Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-12
ATTRACTIONS OF COLOMBIA
Interestingly Set Forth by Fred'k. L.
lockwood of 6ogota.

Frederick L. lockwood of Bogota
Colombia now visiting in Fairfield for
a time, was calling on augusta friends,
yesterday. Mr.. lockwood is a native
of this city and for some time held I'M
p"rtant positions in the government
service before going % South America.
He is located in Bogota as the resident
representative of the National Associ-
alton of American Manufacturers and
as promoter of concessions and privi-
leges. He says that the troubles in
| Panama have hurt our trade in all
South America. though Europeans US
ing the incident TO arouse a sentiment
| against lis.
| Under the administration of Presi-
| 6e3t Reyes. Colombia is rapidly pro-
crossing. There are some 900 miles of
railroad concessions and contracts are
| already let to Americans and recently a
purchase of 80 600 tons of steel rails was
made il New York for that point.
These railroads are to penetrate the
| interior Of one Of the most productive
| regions on the globe. as asserted by
Baron Hembcltd. the great German
Traveller. There are eternal snow
capped mountains under the equinoc-
| tiai line. which brings health and
cOoincsS to the great plains of the in
| terror. Over 80 miles of the projected
transcon,inenIal railroad to unite
North and South America will have to
pass through Colombia and Pres Reyes
is strongly in favor OF it.
Our manufactures hold their own
purely from merit. but we will have
| to adopt the European system before
we can get our share of the trade. 1t
| is we'll worth looking into by manu-
fact Tres. The German system sends
young men who learn the language.
| customs and necessities of these coun-
| tries and then back them by shipments
| direct for putting on the markets. The
| travelling man system does not reach
| ond only resident representatives win
| the trade. Americans to sell American
| goods should be sent.
| One of the most important bills to
| help our foreign Spanish Amcrican
commerce was Introduced by the late
lamented Mr.. Dinglcy and was defeat
ell. the international banking bill to es
| tablish American banks in foreign
Bills of iading with draft at
/
| transfers and interest added goes
through the banks in South America
| and they collect and remit. hut if an
| American gets orders i'm that conflict
| with I.uropcan competitors he is left
out, and cannot do business rs is the
| custom there. for the want of an
| American bank.
Tie interior of South America is less
| known than the interior of Africa and
| has the Indian for the basis of ropula-
| ton instead of the negro. On every
| hand the undcvelOped richness of mill
cral and agricultural wealth is beyond
! the imagination.
Individually Americans are liked
| and well treated. and to ME as an
American strongly hope chat more at
| telition will be paid to what is by
| right our natural market.
| The climate of the interior is superior
| for healthfullness to that OF Maine,
| when crops can be planted twice a
| year and n gond market for every thing
| and no end to the variety.
| Mrs. Lockwood is n member of one
of the leading Colombia families.
Fer brother Icing Speaker of the
Colombian House of Representatives,
lwhilC her father was governor or inc
province where the famous emerald
mines are located. Mr.. and Mrs. Rock
woods children do not speak English
but later they will come tc Maine for
Ian education. Mr.. ROckwood says he Is
Incrfectly contented to live in Colombia
and that the country IS rich and pros
porous. He will start on his return
trip next Saturday, the voyage taking
IS days from New York.