The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-07
FIELD OPEN TO AMERICA.
Conditions i'm Brazil Favorable TO
a Good Coal Market.
Proposals 10 BE Asked by the Gov
eminent Of That RcpUbIiC-TTrin
Charges and other contingencies
That Have to Be Meta Letter.

Eugene StegeT, the United States Con
sui General at Rio de Janoiro. Brazil
has just sent to the State Department
translation of a letter from Castillo Bran
co. which he regards of general interest
To- American coal dealers At the outset
Mr. Seeger says that the Brazilian Gov
eTHmeuI viii soon ask for bids for the
furnishing of 5000 tons of hard coal for
the Central Railroad, TO be delivered dur
ing the six months commencing January
I. 1902.
For various reasons the Consul adds.
Il am inclined TO believe that American
dealers. making the proper effort. would
have fair chance TO secure this con-
tract, which might lead 10 larger trausac-
aons IN the future. The consumption of
American coal IN Brazil mas increased
very considerably during the last two
years. and the possibilities of this market
are well worth attention"
Mr.. Brancos letter follows:
The opportunity is more than favor
able at this moment for starting a trade
In American coal at Rio de Jaaeiro. With
the desire of promoting such important
interests between the United States and
Brazil, 1 offer you some information As
20 the nature Of this enterprise. hoping
that there may result proper under
and an interest in the enterprise suffi-
Cient for its realization.
In view Of the fact that the tender of
bids for supplying coal 20 the Central
Railroad OF Brazil is very near at hand
and that the time for making tests Of
American coal, which has not yet been
used on that railroad is consequently
limited. il would be well for one of the
good mining companies TO send cargo
Of coal in continuity with the particulars
that l enclose.
The company now sJIDplyinr- coal IN
the Central Railroad furnishes Cardif
coal at $S.55 and American at ST.TS q ton
As the former Is dearer than the latter,
ana as X makes more on the Cardiff. il
takes no interest in the introduction of
| the American product.
To overcome this difficulty il is neces-
cary 10 nave a special American agency
! which shall have no interest I'M Cardiff
1 coal II IS well TO note that the coal mer-
( chants OF tardih, thoroughly coguizaut
OF the conditions prevailing in the Rio dc
! Janelro market grant to il the greatest
possible IaEOrS, while American esleTS
ignorant Of conditions here demand "A
guarantee. which renders the DEVELOPMENT
OF the trade between the two countries
impossible.
If the mine owners Of Virginia wish to
extend their business relations. they
Snould, without loss of time. send q con-
siderable quantity of coal Of the hest
quality for the official tests on the Cen
ITdi Railroad Of Brazil They should also
quote the lowest prices at which they
can deliver the coal at the port Of BIO A.
L2neiro taking into consideration the
Iact mat their sailing vessels or steamers
I Will nave a return cargo 10 the United
Sb'tt'S- lAeE should send the funds nee
| essary TO enable the agency here 10 work
Tor me interests Of the business and fl
nally they should have absolute cor1I.rc.
lhat any sums which may become dine
them Tor coal supplied VIII be paid In
Iuli Shdu be glad II your efforts in am
/ enterprise OF mutual advantage 10 our
| respective countries result favorablv-
"J nlted States coal met with great On
L,osltloh as soon as II appeared ia the Rio
ue JdnelTo market. because il threatened
70 disturb the Cardiff coal business II
is wei known that American coal h.
cheaper Than Cardiff and consequently
there Is great opposition or tht. r5srt Of
I the dealers In the latter. who have de
clared the American product TO be Of bad
quality
The American coal brought into Brazil
- IN the hauIs OF importers who DO not
Put IL on me market in competition with
/ Cardiff. No one is Interested i'm making
a propaganda for il or in trying 10 con-
vince the consumer that it is as good as
Under these circumstance. If the
American mine owners want 10 get q part
Of the coal business in Rio dc Janeiro
they must decide to establish an agency
IN RIO with the means necessary for the
development Of the business. namely.
T. They must establish a coal depot I'm
RIO for furnishing factories according TO
their needs
p They should have a suitable person.
who understands the coal business in its
mlnutest details. 20 place the product with
railroads. factories. etc
3. They should have the funds neces-
sary for expenses III Rio.
which are: The payment Of i'm
port duties 25D0 refs tabout Is cputs4
a ton. more or less. the cost Of diScha-g-
ing. which varies from 100 to 200 refs
ton. more or less; rent Of warehouse and
kindred expenses. All these expenses are
necessary, whether for a general trade
in coal or for supplying the Government.
while IN the latter case there 81 a further
requiremcnt-the payment to the Central
Railroad Of Brazil Of a guaranty Of $500
OJc refs. or, at the rate Of 1. 900 refs 70 the
dollar, $50, on presentation OF bids OE
the acceptance Of the bid a deposit Of
4p'yley refs. or. AT the rate Of 1000 refs
10 the dollar, $1,000 must be made as "a
guaranty that the contract Will be- fuI-
filled. The original guaranty. Sl2je. will
be TeckonCd as part Of the deposit To
be made IN case The proposals are accept
ed, and the entire deposit is 20 be held
during the time IN which the coal is be
ing supplied. and refunded at the eXpira-
The total supply for the Central Rail
road is 10 be furnished at the rate OF
l2.oJ3 tons a month. the bills for which
are payable at the Federal treasury with
Iu from sixty 10 ninety days from the
time Of their -ScntatiOu 70 IN, admin
istration OF the Central Railroad
All possible Efforts should be made To-
ward securing the contract for supplying
the Central Railroad, for. once this supply
has been accepted and the coal found 90
meet the expectations Of the railroad ad-
ministratiou. the American coal business
may be said TO have become estab lishad in
Brazil. SO strong hold ON public opinion
has the approval Of this railroad. The
great mine owners Of the United States
should consider that the expenses iudi-
Gated would produce manifold results
when ut EOtiat lions shall have been SCI
on foot on this basis 4 regular american
I'll. "A result which Will not be accomplish
ed by proceeding as heretofore.
1t is well 90 suggest that in the coal
trade the practice Of always quoting
prices In dollars should be established
prices which are more or less regular and
not subject to constant fuctuatlOn. The
agent in Rio de JlueirO should have sta
BILE prices. not subject 10 alterations be
tween the arrivals Of consecutive steam
eTs, IN order 20 operate with safety and
save Geographic expenses
The Cardiff coal used by the Central
Railroad Of Brazil is OF the following
quality: II does not produce more than
per cent Of ash and contains but nine
teuthS Of ] per cent Of sulphur. while its
caloric power Is not less than 5. 100 CalOriCs
per gram, as measured by ThOmpsOn's
CalOrlmctCr.
An the coal must be screened three
times when loaded, in view Of the fact
that the Central Railroad will reject all
coal dust. in rCOTdanCe with the official
statement which / viii send as soon q
II is published.
1T would be wen for one Of the good
mining companies 20 send a cargo Of coal
taS IL is not convenient TO receive "a small
quantity In order that some twenty or
thirty tons may be taken, at the mining
COmDang'S expense for tests on tho Cen
Dol