The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-30

they are liable to be taken in and our trade
disgraced. No one who has not been here
can appreciate the sharpness Of the compe-
tition. The merchants OF France. Great
Britain and Germany are fighting the
United States. and they do not hesitate 10
take advantage of such things 10 disparaGe
our trade and to run down Americans"
How about advertising in the Brazilian
newspapers, Mr.. Seeger?'
Il should think it might pay sometimes"
was the reply. But should say it would
be better to establish here in Brazil week
~ or monthly American trade paper printed
in Portuguese. Such a paper would be self
supporting within six months. 1t could live
upon the advertisements of Brazilian mer-
chants and exporters. and it would do much
more good than the $4,000 or more now
spent in publishing so-called export papers
in the United States and in sending out use
less circulars"
OUR TRADE WITH BRAZIL
I believe Consul General Seeger is right
as to circulars and catalogues. Those sent
here are a waste of postage. The best way
for our exporters to operate is through such
houses as have branch establishments here
or by sending men who understand Spanish
or Portuguese TO take orders and drum the
markets. If drumrners are sent they should
come back regularly from year TO year and
they should have a supply in Rio from
which they could deliver goods when sold.
AS it is now. Notwithstanding we take the
bulk of the Brazilian exports, the foreigners
do the business. The most of the importa-
tions come through English and Germans.
the chief American houses being those
which devote themselves only to exporting
coffee. The English are investing in all sorts
OF things. They already control the best
railways. They own sugar factories. coffee
estates and have organized dock and harbor
companies.
Within the past year or so the Germans
have been putting a good deal of money
into Brazil. They are buying tramways in
many Of the towns and organizing electri-
cal companies. They own a number of large
breweries and you find German merchant
in almost every frontier town. Down in
southern Brazil about one-fourth of the in
habltants are Germans. and in one or two
States they own the bulk of the property.
They have large farms and there are many
German colonies. Capitalists in Hamburg
have bought large blocks of land and they
send out their emigrants to COLOMBO them.
The result is that most of the mporta-
tions come from Germany, and a little slice
of Germany has grown up in southern Bra
Zil. The Germans there retain their lam
guage and customs. and although they are
nominally Brazilians. they are for the
fatherland I'm international matters Within
short time a direct line OF steamships has
been established between Hamburg and the
south Brazilian ports. and their connection
with Germany grows closer every year.
BUSINESS IN RIO.
AS to business in RIO most of the retail
establishments are in the hands of the Por-
tuguese. They are excellent business men,
successful and honest. Some of them ham
die American goods, and 1 find that Ameri-
| can goods are we'll liked by the Brazilians
| Our agricultural machinery is popular, and
all kinds OF American machines are we'll
| thought OF. Our hardware stands at the
top. and our cottons are considered superior
| to those Of Europe. OF late, however, Bra
| I'll has been establishing cotton mills of her
own. There is a heavy protective tariff on
| cotton, and l understand there is much
| money in the business. / shall learn more
| about this in the cotton regions further
north.
Among the American ins titutions of Bra
| zil which are doing a grea' deal of good is
| college for girls at Petropols. This is
supported. I am told. by number of the
women of the Methodist Church, who each
| pay ten cents a week toward it. 1t is man.
| aged by American women as teachers. The
| college building was built by a rich Bra
| lillian for home. 1t is on top of one OF
the mountain peaks just above Petropolis,
| and it Is much like palace any of
! the buildings there. Its rooms are very
| large. with ceilings from fifteen to eighteen
| feet high. Its bath room is s large as the
| average American parlor with shower at
| tachment There is a swimming pool of
| marble in the floor. The kitchen is walled
| with porcelain tiles, and. on the whole, /
| doubt if there is girls school in the United
States so we'll furnished 1t has American
| desks and the latest appliances in the way
of education, such as models. maps and in
| struments. Its students come from good
| Brazilian families, and its educational repu-
| tation is of the highest.
| FRANK G. CARPENTER.