Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
A CORNER In RUBBER.
The Plans of the New York Syndi-
cate Are Not Likely to Succeed.
DEALING WITH A BIG COUNTRY.
Even If They Get the Amazon Steamers
They Cannot Win Out
TOO MUCH WIND WORK ABOUT IL
rcdRREsPoSpEScE OF THE prsPArcH.1

eagle is soaring over the line OF the equa-
tor. Having performed the wonderful feat
of indicating by his aerial flight suitable
location for the trans-Andean Railway for
the Pan-American Syndicate, paralleled with
and for the most part on the sum-
NIT OF the Andes, the great bird is,
it is said, now seeking to pounce upon
steamships of all sorts, that he may organize
Pan-American steamship line. In this
the cunning bird shows great foresight,
for the simple reasons that the distance
from the Amazon to America as the bird
flies is shorter by sea, and good steamer
will make quicker time between the points
with greater accommodation to passengers,
and that railways cannot successfully COM
pete with ocean transportation as long as
half an ounce of coal will move a ton Of
cargo on the ocean a mile.
In quite as impracticable manner as Q
Salvation Army missionary located here,
who runs printing press, distributes vim
dictive tracts, attacking the religion Of the
country, this great American rubber syndi-
cate bird has scattered tracts in the form of
American newspaper clippings outlining
the avowed purpose of few capitalists at
tempting to control from their easy chairs
in New York the great
Business of the Amazon Valley,
which in area is as extensive as all Of our
country east of the Rocky Mountains-and
perhaps in natural productions, such a.
rubber, cocoa, rice, coffee, hides, sugar, etc,
the richest valley on the earth's surface.
The latest American mail brings us the
news of the organization of the United
States Ruhhar Comnanv with oanifal Of
$50, 900, 900. Among the incorporators are
some New York bankers, whose names are
quite well known, but who are apparently
strangers to this trade Accompanying
this prospectus, which it is said was dis
tributed to the press in printed slips, is a
statement of she individual wealth of each
incorporation, amounting to $4,000, 900,
while the capital represented by all aggre-
gates S49, ,0O0, 900.
Of this capital stock of S50, ,000, 900 but
S100, 900 had been subscribed at the latest
dates we have, SO that as yet we practically
have no positive accumulation of capital to
be used in the forwarding of the great
schemes outlined, which would, if perfected,
virtually amount to an attempt at the abb
sorption of the products of this rich valley.
1t is proposed to corner the rubber trade
in the interest of the American rubber
manufacturers. As O means to this end, the
steamers of the Amazon river, and BY this
consolidation control the transportation
which they considers key to the whole sit
uation.
Too Much Wind in 1t.
This reads very well in New York pros
pectus that has beautifully autographed
stock certificates to sell at 500 for each
share, but to those of us who have lived in
the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the en-
tire scheme sounds distinctively American,
and it must be confessed that we have been
most unfortunate in both the social and
business characters Of the Americans who
have attempted in past years to control
this trade. There have been as many as
seven large hquidations of American mer-
chants in as many years in this valley. -
With this record these people naturally
have but little faith in the new syudicace,
although it is planned on a much grander
scale than any of the former American en-
terprises.
The misfortune seems to have been the
propensity Of the New England Americans
who have located here to talk too much of
their great intentions, and to invariably
fail in the consummation. This new COM
pany seem to be starting out on ihe same
plan. They begin by first supplying the
newspapers with printed slips outlining
their scheme These slips or newspaper
articles are offensive to the native Bra
Zileiro.
Too Big Contract.
Amazonia, fguratively, is paradise, and
in some regards hades also. No credit is
due to the native population here for tho
riches they enjoy, but the openly avowed
purpose of controlling the trade in the man.
ner indicated would result in disaster to the
native business houses of Para, as well as
that of foreipOars Rut IL iS practica-
bic. The rubber crop is about $4,000 tons,
the business of one month aggregating 500,-
900 pounds or S2, 900, 900. On the movement
of this one product the entire population
are dependent.
The purpose to buy up the steamers Of
the Amazon is, perhaps, feasible enough,
but it hardly seems possible that monopoly
of all transportation can be secured. Para
occupies the same position as regards tho
Amazon that New Orleans does to the Ohio
and Mississippi Valleys. There are 10000
miles of inland navigation in the Amazon
Valley, extending to Peru, Venezuela,
Ecuador, United States of Colombia and
Bolivia. The Amazon Steam Navigation
Company is an English corporation with
headquarters in London. Their plant,
valued at e625,OO0 sterling, was
within the year sold to Brazilian syndi-
cate at Rio for the advanced sum of $780,
UOU slcILHSy J1OO3OOU dlIcduy Uccn
paid in cash-the last installment being due
next month.
Chance to Buy Cheap.
1t is stated that on account of the great
depreciation in exchange since the date Of
sale, the Brazilian syndicate are unable to
fulfill their contract 1t is within the
bounds of possibility that this American
may have opened negotiations
with these Brazilians, with a view of taking
his enormous plant off their hands.
This would indeed be one grand step in
The proper direction, but the officials here
Of either company have no intimation Of
any such possibility; all they know is from
what appears in the newspapers. There
Ire, however, other steam navigation COM
Danies, but practically the Amazon Com
pany with its fleet of so steamers, controls
.he transportation. 1t is a we'll managed
company, but the plant sold at so great an
might be duplicated by new
steamers at one-half that figure. Besides
here are thousands of small sail boats or
,anoes used to supplement the lack of
team communication on short routes. The
Brazilian Government also operates the
Lloyd Brazileiro, which does an important
carrying trade from Manaos, 1000 miles
lp the Amazon to all the coast cities Of
Brazil That feet comprises eight first
lass Clyde built steamers.
l. ORTON KFRBFY