The evening times., 1899-02-04
GREAT BRITAIN'S TRADE
IN SOUTH AMERICA
/ CHILE AND ARGENTINA
England Yet Controls the Market.
Hat Her Prestige ia Many
Lines L. Decreasing.

The State Department has received from
Mr.. Henry White, charge d'affaires ad in
terim at London, copies of blue books con-
tanning the first three reports by Mr.
Worthington. special commissioner of the
board of trade TO investigate the condi-
tions of British trade in certain South
American countries, Mr. Worthington's
first two reports are devoted TO Chile; the
third 10 the Argentine Republic. For 1896
the Importation OF English goods into Chile
was 81. .023 .o00, while that of the United
States was only 50 49, 000 Valparaiso be-
ing the principal Chilean port of entry,
nearly all OF the estimates ana observations
are taken from that point In regard TO
the importation of railway carriages and
wagons, the report says:
The railways in southern Chile almost
all belong 10 the state and the trade in
rolling stock is chiefly by tender OF late
! years. the United States has been most
| successful. Much, however. is done locally
as AT present tenders for rolling stock from
| local makers are preferred. if not more
! than i per cent higher than those from
| importers or than maximum prices fixed
| for the foreign article
In cotton and woolen manufactures the
| English goods hold the market but there
| is a small Importation from the United
! States. The only branch OF trade in which
| the United States seems TO have made any
progress is in implements and tools OF in
dustry. The report says:
| A small American plow, weighing IS
| Kilograms 1876 pounds. and sold at IS
| $3.50 has cut out the old Conception"
| and Valparaiso" hoes for vineyard work.
| Supplies of spare points are brought out
, for sale al 81 cents 20 centst each point.
| Shovels and spades come chify from Eng
! land, but United States competition is
| lseenly felt. AIDES are less wanted than
| formerly, owing TO the timber in the south
| being now wrought chiefly by circular
saws. which come mostly from the United
| States. Chisels and screw drivers of third
| quality are now coming from England 10
/ hold the market at low prices, but where
/ wood work bulks largely in any tool. the
/ United States seems o have a advanta e.'
| In concluding his report Mr. Worthing-
/ ton states that although Great Britain vet
controls the Chilean market, its trade has
! fallen off in the past few years, Germany
being the greatest gamer.
! In the Argentine Republic the British are
| also losing their trade This is due not so
much 10 competition with other countries,
as to the fact that that country is learning
| 10 manufacture its own goods. England con-
tinues TO lead in imports. as will be seen
| from the following figures for 1897: United
! Kingdom. S36 400, 600 Germany, $ll. 100, 600;
| United States. $l0.100. .000; France S11 600
| 600 Belgium, IS 900 600; Italy SO. 900, 900 :;
| other countries. $40. 100 00O
| Mr. Worthingtons advice TO manufacture
| ers in all countries affecting South Ameri-
| can trade is: To take up a new pattern or
design on a small order; to make qualities
| very much lower than they have been ac-
customed 10; 10 make low quality with a
finish and get-up such as they might think
| belonged only TO a higher class; 10 send
samples prepared in a sufficiently attrac-
tive form: generally. 10 attend to minutiat
which might appear to them unimportant
but which may be very important as affect
ing the sale of goods here.