The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-29
TRADE WITH MADAGASCAR.
CONSUL Waller sAYs TT OFFERS a
GOOD FIELD ron AMERICANA

I,s Exports rre Runbsr. uidss. Rates. sns
Cold uust-Ameriean Cotton Frbrtcs ~
ares; Dru, md Ther--ui- Native Governs
rnent and the Assumptions OF the French.
United States Consul John I. Waller. at Tame
atave, the principal port OF Madagascar who IL
reported. by way OF Marseilles. to have OBJ
taiued for the United States a concession OF
the whole southern part OF the island. seems
to have been a pretty wide-awake Official.
He has been urging In his reports OF
the last two years the cultivation Of
closer trade relations with Madagascar. The
island has an area OF 25uO00 square
miles and a population OF about 5000 900.
Two-thirds OF the inhabitants. according
to Consul Waller. wear cotton. aud they prefer
American cottons to all others, but English
manufacturers knowing this preference, have
Initiated our goods. and sometimes success
fully pamed them of upon the natives. The
agent OF the English cotton manu'k sturers
tells Consul Waller that they allow LAGER com.
missions than the American manufacturers.
Consul Waller reported that In the year
ended Aug. II. 1902 there were i'm ported into
Madagascar as nearly ms he could learn. about
$5SO000 worth OF American cottons. though
some such goods came In French and English
vessels and do not appear In this estimate.
There was In the same year an Importation Of
American petroleum valued at about So. 500.
NOnSul Nnler DolleVed tnnt tne trnue with
Madagascar In American cotton goods could
easily be increased to millions Of dollars
worth. or as he puts It, might be expressed in
seven or eight figures.
He urges the establishment OF an American
wholesale house at Tamatave. and says that
such house could easily build up a large
trade with Tananarivo n city Of 100 900 in
habitants. and with other places OF more or
less Importance. lie believed in 1892 that the
time was ripe for the establishment OF an
American bank at Tananarivo. with branch
at Tamatave. The Madagascar Government
would encourage such bank.
Consul Walters latest report is dated
SeLt 30 1903 and Is embodied In the Janu-
ary. 1894. issue OF the Consular Reports tits
chiefly deIoted to an account OF tho manner In
which m@Fchandise is carried into the in
terror. which means over rough mountain
roads to Tananarlvo. and his design Ia to
isS SSs' q SoS 81 s3Sa:
Everything is carried to Tananariyo by
H gS SaS man will Ssssf' from 4. s 81 to
sary two. three. four. or even nifty
Almost every Conceivable article N Of S umnn
consumption goes thus to Tananarivo: great
es the ssss and
crenses In weight heay,er poles and more carr
ror,sto EN- The cost Of sgeh trans
per 100 pounds.
The exports OF Madagascar to the United
chiefly India ubber and sailed hides. Rafea,
valuable nbre. which is male into rope for
sof has to
here The British Consul at Tamatsye zee est.
mated two years ago that more than 100000
Madagascar to England. and that. too In face
tor any nStiyS found with gold Err dust aoH IN
mining, It was believed that the whole
exnortation OF gold from .MndaRnscar was
mate. Mr.. Waller says that copper. lead. sill
YER. and gold are abundant In Madagascar.
and lead are little mined because Of the dim.
culties OF transportation. and that tho Govern:
ment discourages the production Of gold and
He does not mention the penalty OF i'm prison.
ment save IN quoting the British Consul.
every other foreign influence In INVERTEBRATES en
They have exercised sort OF protectorats
over the country for some years; and In 1887
were turned over to French banking house
as SECURITY for the payment OF loan Of 81
acted by France after a conflict between the
French and the Madagascar Govern ment.
Madagascar Is now nomipally ruled by tho
years who succeeded to the throne in 1888
and the same year married her Prime Minis.
In which the Prime Minister usually manage:
the sovereign and maEss puppets Of his sub.
is in h the to The
relRning sovereign may designate his or her
successor from among the royal princes. Tho
military escort and undertake to regulate
Madagascar's foreign relations. but tho NADIA
sascar Governmsnt refuses TO recognize the
cessions TO tho United States. It is In disregard
to the FRENCH rretention to regulate her rela-
ported b9 F1snss to the
rangement