The herald., 1898-11-24
TOLD BY OUR CONSULS

Consul Halsted of Birmingham writes OF
the difference between American and Brit
ish shipping rates A recent correspondence
between firm of British merchants and the
British-owned Tyser line, steaming from
New York to Australia and New Zealand,
shows that England gives American mer-
chandise nearly half-rate preference in
freight rates, notwithstanding the shorter
distance. English manufactured goods are
not accepted at the low American rate, even
when offered in New York city. This is in
the main an advantage to the United States,
but Americans exporting goods to interior
points in Great Britain find the high inland
freight rates factor that they must coi-
tend against in common with the British
manufacturer The reason of the low rates
of the Tyser line is that they are arranged
in a warfare against combination of New
York vessel owners, which has been SO pow
erful that until recently even steamships
have been kept out of the trade. The con-
sui advises American manufacturers and
merchants interested in Australian and
New Zealand trade to organize now to per-
feet their sailing arrangements in those
countries, taking advantage of the present
freight fight to make permanent arrange
ments with the Tyser or some other steam
ship line, guaranteeing the freight carriers
a reasonable profit, and securing for them
selves reasonable freight rates in the flu
ture.
Consul Little of Tegucigalpa sends copy
Of the political constitution of the United
States of Central America, formerly called
the Greater Republic of Central America.
This was formed by representatives of Hon
duras, Nicaragua and San Salvador at Man
aqua, Nicaragua, last Augnust. These states
constitute a federal republic The president
is Professionally installed at Mapala, Hon
duras. The constitution is fashioned very
closely after that of the United States. The
consul believes that the faithful execution
Of this constitutions will greatly promote the
establishment of state of permanent peace
and order in the three states comprising it,.
In reply to inquiries from New York ex-
porting association, Consul Furniss sends
from Bahia some information regarding the
manufacture Of gunpowder in Brazil. In his
district there is one factory whose annual
output amounts to about 40O0 kegs of TWEEN
ty-five pounds each 1t retails at from 80
to 40 milreis per keg. These milreis fuctu
ate in>value, being worth $.l42 at the date
of his communication. Most OF the powder
manufactured is common black sporting
powder; very httle\ of the better grade is
made Most of the powder is used in the
manufacture Of native fireworks, for which
there is great demand on account of the
many church festivals, national and state
holidays, to say nothing of large amount
daily and nightly used for private parties
and receptions or to- celebrate drawing Of
a prizA at one of the many lotteries. There
are no government regulations prohibiting
the importation of powder, but on account
of the red tape proceedings attached to it's
delivery very little is imported.
Constil General Stowe sends from Cape
Town copy of the bill to provide for the
entry Of the colony of Natal into South
African customs Union. This, says Mr..
Stowe, is the first step toward the estab-
lishment of a customs union to be entered
into where the Orange Free State, Natal,
Rhodesia and Cape Colony, and it is hoped
the South African Republic, are concerned.
The third schedule of the bill prohibits the
entrance of all articles of foreign manufac-
turer bearing the name of manufacturers
residing in the United Kingdom The con-
sui general calls attention to this, because
assumed names ard addresses are used on
nearly all lines packed in the colonies. The
proposed tariff he adds, collects a duty of
20 per cent on all proprietary preparations.
A Japanese shipbulding company has
just delivered to japanese sailing company
q vessel which is said to be the largest ever
launched in those waters. It was twelve
months in the builders hands. 1T has nearly
10000 tons displacement and freight ca
pacity of 7l50 tons. The engines, screws,
ETC., are of the latest type of modern ma
chinery. 81.
There has been a great increase in the
price of meat in Berlin during the present
year, which has resulted in powerful agi-
tation against the high duties and restric-
tions by which that government has nearly
stopped the importation of live animals. The
increase in the price of meat has been such
that there had been decided decrease in the
amount consumed. The Berlin slaughter
houses have received 549l fewer animals in
the year ending March 81, 1893, than in the
preceding year.
In Germany the price of fall and winter
apples was unusually high, and the consul
at Frankfort thinks that there was never
better opportunity for the expectation of
American northern zone fruits.
H. S. CANFIELD.
All prices Of wall paper greatly reduced