Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10

twenty-five congressman ana men Oh hd-
tional reputation. accompanied by six
members of each Of the chambers of COM
merce of New ORLEANS, Augusta, Savan-
nah Atlanta and Charleston, are to leave
for Cuba and Porto Rico on the last part
of this month to make an inspection or
those islands and to promote closer
trade relation between these Islands and
the south and southeast The Chamoer
of Commerce of Atlanta has been asked TO
assign six members to the party, and will
do so at an early date.
The following is a copy of letter re-
ceived by Secretary Walter G. Cooper, OF
the chamber of commerce, from Major
George d. Fishbaek. who is in charge of
the West Indian display at the Charles
CHARLESTON. S. C..NApril 4. 1902
ITO the Secretary Of the Atlanta Cham
Der of Commerce. Atlanta. Ga.
Dear Sir: Allow me to address you this
formal communication. which / respect
fully request that you bring to the at
tention of the officers. and members of
your organization.
"A trip Is proposed to Porto Rico and
Cuba for commercial purposes, to be made
toward the end of April of this year.
your organization is requested to APP
point delegates, not exceeding six in num-
ber and 1t is desirable in making the Sc
lection of these members to choose those
velopment of trade relations with the
West Indies.
'tThis party will be composed of about
20 or Is members of congress and men OF
national reputation, and about Is delegates
from the different chamber of commerce
and boards of trade OF the southern cities.
of New Orleans. Augusta, Savannah, At
lanta and Charleston.
For the purpose of this trip a steam
ship belonging to the Ward Line has been
chartered, and will be at the disposal OF
the party. The steamer will sail from
New York about the 3Oth OF April. bring
ing the New York members of the group.
and will stop at Charleston, s. C.. in
order to accommodate the delegates from
the southern cities and the itinerary will
then be as follows:
First: San Juan. Porto Rico, where
the memoers OF the party will be received
by the government authorities and enter
tanned by them, and by the chamber of
commerce of that city. A trip of one day
will be taken to the adjoining Island OF st.
Thomas because OF the important ques-
ton of the location of a United States
naval station in one of the West India Is
lands. to be used as strategic base for
future naval operations.
From San Juan the party will be driven
across the island over the old Spanish
military road to the city of Ponce, meet
ing the steamer at that port
From there the party will proceed to
Santiago de Cuba where two days will be
spent in visiting the battlefelds of the
war of 1885, and the party will be enter
tanned by the chamber of commerce OF
that city.
"Then the journey will be continued to
Havana, arriving there in time to be
present at the ceremonies on Evacuation
Day, May 10th, upon which occasion the
military authorities of the United States
will withdraw and hand over the island
TO the new Cuban government.
after two or three days sojourn in Ha-
vana the return trip will be made 10
Charleston and New York.
THE cost to each member will be about
$3.50, which will cover all expenses for
the trip of about % or % days.
You will readily appreciate the COM
mercial and political significance of this
proposed trip, and IT is with great pleasure
that I am authorized to extend to your
organization this invitation to select and
appoint representatives delegates.
"Will you please take such action as
your Judgment may suggest in order that
/ may be able to receive definite reply
from you within the shortest time possible
in regard to the number OF Representatives
that your organization will select. I shall
be very glad to furnish you any further
information that you may desire, and II
you think ii would be advisable. would
proceed to your city upon a telegraphic
request from you. in order to appear be-
fore your organization and state more
fully the objects of the trip.
Awaiting your reply, 1 have the honor
to be- sir,
Respectfully yours.
(Signed) GEO. d. FISHBACK.'
Secretary Cooper, when seen this morn
ing. said:
9The government has magnificent
building at the Charleston exposition for
the display of the goods Of Cuba and Por-
to Rico, under the charge of Major George
Fishbaek, of the United States army, who
went through the Cuban and Porto Rican
campaigns.
II met Major ,Fishback while in Char
lesion with the Atlanta party, and he
explained the nature Of the trade.
Most of the trade with Cuba and Por-
to Rico which comes through this eoun-
try comes through New York and Bos-
ton, being several hundred miles further
away from these islands than any Of the
southern ports The party which will 90
over will do all in its power to have this
trade come through the southern mer-
chants and the southern ports.
The exports from this country TO Cuba
in 1901 were SAG. 66S511, and to Porto Rico
were sS,746651. All of this could, and
should, go through southern merchants
and southern ports, but as the matter
now stands, 1t goes through New York
and Boston.
Major Fishbaek says that he has found
the commercial classes in both these is
lands to be bOthshonest and reliable. and
of class which is equal to the CONNER
cial and business men of this or any other
country. They pay their debts promptly
and their business integrity is absolutely
as high as 1t is in America.
THE party which is to go on this trip
will be officially entertained from the time
they reach San Juan. until they leave Ha-
vana. and a good time is in store for all
who take the trip.
1T is the wish of the men who are get
ting up this party 10 have the cities which
send delegations send men who are repre-
sentative business men Of this section. We