The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-24
Goes TO south Africa. but Other Amer
lean Products Do Not.

New York World
The Americans of South Africa have
risen in their might with the declaration
that this country ought to participate in
the enormous wealth of the British col
ony. They have sent delegate here to
make known the splendid market which
they consider the place offers to Yankee
merchants. His name is J. F. Webner
There aren't many New Workers. who have
heard that an organization exists known
as the American Society of South Africa
but there is. and ii has 400 members. Mr.
Webner is its secretary. He is quartered
at the Fifth Avenue hotel, having arrived
in this city on Thursday on the North
German Lloyd steamer Lain.
The best means of developing business
between this country and South Africa
is in the establishment of a steamship
line said he American merchants can
not compete with the English because of
the uncertainty of transportation.
steamer is supposed to sail from here
once month for Cape Colony, but it is
very uncertain. For instance, | find that
the vessel scheduled to leave here on Aug
ust 70 has already gone, ] would be will
ing to pay ten shillings a ton more on
freight than | pay now, to steamer line
running regularly.
Then there is no return service be-
tween the Cape and the United States.
Tho steamers leave here but don't come
back direct They go chiefly 10 India, and
the wool, ostrich feathers and skins which
this country imports from the Cape get
here by circuitous route America sends
to the Cape coal oil. farm implements, min
ing machinery and carriages; but the COM
merce that could be built up is enormous
There are loads of money down there but
the American merchants do not seem TO
want it.
''One of the first things this country
should do with view to improving its re-
lations with the Cape is to pay its consul
a decent living salary. Until about six
months ago he received only 81 500 but ii
was raised to 1900. Part of the reason
for my mission TO this country is TO lay
this very matter before the department of
state in Washington City, having been
asked by the American residents TO do so.
They consider that the station should be
raised TO consulate general with a sal
airy Of 5000 a year. The German consul
there gets $4,000, the French consul 1000
or $1,000. while even the Portuguese repre-
sentative is paid $4,000 or 5000. 1 forget
which.
THE discoveries of nitrate deposits at
the Cape give chance at once for an
American steamship line to get paying re-
turn freights. The trouble is that the
steamers are all in the hands of the Eng
lish. and they have no interest, of course
would be surprised to hear that the Cape
gets cargoes OF lumber from Puget sound
There is. OF course. plenty OF timber in the
colony, but II is so inaccessible that 1t is
cheaper TO ship il from the Pacific than
TO use the native product. Now, there Is
a sample of the opportunities open to
Americans The Puget sound lumbermen
had the enterprise TO investigate and find
that this traffic would pay. Well. there
are plenty more lines open to American
manufacturers If they would only take the
trouble to go into them.
"A South African exhibition is to be held
in 1897, and / am trying to get American
houses interested in ii with view to In
PRODUCING themselves out there and build
ing up trade. The Americans In the coun-
try don't like to see the United States
taking a back seat.
II was astounded TO see that South
African mining shares are not quoted in
Wall street. The English have 500 0o0 90
invested there, and most OF 1t proftably
placed. The output of the colonoys gold
mines in June was 900 ounces and IL
will have increased soon so that IL will
surpass the total production OF the United
States. There is a tremendous demand in
the colony for capital and for skilled la
Dor I would not advise clerks or men
without a trade 10 go there, as hundreds
OF English 'gsntlemen's sons 20 there
who are willing to work for their board
"The trade Of this country with the
colony for the present wear Is already
twice what II was during 1894, and before
all come without any special effort. I in
tend TO see IL / cannot get the Chamber
Of Commerce Interested in the establish
rnant OF a steamship line d"