Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-09


The foreign trade of Argentina grew
from only s193, 900 in 1897 to $685..
| 900. 900 in 1907; the foreign trade of Bra
zil from $23o 900, 900 to $494. 600, 900; tha
of Mexico from s154.0oGOoo to s24o,oO0,
060; that of Chile from S100, 100000 tl
| S209, 500 600: that Of Uruguay from $40,
000,O0e to s70.OG9,OO0; that OF Bolivia
from $1S,00O.1 900 to S55,OO0 900; that Of
Peru from s25,oCO,O 900 to 1000. 900; tina,
of Paraguay from 5000, 900 to s1o.900,-
0G0; that of the Dominican Republic
from $6,O00,O90 to S12, 200; that OF
Hayti from $7,00o,0O0 to $11,0OO,O00. Cube
which in 1899 had a foreign trade OF
1925, 100000, developed it into 5000, ,00(
the Republics of Latin America have
made increases of 100 per cent. and
mere during the past ten years.
The foreign trade of the five Central
American Republics, Costa Rica, Guat-
emala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Sal
vador, which arc about entering upon
new era Of peace and prosperity
grew from 1900, 900 in 1897 to $5S,00O,
00G in 1907. Panama, which was class
ed ten years ago as small state OF
Colombia with an insignificant foreign
trade, can boast in 1907 of foreign
trade valued at s25,0OO,0O0.
The report of Mr. Barrett makes it
only too evident that the United
States is far from having the hold up
on this great market that it's geograph-
ical location, and the extent, variety
and high quality of it's products would
fairly entitle it Notwithstanding the
fact that without such efforts on our
erted by foreign countries our trade
with these 90 sister republics grew from
S26I 900, 900 in 1897 to the considerable
sum of 1886, 900, 900 in 1997-an incrca So
is only a decade of $685., 100000 or $50
per cent.
In view Of the fact that trade is often
valued by exports alone, the fact that,
despite the failure of the United States
to properly cultivate the great South
American markets, the exports Of the
United States to this field increased
from $7s0oO,OOO in 1897 to $256, 900 in
1907-an increase of $1S0000,OO0 or 24o
Per cent. is certainly a most gratifying
showing. In the same period the i'm
ports of the United States from Latin
America grew from $185, 5,OOG, 900 to $780,
000,0O0-an increase of s1550O0,00O or
about 30 per cent.
Great as was this gain of the United
States in It's South American trade dur
ing the decade it was far behind the
gain of European countries whose conf
merce there in 1907 amounted to $210O.
1896, 100000, difference of 1854 ,0OO, 900
in Europe's favor.
How shall the United States Increase
its South American trade? Mr.. Bar
rett suggests a number of ways chief
among which would be: ''First-class
last mail, passenger, and express
steamers running between the chief
ports af the United States and those of
South America on both the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts"
In addition to such easy and direct
facilities alfordng also
a much needed improvement in the
mail service this country should estab-
'ish banks in the South American re-
publics. Europe has done this with
much profit, and has been enabled
thereby to largely increase it's trade in
that section. There is not today a sin
gle bank below Panama controlled by
L nited States. Special care should also
be given to the preparation of printed
matter in the Spanish language.
Young men with a knowledge of the
Spanish and Portuguese languages
should be educated to act as our COM
representatives in this part of
the world. Greater care should also be
&ercised in packing our goods for ship
ment. In short our business men
should thoroughly study the needs of
the South American trade and do all in
their power to meet it's requirements.
Mr.. Barrett's report is one of the
most valuable and interesting public
documents of the year. 1t cannot fail
to bring about valuable results. The
showing made by the bureau of which
he is the efficient director is most
gratifying one, and demonstrates the
work it is doing FOR the
commerce of the country.
New York hunters paid game license