The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-17

SIC, 200 600
For the past three or four weeks the
negotiations have been in progress. In
return for the continued free entry of
sugar and coffee into the United States it
has been agreed by the colonies not only
to greatly enlarge the free list of their
tariffs, but also to make very considerable
reductions in the duty of leading agri-
cultural and other products of the United
States.
PRESIDENT Harrison today sent to the
Senate letter from the secretary of state
lncioSlng copy OF the first annual report
OF Director Curtis, of the bureau of Ameri-
can republics. 1t says the immense num-
Der OF applications received for informa-
ton about the North American countries
gives such ample evidence of the awakened
interest in the commerce and conditions of
nelghborlng countries that it is encourac-
ing to those endeavoring to promote the
social and commercial relations of the
American republics.
The report refers to the rapidly increas-
ing export trade TO the Central and South
American rerrbifcs, and says many United
States manufacturers who have never be-
fore attempted to sell merchandise in the
southern continent are now sending agents
into these markets to introduce their
goods. The merchants of Mexico and
Central and South America who have
heretofore purchased in Europe exclus-
lively, are now coming to the United
States, and invariably discover that they
can hnd here nearly every article they
need OF better quality and at no create:
cost. The recently negotiated reciprocity
arrangements, 1t is said, also afford them
opportunities that are beginning to be
understood and appreciated.
The report refers to the work under
taken by the bureau of interesting the
governments and people of the Latin
American countries in the Worlds fair
The invitations extended to them to par
ticlpate will be cordially accepted by
every republican colony, and appropria-
tions have been made to pay the expenses
of representation that exceed in the az
gregate S2,000,000, more than has been
provided for the same purpose by the
states of the United States, with the state
of Illinois excepted. The companies oper-
ating lines of steamships between the
United States and Latin-America have
joined heartily in the enterprise and
has been enabled to prepare for exhibition
at Chicago an historical collection illus
trating the discovery, conquest and settle
ment Of Latin-America and subsequent
periods. The report contains much infor-
nation of interest Among other things
it is proposed to prepare for the exposition
a commercial exhibit illustrating the vari-
Gus classes of merchandise best adapted to
their wants and most acceptable to the
tastes of the consumers in Mexico, Central
and South America and West Indies
This exhibit, it is proposed, at the close of
the exposition will De permanently estab-
lished either in Washington City or New
York.
The postmaster general has executed
contracts with the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company for mail service on the routes
between New York and Colon, San Fran
cisco and Panama and San Francisco and
Hongkong. to begin February |, iS92; and
with the "Red u" line for service between
New York and La Guayra, Venezuela, to
begin March /.