The herald., 1897-11-10
Total as countries> s4g. .25s, ,sss slo5. .ols, 1902


While the trade of the United States with
the principal Latin-AmericAn countries
has increased of late. notably at Mobile.
New Orlenas and Galveston. American
merchants and manufacturers are not Sc
curing tithe of the business of this char
acter which they might obtain, and which,
with proper action and understanding of
the situation. would even now be theirs
The lack of established lines of steamers
and other vessels between North America
and Latin-American ports Is only one of
the drawbacks under which we suffer, as
pointed out by General Ybarra. late Sec
retary of war of Venezuela. He explains
that the desire Of Latin-Americans for ex-
tensive and profitable relations with the
United States Is marked, but that our lack
of appreciation Of that fact Is no less so.
The Venezuelan gentleman does not be-
lieve that Pan-American congresses. i'm
posing displays of manufactured products,
or excursions, receptions and banquets Of
an international character are the best
means by which to build up this trade, and
Notwithstanding Central and South Ameri-
can admiration for u Yankee, his hospital
ity. mechanical genius civilization and
CucEBys WHcu tuclT sCOullutrCidl HOuSeS
want goods they send to Europe where
the orders are filled more carefully and
conscientiously" and at "lower prices than
we can generally obtain them In the United
States"
As a consequence, only such orders come
to the United States from South and Cen
trail America at present as 1t is to the man.
ifest interest of the Latin-American mer-
chants to send here-for flour, hams, pc
troleum machinery. hardware and agricul-
tural implements. The confession Is frank
ly made that were 1t not that these articles
from the United States suit southern pur-
chasers better than any others obtain
able they would purchase nothing at all
from us even under existing circumstances.
This suggests the Importance of an in
quiry into what the existing conditions
are and what changes should be made In
order to attract orders from our friends
1.-The merchants of Central and South
America. General Ybarra declares that
American manufacturers should study the
needs of the Latin-American people as
they have not studied them yet. and enter
into direct competition with like houses in
Europe. Other things being equal, 1t is
admitted that the American would re-
ceive the preference, but the southern mer-
chant is in the habit of purchasing by me-
ters instead Of by yards, and if the Amer
ican manufacturer will not make suf-
ficient concession to sell to him in that man.
ner, he must not be surprised II his Euro
pean competitor gets the business. The
necessity for care in packing goods for ex-
port is frequently overlooked, or at least
has been, SO far as the experience of Latin
American merchants with us Is concerned.
Laws and treaties will avail little in the
face of branches of European commercial
houses established in South and Central
America. Manufacturers in the United
States will have to utilize the same meth
DDS as have given English and German
houses the bulk Of the trade in the coun-
tries referred to.
4 \ =
The mercantile agency Of r. G. Dun 6
co. mas made a contract with the Mexican
government by virtue Of, which a branch
OF the mercantile agency has been estab-
uehed In the City of Mexico. and other
branches will be established at the com
mercial centern Of the republic. The con-
vensnce of such an arrangement will
'eauAs DC appreciated by business men.
Tho first consignment Of Russian netro-
leum to England arrived at Manchester
In September. The Anglo-C Caucasian OH
company, which IL developing this trade.
mas n erected e storage tanks for n. 1000 tons Of
There are : number Of Instructive aftA.
nles y tne Forum for Novsmber particu-