Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-26

IL IL Restricted because Transports
ton Facilities Are Lacking.

IOh ac1l1t1e0 Are Lacking.
1t is shown very clearly by Mr.. Jas
tremski. United States consul at Callao. in
a report to the State Department that the
small trade existing between the United
States and the Pacific coast countries of
South America is due almost entirely to
lack Of proper means of transportation.
He says he has discovered no natural
causes operating against the extension Of
American commerce in these countries.
On the contrary, the natural conditions
favor II. Yet commerce Is carried across
the American isthmus and Gulf of Mexico
and thence across the Atlantic to the dis
tant ports Of Europe. The explanation FOR
this diversion from natural channels. to
his mind, is found in the following coinperi-
sons Of distances from New York and rates
Of travel for first cabin passage. viz: To
San Francisco. by Columbian and Pacific
mail lines. via Panama, twenty-nine days,
300 miles, $40; to Callao. by Columbian
and English or Chilean lines, via Panama,
fifteen days, 1862 miles, S167; to Valparaiso,
by Columbian and English or Chilean
lines, via Panama. twenty-five days, 1.G2a
miles. $225; to Liverpool, by Cunard steam
ers, seven days $500 miles, $50. 1t will be
observed, he says. that these rates of pas
sage from New York to Callao and Val
paradise are virtually prohibitory to the
average American tourist, prospeCtOr and
commercial traveller. They must operate
likewise with many South Americans Who
with cheaper rates. would visit the United
States and eventually form commercial le-
iations there. These classes are the pion-
GERS of International trade, and their alb.
sence In both regions is explained by the
preceding rates.
States and Colon are the Columbian line
steamers. carrying mails and departing
every ten days from New York Relying
doubtless. upon these infrequent depart
ures. which bar competition, the Eurtrean
steamships plying between Colon and Eu-
ropean ports, which occupy nineteen days
on the voyage. charge passengers IL
about $500 for the trip. The stoppages al
Callao and the waits at Panama generally
prolong the voyages to thirty lays iron
Valparaiso to New York. Add to this
seven days to cross the Atlantic. making
total Of thirty-seven days and II Is seer
at a glance. he says. why Chilean travellers
to Europe avoid the United States.
A young American. who called at the CON
sulate recently. while on his way from
Valparaiso to New York. expressed chagrir
at having taken the Pacific route. He
stated that he could have gone from Val
pariso over the Trans-Andine railway tC
Buenos Ayres. thence to Europe. and from
Europe to New York in nearly the same
time and for exactly e. more; that IS, fol-
SIS more he could have travelled over 12OOt
miles on the Atlantic side. against iG5s
miles on the Pacific side.
A change in this curious condition, the
consul said, would turn the tables. as tho
trip from Valparaiso to New York could
easily be made in sixteen days. Adding
seven days to cross the Atlantic, Chilean
travellers could go to Europe via the United
States In twenty-three days. ..... ..
From Colon to New York the voyage OF
2,O26 miles IL made in six days. Thence In
seven days to Liverpool, making THU ,eer
days from Colon to Europe. saving could
be made Of six days in time and about $40
contrasted with present conditions. New
Orleans Is 1850 miles from Colon, and the
voyage should be made in three and hall
days; thence to New York 1t is forty hours
by rail. South American travellers in the
same time as above stated and at little
more cost could by this route see a great
portion Of the United States.
To quicken and cheaper transportation
from all parts of the United States with
the Pacific coast of South America. the
consul says, a weekly steamship and mai
service should be established from both
New York and New Orleans, arranged tc
give a steamer semi-weekly from these
two ports and from Colon. Another Ameri
can mail line of fast steamships. he thinks
should be established for the South Ameri
can Pacific coast to operate in conjunction
with the first named lines.
Quicker time and reduced rates by these
lines, the consul says. could not fail t
bring about a radical change In our trade
relations with these countries, whose cGn
bined population amounts to not less thar
0OOO,OOO. Ecuador. Peru, Bolivia and Chile
are included In this calculation. ,rt'ta