Phoenix weekly herald., 1898-09-22
SANTIAGO AS A MARKET.
Opportunities for the Sale of Ameril
can Goods Have Been Much
Oyerestimated and EXag-
tod


President Theodore G. Search. of
the National Association of Manufac-
turers has received an extended COM
munication from one of the oldest and
best known banking and mercantile
houses in Santiago. which sets forth
some very important facts concerning
the opportunity for American trade
in that market. This correspondent
writes:
THE business of dry goods, hard
ware provisions, etc. is established
here in such a way that the merchants
who import from abroad order their
goods direct from the States or from
Europe. without the Intervention of
commission houses here: or they go
themselves TO Europe for their pur-
chases. or they give their orders TO
travelling agents who will come here
every year TO rake up their orders.
With regard to the Importance Of
this market of Santiago de Cuba, we
beg to say that it seems that people
i'll the States have an entirely erron-
eous idea about it, because the trade
here is but very Insignificant San
taigo is not place like Havana,
Mantanzas and Cienfuegos, which
places provide a large part of the in
terror, connected with them by rail
reduced almost to its inhabitants Our
neighboring ports. Guantanamo and
Manzanillo.' import direct, or the lat
ter from CienfuegOs or Havana, our
only communication with them being
by steamer. for which the rates from
Cienfuegos up to now have been
cheaper than from here.
'Our dry goods stores and hard
ware stores are still well provided; as
the import duties have been reduced
under the new regime, these goods are
dear compared with new importa
tons to come, and this will make
owners somewhat reluctant in the be-
ginning for new importatons, as they
will try to get rid first of their old
stock.
For provisions there would be a
fair market if it had not been for the
oyerstocking in the first moments
after the blockade; by and by this
trade will get into shape again, but
we can recommend nobody to send
consigrfmentS of such goods, as each
imDorter viii order what he may re-
uuire. thus making outside lmporta-
lions very difficult TO place, as they
would almost remain at the mercy OF
those who are the only purchasers EA-
amples of this we have seen lately
turned to the states for lack OF puy-
ers. This is also partly explained by
the non-importance of our maa'k et,
which suffers Immediately under iln-
pOrtation of some Importance.
NO doubt the island of Cuba Is
bound TO become n large market for
the produce of the United States, espe--
cially if as there will be no doubt,
the future tariffs will favor the United
States industry, or better, equal it to-
that of other countries; but it is not
Santiago where you ought to look for
large business but Havana, MAINTAIN
zas and Cienfuegos, and Santiago in
connection with them.
In order to give you an exact idea
about the necessities of the island and
of the articles of your industry which
YOU might consider fit for these mark
cts, we would say that a report from
us or from anybody else would never
be sufficient for the necessary intelli-
gence. We would suggest that a COM
mission of your association should
come to the island as soon as circum-
stances permit: they should commence
their Investigations at Havana and
then visit the different principal places
of the island, gathering information,
studying the trade and opening COM
mercial relations. Such investigation
of intelligent men in these matters
would be of positive value for you and
far better than any report we might
be able to give you.
I'VE still beg to maintain that both
dry goods and hardware are bought
here by the importers ON credit, pro.
visions against remittances on receipt
of shipment. In both first-named
branches there are very reliable houses
with whom business can be done with
full confidence American Trade.