Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
AN EQUAL EXCHANGE.
The Dual Effect Of Reciprocity With
the Latin Republics.
WHAT SOUTH AMERICA NEEDS.
The American Merchants Are Investigating
the New Market.
wAKAMAKER'S TRANSPORTATION PLANS
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCa.I
The prospects for reciprocity in trade be-
tween the q nited States and the Latin Re
publics of America have begun to wake up
the mercantile and manufacturing interests
of this country to action. Already the great
manufacturers and merchants in New York
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 Unc lie Sam with
new markets and to bring back the fullest
possible information respecting the wants of
these peoples OF the southland. As soon y
it has been ascertained in this way what
they require, the mills and factories every
where will be set a-going to produce the
merchandise demanded.
In order that means may not be lacking
to convey the goods to the freshl y-acquired
customers, Postmaster General Wanamaker
is at present preparing plans for securing
the establishment Of service by new lines Of
steamers, which will travel fast and dis
tribute freight in the shortest practicable
time at all the important ports of the South
ern continent
Needs of the Latin Republics.
At present the merchants and manufac-
turers of the United States are altogether
ignorant of the wants of the Southern re-
publics. It will not do for them to send
thither precisely the same goods as are
turned out TO suit the tastes and require
ments of buyers in this country. For the
South American trade different lines of
articles will be requisite
different styles and patterns in cotton goods,
leather goods, hardware, glassware, cutlery,
and SO forth. Even in household utensils
and machinery there will be special modi-
fcatIons, doubtless. It will be necessary
that in every particular the nature OF the
demand shall be learned in order that it
may be met.
So much having been accomplished, there
will be nothing to prevent Uncle Sam from
absorbing effectively all the trade with
these nations. In general way it may be
said that everything we make is something
that they want. We can produce the goods
they require for as little as their cost of
manufacture in Europe, and, getting them
in free of duty, we can sell them for much
less, so as to drive opposition out of the
market Furthermore, the goods are Of
better quality than those turned out for this
commerce by England and Germany, which
now divide all the South American busi-
ness between them.
Goldfish From New England.
Particularly does this apply to machinery
and agricultural implements, and from
patent harvesters to kitchen stoves-which
hoiun infrodr1ool IN
stitution down there BY Yankee enterprise
United States products, so far as they have
been imported, enjoy the greatest popular
ity. Nor does this apply alone to manufac-
tured things; for is not New England cod
fish regarded as q national dish all over the
neither 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 well
be imagined that some new types of ma
chimes in this line will be required in Brazil,
portions OF the Argentine, and other va.
areas, where the soil is so exceedingly
fruitful that without extraordinary means
of cultivation man is unable to grow any
crops successfully upon it, because they are
smothered by giant grasses, brobdiggnagian
weeds and endless vines, which grow faster
than he can destroy them. In conversation
tu0 ObuCI ohyS 4hdJOt e. oWSA Cd4lCu
nv attention to the fact that all people have
at first dwelt upon and titled the most bar
rem fields they could find because they were
unable to subdue the exuberance of nature
with primitive tools on more fruitful lands.
That is the reason, he said, why the earliest
of Europe grew up along the
Mediterranean, where the land was compar-
atively infertile; likewise on this continent
in Peru, and on the African land-mass in
Egypt, where the inhabitants were able to
rely upon an annual overflow for the grow
ing of grain which would not otherwise
have sprouted.
Packed for the Mules Back.
One thing to which United States mer-
chants will be obliged to give great atten-
ton to in their shipments to South America
is the packing. Owing to lack of railways,
goods for consumption in the interior have
usually to be transported on muie-back for
hundreds Of miles, frequently over mount
aims. This is the way in which even bread,
in the shape Of rolls ready baked, has to be
carried from the cities on the sea-coast in
land, to supply the people of these regions
which cannot be made to produce wheat.
Therefore it is advisable that no package of
shall weigh over 125 pounds at
the most, and care ought to be taken to
rial. Bales are preferable to boxes always.
The Europeans have reduced this packing to
a fine art, and it is by no means equally well
understood on this side of the water.
An important duty entrusted 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
it will be ascertained what Improvements,
if any, have to be made in our products. in
order to render them equal, and if possible
to the foreign.
Catalogues in the Spanish Tongue.
Firms in this country will soon issue illus
trated catalogues in Spanish for circulation
among these Latin-American customers.
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
sterling and give metric weights and meas
ures. Advertising firms in New York and
other cities are considering the advisability
Of appointing agents In each of the Repub-
lies, who will be authorized to contract Tor
space in native newspaper. receiving in
part payment such goods of United States
as are advertised.
This will render 1t necessary that the ad-
firms, through their agents, shall
become in a manner middiemen themselves;
but those whose information is regarded as
authoritative in such matters declare that
the result of advertising would be
nil. British and German manufacturers
have limited their South American adver-
Using always to notices printed in Spanish
periodicals at London and Berlin, for circu-
alton among South American merchants;
but the experts quoted assert that such in
,bo h. ;,,% he