The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-18
oUn soUrH AMERIoAx TRADE.
a n1au tn Kelvin rolls what II Weeds to tn
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To EDITOR or THK SUN-Sir: 1have read
with much interest comments in THE Sun on
an article by Thomas A. Eddy Of New York.
upon tho commercial intercourse between tho
United States and the South American repub-
lies. MIR. Eddy advances some common sense
vicws rs to American enterprise In the South
American countries. especially regarding the
need OF an American international bank.
Within the last year or so several individuals
have como to Potosi with the avowod purpose
Of studying tho resources OF Bolivia and In
forming themselves rs to what trade could he
expected between this country and the United
States. But, as n rule, such Investigations
have been OF the most superficial and hasty
nature. A visit OF a day or n week is entirely
inadequate. As an American for many years
resident here. l am In n position to assert thot
information OF real value can be obtained only
by making the personal acquaintance or tho
leading business men, and by visiting the var1'
Gus business centres. American merchants
who arc discussing commercial competition with
England and Germany in the interior OF south
America seem not to comprehend that II they
want n shnrc OF this trade they must secure 1t
by the adoption of means similar to those which
have already brought it under tho control OF
| Europeans. Americans may talk as they
| please, but there is n much more effective
method in the commercial enterprise back OF
Vow. what are the methods necessarily.
The first is the establishment of cheap freight
rates from the principal ports OF the nited
goods from New York TO Bolivia have. been
shipped via LIVERPOOL or Hamburg. and thence
could be shipped directly by way Of Panama. OF
late this has been rcmedied in q measure by an
American line OF steamers. but the freight
rates charged by this line | have not been able
to ascertain. nor arc they published In any news
paper in circulation here: The rate, PET p, p t1n
annals from $50 American gold up. according to
distance. From Liverpool 10 AntoIagasta lone
OF the principal ports OF entry for Boivial: on
the other hand, the charge Is only 80 shillings
per ton.
dispensablc TO establish a line OF American
steamers from Panama down the west coast of
sonth a Ame5ic thrd to mf fhe t Straits Gtse Of shss liam.
and to bring goods from New York or San Fran
cisco at the same rates charged from Liver;
hat the local Traders here buy their goods
where they cost the least. and that there can pc
United States when it costs more than to buy
in Europe.
ad 3 : Of IH co InTirtis intercourse. 4 few
DAYS ago ! received from San Francisco letter
T Tattars hs from 6ee Io3 39ss '% "r P PGhsh ss q i've reach
Potosi in thirty-two or thirty three days: New
York newspapers frequently come in after &C
journey. and an inquiry at tho Post Office re-
veals no satisfactory reason for the delay.
4 friend wrote me not long since from New
York: send me all you can OF tin" &c. My
answer was: Tin is abundant in Bolivia, but
most Of the producers are under contract with
parties who furnish capital for working the
mines to forward the tin as produced at a
stipulated price. This capital comes from
Europe. and tin is one of the leading articles
shipped there TO cover the value Of English sterl-
ing drafts. II NAV be said that. after silver. tin is
the next most valuable article of export from
Bolivia. To obtain a Part OF this business one
must either get control OF the mines or come
into competition with the capitalists who now
control the local market" II is not improh-
shipped from England and Germany to New
York Is produced in Bolivia The ready in
ference is that money and banking facilities
are needed.
Diplomatic relations with the United States
are carried on in a very unsatisfactory way.
meet with some insurmountable obstacle to y
further advance toward Surre, the capital, and
seat of government. In 1851 Minister Adams
came south and visited Oruro, Colquechaca,
Huanchaca, Pc .osi. and SUcre. but / am not
aware that any Minister since mis- time has
written to Minister Moonlight. asking II a Con-
sui could not be appointed for Potosi- His
answer WAS: Our Government refuses to APP
point any Consul except the one at La Paz-"
The Consul at La Paz is probably needed there
to assist the Minister in his arduous duties.
suls 81 Potosi. and ! believe there is q German
Consul in Orrro. England. as is veil known.
hns no diplomatic relations with Bolivia but
the pounds, shillings, and pence make up for a
great dea! OF what a Minister might do.
sincerely hope that the points upon which
I have touched will be further discussed.
SANTIAGO PAscoE
PoTosI, Bolivia July II.