The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-10

/ NOluo luo mOuOEOllStS charge IN the nelgQ-
| borhood Of ten cents per mile for transport
ing you from Chill to the United States,
either to California Or via the lsthmus to
New York; and only about two cents per
mile to Europe. Not only that but the
English corporation which controls naviga-
ton on the western side of the hemisphere,
seems to have purposely arranged its time
tables so as to miss connection with the
New York steamers at the isthmus. Nine
times out of zen
PASSENGERS ARE LANDED AT PANAMA
day or two after the Pacific Mail has left
Aspinwall for the north, a nd are compelled
TO endure the danger. annoyance and ex-
pense of more than weeks stay on the
fever haunted isthmus-when, at some
seasons of the year, few hours are quite
long enough to give one his everlasting
quietus. Freight and mails are subject to
! the same treatment, and it looks as if the
whole thing were scheme to divert South
American trade from the United States to
Europe.
L have recently interviewed some mer-
chants on this subject, and have cleaned
the following facts; Half century ago,
Chill received more goods from the United
States than from any other country; but
now we come fourth on the liSt-Great
Britain sending by far the largest quantity,
Germany second, and France third. The
principal reason of our falling off is from
lack Of decent means of communication.
Shipments from the northern republic are
generally made at New York or Boston, al
though
A FEW ARTICLES COME FROM PHILADELPHIA
and others from Baltimore. They must
either go way down around Cape Horn, or
be landed at Aspinwall, transported by
rail across the istnmus, and reshipped at
Panama. The freight charges from New
RI Vol oroic wiz he 10th
more than double that from European ports
to the same destination; and it is said to be
| about thirty per cent. cheaper to ship goods
from New York to Europe and thence to
South America, than send them by way OF
Panama.
So very high are steamer rates Of trans
portation from the United States that most
goods are sent by sailing vessel around the
Horn, occupying from four to six months
IN transit. One great reason who the Chill
ian merchant prefers to trade with Eng
land, is because the goods arrive in the
same steamer with the bill of lading, and
ninety days Of grace being allowed on the
latter, he has chance to realize his profit
before making payment. If from the
United States, the bill comes by steamer in
| about thirty days, while the goods require
nearly half year
TO BE WAITED BY SAILS;
dnu III happens LlSU u6 mas 10 pay lOr
| things that he has never seen, months be-
fore their arrival
Another inducemept to European trade
is the advantage to the shipper of being
sure OF return cargo; while with the
United States at the present status Of COM
merclal relations, the voyage one way is
pretty sure to be dead loss. Another un-
favorable circumstance is that the heavier
merchants in Chill are almost universally
Europeans, and they naturally look for
European goods; whereas, were Yankees
engaged in business here, they would use
home articles whenever practicable. The
ubiquitous commercial traveller, with his
grip-sack, flirtatious propensities and
chronic smile, is not abroad in South Amer
lea as at the north; neither is advertising
carried to any such extent. Many leading
United States firms issue notices and price
lists especially for the South American
trade, generally printed in the two Ian
guagas; but by far the better plan would
be to advertise as
EXTENSIVELY AND ATTRACTIvELY
in the local papers of these cities where
their wares are little known, as at home
where the public is familiar with them.
But in spite OF all draw backs, Chill re-
ceived from the United States last year
about &, S63, 237 worth of goods. The last
official statement l saw gave the total an
| in value; and the exports 60,5l9, S27-the
latter figures, of course, including guano,
salt-petre and precious metals.
| The principal articles received from the
United States are agricultural implements,
machinery, cotton goods, lumber and para
line Our country now does good bust
ness with Chilli IN the hardw are line, though
formerly England monopolized it. The
screws used in Chilli yet come from Great
Britain, but all the nails from the United
States. Wallpaper is another item of con-
siderable export. The cheaper grades
come from Germany, also common printing
paper snd coarse stationery; but everything
in the art line of wallpapers, besides
the novelties and superior grades of sta
tionery, are
RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES.
The duties and high rate of exchange
prevent much importation of furniture,
though good many cane-bottomed chairs
are received. Ready made frame work for
! the most expensive chairs and sofas is i'm
| ported to be upholstered here, and ''knock-
down" articles, in trade parlance-that is,
| in pieces, to be put together when arrived
/ Excellent furniture is made in the country,
but the cabinet woods, including mahogany,
walnut, oak, cherry, ETC., are all imported.
| Pianos come chiefly from France and Ger
many, and are commonly of the cheaper
grades, though what with transportation
| charges, duties and high rate of exchange.
they cost more than the best at home. For
| these reasons there is little sale for fine
pianos here, such as Chickering's, Stein
ways, knabes, etc.
| The United States furnishes Chilli with
most of her cotton cloth but until Uncle
Samuel makes some different arrangement
in regard to the tariff on wool, he can never
compete with Europe in the manufacture
of wooden goods.
ALL THE DRUGS,
| too, come from Europe, except a few pills.
! plasters, patent medicines and specialties.
Many of the familiar pictures which grace
! the walls at home are seen here-the big
Goldfish which pertains to Scotts Emulsion,
| st. Jacob and his bottle of oil in hand, the
smirking phiz of that old humbug, Lydia
! Pinkham, ETC., ETC., the legends setting
forth their respective virtues being printed
| in the Spanish language.
All the kerosene used In Chill comes from
| the United States. Tie coal is mostly dug
in the country-notably at Coronel, Lota,
and Punta Arenas, the latter place being
the convict colony at the tip end of the CON
tinent: and little anthracite is imported
from England. The United States furn-
ishes most of the clocks, articles manufac-
tured from India-rubber, refined sugar,
lubricating OILS soaps, perfumes and ''Yan.
kee notions" Our silver-plated ware is in
great demand, and much preferred to that of
any other country. Chill makes her own
fireworks and uses a great quantity of
them; but
GETS ALL HER GUNPoWDER
as well as most of her munitions of warfare
from Europe A few wagons are sent down
from the United States, but not many finer
vehicles, rs there are several carriage man
ufactorles In the country. We supply most