The herald., 1898-12-18

Chicago of South America. More than $50
steamers are employed upon the Amazon and
it's tributaries. This number will be in
creased materially before the end of the
year. The internal communication afforded
by the Amazon and its tributaries is so COM
plete that railroad and other means of ter
restrial communication are not needed ex-
cept to connect parts of rivers obstructed
by rapids. The custom house at Para is over
whelmed with work and has not at present
enough stores to receive goods as they ar
rive. Both lines of steamships running be.
tween Para and New York are increasing
the number of their ships, as the present
vessels are unable to carry the heavy freight
billed for this section of the country. A
short time ago these two lines made only
one trip each a month; now three trips are
made. American trade with Brazil has in
creased universally of late years. The ma
jority of Brazilian merchants require ninety
to l50 days credit, although some, of course,
ask for only half such time. Germans stand
ready to meet all requirements, and Ameri-
can statesmen must expect to encounter sharp
opposition.
Consul Wilbour of Dublin says there is no
reason why the trade between ireland and
America should not be much increased
That country imports heavily from the con-
tnent many goods which we could supply at
lower rates and of better quality. Among
them are woodward, paper, starch, iron nails,
brushes, glassware, bottles, leather, oleo-
margarine and condensed milk. American
bituminous coal could be landed in Ireland
and sold at lower rate than that obtaining
and still leave handsome profit. There is
a strong prejudice against it, however. The
trade in American states is growing and
could be considerably increased.
O o o
The phenomenally rapid progress of Ger
man trade and commerce, according to Pro-
fessor Blondel, is due to the temperament
of the German people, the system of educa-
ton and the methodical adaptation of the
results of scientific research to Industrial
and commercial practice. Consul Halstead
of Birmingham says that to the reasons given
above must be added the eager celerity with
which the Germans seize upon and copy the
good points of manufacture in other coun-
tries.
A part of the fuel problem in Germany is
solved by the manufacture of briquettes from
peat, or turf. The machine makes eighty
briquettes minute, and its capacity can be
increased to ten times that rapidity. The
briquette retails at one-eighth of a cent each.
1t is clean in handling, packs nicely into
bins, gives much heat and in closed stove,
with only slight draft, will remain in a
glowing state for ten hours.
O O O
Bellamy Storer, consul at Brussels, be-
lieves that the rate of progress in the Congo
Free state is faster than that in any other
part of the world. Its commerce has in
creased more than 300 per cent in three years
and railways now under construction will
give much larger growth.
o O .
Consul Lyon of Hiogo says that nothing
better illustrates the progressive character
of the Japanese than their anxiety for the
introduction of foreign capital. Efforts in
this direction by their business classes are
supplemented by the press and by the cham
Der of commerce. For the benefit of Amer
lean exporters the consul adds: 1.-The aver
age Japanese are very suspicious of small
wares that are not backed up with fancy
trade marks. They buy goods much more
readily that carry device or an emblem or
that bear a seal, and many good article is
in danger of rejection because not but up
fancifully." The superiority Of American
goods in many lines is readily admitted III.
S. Garfield in Chicago Times-Herald