The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-04

character. We have here a party or
practical business men. not statesmen,
not merely employees. but representa-
| tive manufacturers, each master OF
his own particular industy and quail
fed to judge as an authority of the needs
and opportunities of his own branch OF
business.
This party is virtually commission
OF commercial experts covering a wide
range OF business interests. AS bust
ness men of experience and judgment
these commissioners will gather such
ineorma ton as will enable them upon
their return 10 suggest what practical
steps will be necessary TO secure for
our manufacturers and our merchants
a larger share of the trade.
ITO those of us whose business or
personal interests do not draw us thither
South America seems a far distant land
and for the most part our ideas OF the
continent are vague and inaccurate.
Possibly not many of US who are gath
cred here this evening know that out OF
BraZilS 100000 square miles of terri
tory we could carve the United States
and still have left 231 10 square miles to
go toward making up Alaska's area of
SIS. 900 miles.
These three republics of Argentine,
Uruguay and Brazil embrace 400. 600
square miles. and their aggregate pop
ulation is about q. 600, 900, or nearly one
third the population OF the United
States.
All South America figures in the for
eign trade OF the United States to the
extent of about oue-thfrd of the total.
In forty years there has been practically
no change in the relation of our South
American trade to the total of our for
eign commerce In 1855 our dealings
with South America CONSTITUENCIES, no.
349 out of a total OF $474, ,211 of trade
with the entire world. In 1865 our South
American trade amounted to S42, 699, 522
out Of total foreign commerce of s4O4.-
774SS3; in 1875 it was s97, 334, 442 out of
s1,046.44s 147; in 1885 II was So, 257. 137
out OF S4,319, III ,0S4 and in 1885 our trade
with South America was $145. AS 51
out OF 81 ,53S, sos. 1SO
''As American merchants and manu-
factureres we count ourselves as pretty
shrewd traders, and, therefore, we find
everywhere in our dealings with the
South American countries one point
which troubles US Sorely. We are buy
ing more from those nations than we
are selling to them.
Narrowing the inquiry to three coun-
tries which this commission will visit
there are several features Of our trade
relations with Argentina, Uruguay and
Brazil which call for investigation. We
buy annually from Brazil about $780,
100000 worth OF the products Of that
country, but we sell TO the people of that
nation only about SIS. 900. 900 worth of
our goods; while Great Brintain, buying
only about $20.0OO,O00 worth from Bra
I'll, sells nearly $40, 900 900 worth OF
merchandise yearly TO that country.
While the United States is by far the
best customer BrazL has that coJEtry
0uye more from Great britain, France
and c I'M ny tdan i-Um Is.
That Is not reciprocal trade Ger
many, France and the United States
each sells about s1O.o0O,0O0 worth Of
goods in the Argentine Republic each
year while Great Britain sells as much
as al three others toether. We buy only
half as much as We sell in the Argen-
tine Republic but both sides OF our ac-
count with that country ought to show
some larger figures. II Great Britain
can do S53.0oO.0g0 worth OF business in
the Argentine Republic, certainly we
ought never TO be satisfied with an in
significant $4,000 000-less than one
twelfth of the total foreign trade %
that country.
Uruguay has foreign trade OF about
S5t.0e0Ooc per year, but our share Of
this IS only about six per cent. OF the
countries from which Uruguay buys 10
meet her wants. Great Britain. Ger
many, France. Italy, Brazil and even
Spain have larger share in the trade
than the United States.
We need international banking fac
ilities which viii enable US to settle our
trade balance direct without depend
ence upon the banks OF the competing
nations. We need better t-snsporta-
ton accommodation between our sea
ports and the markets Of South AmeTi-
ca The profits OF carrying our goods
10 foreign markets and conducting our
interna tionsl financial trans orTet5ons
ought 70 be cared By American capital
But above these and the many other
obvious needs % our South American
commerce I place the need OF more in
innate knowledge Of those markets. the
people q those countries and the -
quiremnts OF thir trade such knJWI-
edge comes only BY personal obseTyat ton
and Investigation and Il = for the pur-
pose q obtaining Information % this
character by such means that tbs party
Is about 70 start upon IFS journey.
The eyes q the vhoie world % bust
ness are upon this party. and / doub:
not that their mission VII Be fulfilled
With the largest measure Of SUCCESS and
With great honor 70 the commerce % our
nation No voyaEe-s % discovery =
the world % trade ever sat sal Win
higher motives or with more earns.
wishes % success from thoSe VINO VII
ness their departure