The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-16

Possibilities for foreign trade, par
ticularly with the Antilles and South
America are opening out before the
vision Of Worcester manufacturers like
vistas to the traveller.
The exclusive article in The Spy yes
terday morning, in which was set forth
the efforts being made by Sanderson &
Co., steamship agents of New York, to
establish a direct line of steamers be-
tween the port of Boston and Porto
Rico, was an important topic of con-
versation, not only at the Board OF
Trade rooms, but in most of the large
manufacturing establishments of the
city
Many firms, apart from the Wood
ward & Powell Planer Company, re-
ceived the Sanderson circular letters
asking cooperation in the new venture
So far as lies within their power, and
it may serve their interests, they are
willing to lend hand.
AT present, however, the manufac.
turers, for the most part, are not fully
informed in regard to the plans of the
| developments before they come out VIII
| positive statements.
| Many of the manufacturers, too, con-
| Duct their foreign trade almost en-
tifely through the great commission
houses in the large seaport cities. That
the requirement by the United States
of Porto Rico and the exercise by the
government of at least a nominal SUI
Zerainty over Cuba, is destined to open
up vast field for American enterprise,
all realize, and Worcester, as one of
the great industrial centres of the
North American continent, is sure to
reap rich harvest.
Sanderson & Co. know this, and that
is why they are endeavoring to interest
Worcester in their new venture.
1t is knowledge of these facts that
has awakened such an interest among
members of the Board of Trade in the
coming commercial congress at Phila-
delphia. This congress will aim espe-
cially to ascertain ways and means for
the building up of American foreign
commerce, particularly in the West
Indies and South America the markets
of which, by right, should be controlled
by the United States. Just what this
congress intends to do, and the part
that Worcester intends to play in it,
was detailed in The Spy, Sunday be-
fore last, SO there is no need of elabo-
rating the program here.
These markets. as Enoch Earle, who
has been all through the South Ameri-
can country, told The Spy man, yes
terday, are now largely in the control
of English firms.
Mr.. Earle is a member Of the firm of
P. Blaisdell & Co., and as there is
probably no better informed man in
Worcester on this subject, The Spy
man naturally sought him out for a
story
There is no manufacturing worthy
of the name in the West Indies or the
South American republics" said Mr..
Earle, "and 1 do not think that there
ever will be, at least not very soon.
am not familiar with conditions in Porto
Rico and Cuba from personal expert
ence, but as these countries are practi-
cally on par with those of South
America, 1 believe conditions there
must be the same.
up to a few years ago, our COM
pany did the largest foreign business
in the machine line Of any establish
ment in the city. We even sent ma
ehinery to remote parts Of China and
Japan.
"Our domestic trade however, be-
came so large that we allowed grass 20
grow over our foreign fields, rand 1t was
to NOW this down and win back our old
customers that / went to Europe"
IF there is no manufacturing in
South America or the Antilles, what
need have the people of those parts Of
machinery, such as Blaisdell, Prentice
Bros. woodward & Powell and the
other big shops build?" asked Tie re-
porter.
MOSTLY for repair work" answered
Mr.. Earle. "On the big plantations en-
gines and special coffee and sugar ma
chinery arc used. When there is
breakdown, therefore, 1t would be ex-
penslve to send all the way to America
for mechanics and material, so the bis
plantations have small machine shops
annexed to their plants. Most of the
engines noticed in South America, and
suppose the same conditions prevail
in Cuba and Porto Rico, are of English
make. Now the United States could
furnish these supplies and the markets
of those countries are worth striving
for"
Mr.. Earle has been all through Bra
I'll. Argentina, Chilli and other South
American republics, and he illustrates
the vast possibilities for American
trade by stories that show in what p
primitive state of development some of
those countries are.
In Chill he saw men take a large log
and dig hole through one end of il.
In an equally primitive way an OK was
attached to this. and the whole outfit
constituted an OK cart. This made toll
burden for the people, and modern
improved methods would no doubt be
welcomed IL proper steps were taken to
introduce them. The English are far
more enterprising than the Americans.
however, tr this line at present. MI.