Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
NO COAL MARKET FOR Us.
Consuis in Spanish America Report Small
Chances for American Producers.

COnsuls In Spanish America Report Small
Chances for American Producers.
circular sent out by the Department OF
State to consu!s in all parts of Spanish Amer
lea asking what chance there was for improv-
ing the market for coal from the United States
in that direction has ELECTED replies of no very
encouraging nature. Mexico, it is true de-
ponds at present chiefly upon this country for
| supplies of fossil fuel. but every other nation
in that part of the world seems to buy
what it uses from England chiefly.
This is mainly because it can be got more
cheaply from British mines. Coal deposits
are apparently very scarce in South America,
but recent explorations have led to the belief
that extensive mines will yet be opened in Mex
leo. thus affording the prospect that even Gus
tom from that source may be withdrawn to q
great extent before long.
Consul General Hosmer reports from Guate-
mala that scarcely any coal worth mentioning
Is used In that country. Charcoal of domestic
manufacture Is universally used for cooking
purposes. The artificial heating of houses is
rendered unnecessary by the warmth of the
climate, and the small amount of manufacture
ing done is mainly carried on by means of the
abundant water power with which that region
Is provided. A small quantity Of coal. about
forty-two tons, was recently brought to the
port of San Jose for steamer that was intended
u q.
however, to a financial difficulty in paving for
the vessel, the coal still awaits its arrival
In the Argentine Republic no considerable
deposits OF coal have yet been discovered
The supply has therefore to be brought entirely
from abroad and most of it is British. With
the opening Of new railways and the inaugural
ton Of new industries in that energetic young
country greater supplies of such fuel are
required every year. In 1889 the amount
imported was 65s, 900 tons The Goa! business
Of the Argentine Republic is exclusively in the
hands OF English merchants who likewise con-
troll the railways and gas companies, while the
vessels engaged in the trade mostly fly the
British flag.
The coal consumed in Brazil is nearly all
fetched from England also In some parts Of
that country, as in the district OF Para, the
direct rays OF an equatorial sun generously
supply all the caloric required for animal and
vegetable life. With rare exceptions there are
no chimneys to the houses and what little
cooking the people are compelled to do is per-
formed with wood or charcoal. The won
derfully extensive system of steam trans
portation from Brazil to Europe and North
America and throughout the Amazon river
and Its tributaries consumes enormous
quantity of coal; but these steamship corpo-
| rations, which are owned in England, obtain
their supplies from their home mines. In the
district of Rio Grande do Sui there is a single
coal mining company which puts out yearly
about COO tons OF coal. This concern owns a
factory for the manufacture of little bricks of
coal dust and tar mixed-called 'briquettes''-
which are largely used as fuel.
Chile is SO fortunate as to have coal mines Of
her own and she gets the bulk OF her supplies
from her own fields. The output is 600 600
tons year. That country also gets coal from
| Great Britain and Australia. The Chilean
coal, however, is OF inferior quality and full! Of
| slate. When used in the manufacture of
nitrates it is mixed with English coal. The
| furnaces and CRATES in Chile are all made to
suit the English coal, which comes in larger
! chunks than the American, and it would prob
ably be difficult to secure a market ,toEr the
| latter. 'Ionl
In Ecuador the consumption of cod Il Very
small. what is used coming from England and
Australia by sailing vessels. Uruguay burns
| about 100000 tons u year, nearly all OF 1t com .
ing from England and Scotland. Veuezuela
has a tropical climate. and hence tho consunip-
ton Of coal there is comparatively small. This
is particularly the case. tor the reason that
there are no manufacturing enterprises in the
country. while charcoal is utilized for cooking.
The coal chiefly imported comes from Wales
in the shape of what is called patent fuel'-
coal screenings pressed into blocks. 1t IL GER
| tain that there are abundant natural coal de-
posts in Venezuela and many large veins
have already been found which could be very
easily worked. Three of the biggest known
veins have been on fire for many years, form
ing vast subterranean furnaces. ~