Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-18

tics to the value OF S2S7 .O5S,O1!' In
thes same year our sales to them
amounted to $236. 632 49,. The impor
lance of the Iatin.American markets
Is indicated not so much by the pres
en-: value Of the imports into those
countries as by tn" rate at wh'ch
their purchase from other countries.
are increa sing. In l>2S the total value
of their purchases from the United
States was $85,S6l.> NJ. Comparing
these figures with those for the last
fiscal year, shows az increase In ten
years OF $3.50, L70,27i. or l16 per cent.
In the same period IN" total value OF
our exports to all the rest OF the
world increased a traction less thah
~ per cent Gratifying as this in
crease is. it does not represent what
might have been attained If our people
had given more attention to these
markets, for many Of the countries
have increased the purchases from
Great Britain. Germany and France
even more rapidly than from the
United States, and Notwithstanding
our geographical advantage. they
purchase more than three times az
much from other countries as from
rs. In some markets. In Fact, We
have been losing ground. For in
stance the July lulletin OF the
Bureau OF American Republics. re-
viewing the foreign commerce OF
Brazil says: american cotton manu-
features are disappearing from the
brazilian market very rapidly, while
those OF Great Britain and GERMANY
made from American raw material
are raridly increasing This state
ment is borne out by the latest stats
tics available. thos" for the nine
months ended September 80. 1908.
which show that We sold to Brazil
only l.4GS,5SS yards OF cotton goods
during the nine months. as compared
with 4,543.555 yards during the cor
responding mcnths of the previous
year. 1t would seem to be worth
while for the cotton goods manufac-
turers of the South 20 make an EFFORT
to win back some OF this trade which
is being captured by Great Britain
and Germany.
The demand of the LatinAmerican
markets is chiefly for manufactured
goods and largely for comma mites IN ,
raw materials for which are produced
in our Southern states. and which
are already being manufactured in
our section. Among the articles
which these countries import in large
quantities, and which can advantage
ousiy be produced in the Southern
States. may be enumerated agricul-
tural implements. all kinds OF
merry. tools. steel rails. builders hard
wares. stoves. cotton textiles. vege-
table oils. and furniture.
While it Is facr that the imports
into the Latin-American countries
consists almost entirely of manufac-
tured articles. it does not follow that
Southern manufacturers would be the
only ones benefited by an increase
in exports from our section to those
countries. On the contrary, the hene-
fits wouli be shared by all our people.
For instaace, If an establishment In
one of our Southern towns engaged
in the manufacture Of stoves or fur
riture can build up an export trade
to Mexico or one of the Central or
South American countries, 1t means
that it will give employment TO more
men who will buy more goods from
the local retail merchants ard who
will give to the farmer large home
market for his products.
II Is to the interest. not only OF the
South Atlantic and Gulf ports. but
OF or inland communities as well. that
our Latin-American trade-both I'M
port and eXport-should flow through
Southern ports A large proportion
of the commodities which the United
States imports from Latin-America
are consumed In the South. Southern
manufacturers can supply a large pro-
Latin-American countries buy abroad
1t would. therefore, be to the advan-
tage of all concerned II coffee. nit
rates. tropical fruits. mahogany tim
her, rubber. and other products or
Central and South America and the
West Indies. could be troush. into
Southern ports in ships which world
return laden with the products OF
Southern manufac;u ring establish
ments. For this reason believe that.
in seeking to develop this Latin
American trad" the merchants and
as well. and Southern transportation
lines should all cooperate. a. far az
practicable. in Systematic efforts to
guide 10th imports and exports
through Southern ports.
In view Of the present importance
of the Iatin-American trade AMI its
future possibilities. ! believe tina. the
people Of our section OF the United
States NAV well give it increased at
ten,ion The Federal Government.
.hrough the publications. Of the Bureau
OF Manufacture Is constantly Civ
ing valuable information about trade
opportunities in the Latin-Amcrican
countries. the special needs OF their
markets. and the best methods OF
conducting business with them. The
International Bureau Of American Re
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