New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-07
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
UNITED STATES WITH THE
FARTHER COUNTRIES.
BRAZIL NEARER EUROPEAN CENTRES THAN
AMERrCAN-LACK or STEAMSHIP



Washington Aug GspeciaD.-The commerce Of
the countries lying south OF the United States AND
the share Of the various nations therein are dis
cussed in considerable detail In the June summary
Of Commerce and Finance" just issued by the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics. The commerce OF
the United States with the American countries
lying south OF her borders has long been object
of solictude 10 her statesmen economists and
business With the English speaking people Of
American territory lying upon the north her COM
mercial relations have rapidly grown and proved
mutually satisfactory. With those Of another lam
guage occupying contiguous territory the south.
the growth has been slower and less satisfactory,
and as the distance increases the growth decreases
To British North America the United States sup
plies 81 per cent OF the total imports for consump.
ton; TO Mexico. equally adjacent but speaking an
other language. ~ per cent: the Central Amer.
lean States, next removed by distance. though
readily reached by water and now being tapped by
railways. 81 per cent. Colombia a trfe further
removed, but equally accessible by direct
transportation. % per cent. to Venezuela. equally
accessible q per cent to the West Indies which
lie in close proximity. but which have been UP TO
the present time controlled by commercial nations
whose policy in many has been to retain their
commerce for their people 20 per cent; TO the
Guanas. also readily reached by water. q per cent
OF the imports into British Guiana. Il per OF
those OF Dutch Guiana. and but less than per
OF those OF French Guiana
Even this somewhat unsatisfactory condition Of
trade with the countries bordering upon the Gulf OF
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea IL, however, crafty
ing when compared with the trade relations OF the
United States with the countries OF South America
bordering upon the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
OF the total imports @: ali South America 81 per
cent is taken by the countries bordering upon the
TWO oceans and but Is per cent by those bordering
upon the Caribbean. Going down the eastern coast
N South America, find Brazil importing in 1891
goods 20 the value Of 800 Oo0 OF which the
THrfn Efsf. ltd bout
ana Paraguay Sc $1,000 Of which the share OF the
United Statcs less Than per cent. and Argen-
tina N5evVD OF which Jess than per cent was
from the niteG States while Of the Pscinc
Coas; shows inportatons into Chill OF G+0@.0o:
Peru. s. b. "a. Bolivia 81 $1,000 and Ecuador.
,1Co.cc. the proportion from the United States
averaging abcu, 10 Per cent Thus the northern
coast OF Sourn America. fronting on the Caribbean
Sea. imports goods 20 ,he value OF 100000. Of
which the United States supply average Of 3
PER cent; the eastern coast fronting on the At
lantic s-.@p9c0 and the Pacific Coast. 100000
Of which tine proportion az the United States Is In
each about 10 per cent.
NOT TEMPORARY CONDITION.
Nor can i be urged that this condition 10 Q
temporary one While exports from the United
states 70 Mexico have grown rapidly, especially
since ,hc Opening OF railway communication. and
nave experienced a moderate development In the
case OF the countries bordering upon the Caribbean
I
Srown With the rapidly which has characterized
.hosa - the world at larse in 1853 sales 20 the
american countries A. tne south were % per cent
q ,otal cXports in SIS a little less than 10
re. cent H. -, fraction above 10 per cent, and
IL l6s: b., -er cert or orr total exports.
~ examination Of the Iist OF purchases from the
Crnrai auc @ogth ArnfH Il countries seems TO In
cr, are me a'.Jin..y presented by their small pur-
! c.asss ron the Urltcd States OF Brazil the
United go ,es is by far the largest single customer
IA her c'.4f artic e. q expert. coffee and ruooer;
wp.s from Argentina ard Chill purchases OF wool
and hides aiso Ieevy and for the uopcaa
products of iae othes countries OF South America
sugar. spices, fruits. dye woods, cabinet woods
textiles and chem.ca ais me United States offers Q
S Sob Sna TGpe GGn tae Upon the At.
lantic and racine me Li.ed 'sases IN ~, H. pu "a
them in That year were .@t .-As5 or Tess t ,sae
/ one-third Of ner purchases fs5!n Them; IN lSa
despite the t2ct thet &c nc Woe "Olu ,ne a.,
Of the United States weie oJuce ne amount OF us
beyond the Caribbean ses were SUI ut about one
third OF the amount OF its pIVcnts, Jth IheH.
Of the Amazon). Uruguay. Parae"cy and Argen-
tina, tie Atlantic coast a2d I.f" rerH Es cs.
| must reach them by wa,cr, and MIR sales 10
other part- q the woria r1St aiso ~ ty water,
snnnr .qe shows that tie markets of EUROPE
practically as near to all % South America fronting
! on the Atlantic and PssS' are those OF the
tnsed statss 60 mile fnrher east than Sew
! York, and the SAILING distance from tat point TO
the " c iis of southern Europe and 0u. slightly
less than 70 the g[nGinSii eop rGs fact
~ itse,f Would place the United states upon
practically an eGIa: !I lons snt wv" when r is COM
sidered that nearly all of the steamship lines enter.
! ing South American ports are controlled ny Euro
mean CAPITAL and European interests. It is not sur
| prising that large share Of their commerce
sGHIsb oe sbaTe Of their exports goes Eu
rope and 10 that extent II would re =,
expect that their purchases would ne from 'nA'
! part Of the world.
BUSINESS IN TRIANGLE.
The fact that the exports from the United states
70 Europe greatly exceed the imports from Europe
! makes II practicable for the vessels "hich o''hs
| the rubber coffee. hides ard wool o. South Amer
/ lea 10 the United States readily TO load here Win
! grain or provisions for Europe, and there loao
! again with goods for the South American markets
thus making the tour Of The triangle OF which the
! line from New-York to Liverpool forms the oase
! and the ports Of Brazil and Argentina ne , ape
That this should under ordinary conaito,ms -
/ not surprising and tina, II should occur WIN hnes
Of steamships controlled most 49, s - he eI
interests q European capital ana ra u 49, "a
peced Added 10 ms IS ne !ack % n'ea Tor, Ton
with the United States neglect CT Aint slcan Ihe.-
chants closely 10 study tie trade me,rods anu ts
sence Of direct solicitation o. trade relationship and
! N the language ot the country where business u
! That closer more frequent and direct steamship
Communication Is an imortant factor N p,asachs3
| only by steamship lines - evidenced by the more
rand growth OF American exports TO the countries
fr5rttnR upon the Caribbean Sea. with which fairly
| csf:sfactory steamship connections now exist, ana
/ suggests the advantages which may 5e expected 10
| sccrue 10 the trade OF the United states with az
least the western coast OF South America when an
tsthmlan canal shall place Ecuador Peru. BOLIVIA
and Chilli in as direct Communication with ports Of
the nited those fronting upon the Cario-
bean now possess with steamship route 70
western South America by way OF the isthmus tne
/ competition of the trans-Andean road connecting
western South America at Valparaiso with eastern
/ South America AZ Blenos Ayres and Non,eviaeoI
and increased steamship facilities between ports OF
the United States and those OF both coasts OF SCUM
/ America the manufacturers and producers OF the
/ United States may reasonably expect 10 incredss
their sales In those markets. 70 which their an
! nual exports now but about one-third ~ tnen
/ annual imports from them.
The nossibIlity utilizing with the assistance OF
! II .,a,hods enormous quantity