New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-23
TRADE WITH COLOMBIA.
MINISTER ABBoTT's INTERESTING REPORT
oNTHE CONDITION OF THAT COUNTRY.
ykNEs OF TRANSPORTATION NEEsED-rossIBIH
TIES OF RECIPROCITY WITH THE


.hNns OF TRANSPORTATION NEEBED-rossIB1n'
TIES OF RECIPROCITY WITH THE
UNITED STATES
Washington, July % (specaD.-The State Depart
ment has received ana viii soon publish an ih'eresHs
report from Minister Abbott OF Bogota, on the mus
trial Possibilities Of Colombia" Mr.. Abootts choioe
Of title seems TO have been happy ana appropria"
His report shows that Colombia is country Oh vast
possibilities in industrial development which, now
ever cannot be realized until better and cheaper
means OF communication and transportation shan DC
provided With the exception OF river taic anu nino
short lines of railroad with total mileage auoun'is
TO about $50 miles, exclusive OF the Panama haurodu
the entire internal commerce OF the country Is caIleu
on by means Of trains of pack mules ana OK carS'
Only last wear about 600 bales OF foreign merchah
disc were DELAYED at Honda because means Oh rans'
portation could not be obtained to take then W 'e
place OF destination, not more than Sixty mes u'e'
The freight charge bale OF sooos "ee"ie Nv
pounds for that distance, was $40 IN goio' VI wy.
that amount in Colombian currency vi o"uieo
project of an interconnenai railroad is resarueu WIN
great favor and deep interest by the progressive
people OF Colombia. There seems ALREADY 10 DC a
discussion of the question of routes On TINS supe0
Minister Abbott says: ,,..0
hsn nanle have 70 contend their struggle for improve
80, "a nroorsss lieS largely In Of the Inter-
Continental Railroad scheme While IL is not een n.
held that such ralroad should not traverse inc
American Republics and the 1shmus OF Panama nv
those who think 1t would be far better 70 oeeih ~ C"
a. ome Colombian port Carhseena Barranqua CT eenV
Malta and to operate it in connection with lines Oh
10 New.York and New-0rleons 49,,
In addition TO this railroad communication from NICK
leo might wen be extended south across the CenSl ]"
ran Reputcs to the Ishmus OF Panama ana ueh0c' =!
the Pacific Coast TO connect with the man nne rou
Caribbean Sea- Beginning at either one OF the
ports above referred to the intercontnentsi nne Ou
Soo al
cross the chain of the Andes by the pass when Is sau
10 exist near It's head waters ,, x,.s
Arong the many results beneficial 10 ColombH "hch
would follow the construction and operation OF TINS he
would undoubtedly be included the establishment u
ms manufactures the machinery for which couiu u4y
be transported here with profit under eNis''ns -
Colombia is virtually without mauud'V
present, although she possesses inexhausuoe
coal iron copper lead and salt, as well as ol so al"
silver and Immense deposits Of sulphur limestone eVo
,ha her fo,ests ahonnd in rare and precious woods
Property speaking there only one iron founury III oc
Republic 1t is situated more than ooo "iieo HO"'
the sea- and by reason of lack OF roads, can supply
only limited area. In all the rest Oh inc oou"uS
iron must be imported. few cloths are made III oii0
or two deror,ments a very few are woven by the In
dams NJ Paso straw mats manufactured to small
extent In two departments, and few hats are lano III
two or three other departments Inc same prihhV'o
methods of weaving are employed wihch Were III use
a century ago. These, according TO Minister ADooVV'
comprse all the manufactures VI OofOhpi", WIN -'
200 600 square miles of territory its great variety OF
soil and climate It's rich but undeveoped natural re-
sonrces and its population Of about 3,OOO,ooo. MIN
ster Abbott concludes his rather Respondent review OF
the agriculture of the Republic as follows:
In a word IL may be said that as manufacturing IN
dustries do exist to any great extent 50 sgrcuui
industries are in very backward end unsatisfactory cum
dtior hut as these ought constitute the life ana the
progress OF the country believe they Will come 70 10
when ways Of communication have been esaohsheu rI
such ways will come only cheap freight but an lnhuA
Of mos: desirable foreign element which VIII teha 70
produce scientific cultivation Of the soil, now uiieo Dy
the most primitive and unproauctve methods
The Minister is of the opinion that trade between
the United States and Colombia might be greatly III
creased. Among the articles which ought to be ex-
ported In larger quantities from the Umleu sa'es "o
mentions iron and steel and their manufactures especi
DIV machinery and tools; breadstus, oils drugs ana
medicines wine and beer, butter and lard, sugar. TAR
pitch, etc. He adds
Even with the Colombian tariff rates American nour'
lard butter sugar and beer are found in large quantities
unon the Sabana Bogota and with some concessions IN
unh rates these and all the aboven0med articles ought
"a compete on most satisfactory terms with those oil Oth
nations OF textile fabrics we export here Dut le"' no'
. ner cent II Is not impossible that might by the
manufacture Of an inferior qu0ty Of goods compete WIN
r,olond notwithstanding the present Colombian taTih
rates. but could secure reasonable CONCESSION as
these dues it be hardly doubted that we eouu give
the Coombans better articles than they now ouy iof e
same or less prices OF course, much VIII depend upon
the compliance by manufacturers and sellers WIN inc
trade conditions existing here.
In the year ended June 80 1890, the trade between
the United States and Colombia amounted to
The imports from that country amounted S3575253.
of which less than $4,000 worth subject TO duty
Included in the free imports was coffee valued at
81 s49441, and hides and skins of the value OF
$500 OO0 both Of which articles, In certain conmgen-
cIes NAV become dutiable on and after January l,
1882. During several years past the trade between
this country and Colombo has steadily decaI az ~
than in 1890. In 1883 amounted to $9,316511, OF
81 g24 O37 more than in 1oS9, and S3o1o,0l3 more
than In 1890 In 1888 the balance in favor OF the
United States S530.O01 In 1850 the baIance
acaInst the United states S5,559 and In 1890 the
balance against the United states had increased to
81 O529O5 These figures appear TO add considerable
Significance TO what Minister Abbott suggests In behalf
of reciprocity agreement between the two countries