with Europe. According to the
Postmaster Generals plan the steamer service
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