Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-26
BRAZILIAN SUGAR PLANTATION.

tne brazlhan coffee exporters naturally prefer
TO ship by the Lamport and Holt line which
will deliver their cargoes in the north in much
less time. ! am told that two Of the largest
coffee importing houses in New York order all
their supplies by the English line in preference
to the American, because the saving of time IL
OF the utmost Importance when the prices Of
coffee and the rates Of exchange vary from
week to week with such extraordinary fuctua-
tons. Brazilian merchants say that the Brit
ish line not only makes quicker time at
cheaper rates. but that the American company
will not deliver coffee. except at its own wharf,
whereas the English and German steamers un-
load wherever importers desire them to dis
charge their cargOes.
SAILING VESSELS.
There are twenty-six sailing vessels, compris-
ing five lines. which ply regularly between Balti-
more and Rio de Janero under the American flag
They, too, bring OUT -four. kerosene. lard and
lumber and take back coffee. The trade is an
important one and shows what can be done by
the old-time methods. They never lack car
goes, because the owners buy and sell as they
sail; that Is, whatever they bring into port is
sold on the spot. and their return cargoes SUD-
Ply the home market of baltimore exclusively
with coffee. American sailing vessels coming
to Rio with cargoes from New York and New
England ports sail away empty, hunting for
cargoes farther up the coas. and in the West
Indies. Coffee being about the only article of
Ort from Flo to the United States vessels
thai bring down -four, &c. must either carry
back that commodity or go with ballast. The
time required for the voyages operates against
the shipmen, of coffee by any vessels except
steamers. aud it cannot be shipped under sail
except purchased in the Brazilian market. The
Baltimore ship owners get around the difficulty
by purchasing coffee on their own account,
thereby securing return freights without refer
ence 20 English and German competition for
carrying.
WHEAT FROM SAN FRANCISCO
There is small feet of American vessels
which bring wheat from San Francisco away
around Cape Horn to the ionring mills in
Rio. These vessels return in ballast without
freight, whereas il the Baltimore plan was
adopted they could largely supply the Cali
fornia market with coffee. New Orleans i'm
ports coffee directly from Rio. but principally
under the British flag. Some time ago the cap
tain of an American ship came into port at
Para with caIgo OF New England apples
which he found no difficulty in selling at the
rate of Sl2 per barrel He went back in bal
last, because not prepared to purchase any
Brazilian commodity on his own account. But
the voyage proved profitable, even without
a return cargo, that he promised to repeat it at
an early day. In short" said a consul with
whom talked, what is wanted here is more Of
that shrewd. inquisltive Yankee enterprise bent
upon finding out just what the Brazilian will
buy, and then supplying the demand as reason
ably and expeditiously as possible. The United
States government ought TO aid the steamship
line which is now subsidized by the Brazilian
treasury, so that there may be quicker mail
communication, more adequate transportation
facilities and a passenger service worthy the
American nation The New York merchants
ought TO do what their life insurance companies
are now doing throughout South America, viz.
to establish agencies in every important port
and inland city, hat business may be person.
ally transacted with customary American vim.
and then the Brazilians will be only too glad to
have the European monopoly broken up"
FANNIE b. WARD.