New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-16
OUR TRADE WITH CHILL,

A recent report from the United States Consul
at Valparaiso is full of food for thought for all
who are interested in the extension OF Ameri-
can commerce or In the development Of close
relations between this country and the South
american States. For some obvious reasons
American trade with Chill might reasonably be
supposed to be comparatively small. Geograph-
ically, Chill is about the most remote State on
that continent and the least accessible of all
the maritime States. 1t is also well known that
for many years q certain antipathy toward
the United States has unfortunately prevailed
among many Chilians. At the same time Great
Britain and Germany have been conspicuously
active and successful in cultivating Gillian rela
tions. In these circumstances ii is gratifying to
know, In the old experience meeting phrase.
that things are as well with us as they are"
The fact is that. while British and German
trades with Chill greatly exceed our own, ours
is still considerable, is much greater than any
other but those two and is, on the whole, in
creasing. Indeed, there Is reason to think It is
increasing more hopefully than that Of any
other country. 1t is naturally, however, very
one-sided, Chill buying from US nearly twice as
much as we buy from her. The same is true
of Chiis trade with every other important
country. excepting Great Britain, in the case
Of which the conditions are exactly reversed
the balance Of trade with Great Britain being
enormously in Chilis favor. The reason OF this
is obvious. Chili's chief exports are nItrates
and copper, for which there is little demand in
the United States, but much demand in Eng
land. On the other hand, the United States can
supply Chill with many things, such as OIL, ma
chinery. lumber, ETC., much better than any
other country.
The consular report referred TO devotes much
fo crrhs -,ylia bou fFta Il alr
upon in these columns, namely the need of GER
tain reforms in our commercial methods if our
trade with Chilli is ever to assume the proper
tons which are its due. Conspicuous among
these reforms is that Of the better packing of
goods. 1t is one thing to pack goods TO be sent
from New-York to Chicago or Denver. 1t is
very different thing-or should be-to pack them
to be sent from this country 10 Chilli The con-
sui mentions q recent consignment of cook
stoves which reached Valparaiso in a condi-
ton which made them practically valueless. the
damage being entirely due TO poor packing.
The loss, he says will probably result in a suit
for damages. but the disrepute which such an
incident brings upon American trade is a far
more serious matter than mere damages. Real
ly il would be better to send no goods at all
than to send them so badly packed that they
viii be unsatisfactory and unacceptable on their
arrival.
Another point mentioned by the consul. upon
which also we have touched. is that OF credits
Chilians like all South Americans, want long
credits, often from twelve to eighteen months,
or even more Americans do not like to give SO
leng credits and, indeed, sometimes cannot do
50, for lack Of proper banking facilities. But
German merchants are able to do It. and seem
glad 10 do so. Surely, Americans ought to be
able to do whatever Germans can do. even If it
involves the organization Of special banking
system for the purpose. Even with existing
barriers In the way Of direct transportation be-
tween our Atlantic Coast and Chill we ought
to get a larger share of Gillian trade than we
are now getting. and when the isthmian canal
is opened our commerce ought to be increased