Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-18
VALUE OF TRADE WITH
SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS
President Finley. Of Southern Rail
way, Discusses Subject
Interestingly.
Editor, The Press.
NeWpOrt News,

Editor. The Press.
Newport News. Va.
Dear Sir:
Complying with requests from
editors OF newspapers published In
the Southern States for occasional
letters on commercial and economic
topics Of interest to the people of our
section. take the liberty OF writ
ing to you on the great importance OF
the expansion Of our export trade
with the l.atin-American countries.
This l.; matter Of special impor-
lance to our section, not only because
of our geographical advantage with
reference to this trade. which. as 10
the Pacific Coast countries. Will De
still further increased by the COM
pletion of the Panama Canal. hut al
so because the large proportion OF the
commodities which the countries TO
the south of us import can he pro-
duced and manufactured advantage
ously in the Southern States. A
few statistics will show the great
present importance and future posi-
bilities OF these markets. In round
figures the combined area of Mexico,
Central America, South America. and
the West India Islands is 9.Oo.n00
square miles. and their combined pop
ulation is $1,000 900. Their popula-
ton is rapidly increasing. In the
wear 1907. 329.12" immigrants arriv-
cd in Argentin" alone. Among
South America cities. Rio de. Janeir"
will soon have population OF 1000
00O. and Buenos Aires. the largest city
In the world south OF the equator.
has approximately l,20o,0o0 ihnabi-
tants. and the progressive charact
Of its people is shown BY the fact that
they are now arranging to put In
system OF under ground electric rail-
ways
The past ten years have Witnessed
marked change in political and
economic conditions in the Latin
American countries. Political up
heavals are now o! comparatively
rare occurrence. and with few eN-
ceptions. these countries have stable
governments which auord adequate
protection TO life and properly. They
are making rapid strides in material
development. " former wears they
were seriously hamper.I by lack Of
transportation facilities. Their needs
in this respect are being rapidly sup
piled. Nav'gs hle streams are being
improved. wagon roads ar" being con-
strIcted. and the Latin-Amcrican gov
errms nts. generally. are pursuing an
enlightened policy CT encouragement
TO railway construction. In ia".. for
instance. over 900 miles Of rrw rail.
wsy were constructed IN Argentine.
making the total length Of the lines
in operation In that country 10000
miles. In Brazil arc miles Of rail.
way were built in 1907. bringing the
total miles age up to - .IS9 miles MeNi-
GO has IaisI miles Of railway Chile
has 500 miles OF railway. and in the
mountain country Of Bolivia a plan OF
construction involving III" cxprnf ~
fure Of 81 .0oa !.0s Of governments,
and private capital has been adopted
PoliticsI stabiiii;. increasing popua
ton, and improved mrarg Of ;ranspor.
tatiou are resulting IN material pro
gross and in an Increase in the pur-
chasing power Of tho I attn American
peoples the extent o. which. he
lievc. is not generally appreciated
In our country
The Iat'n-American countries pro-
d1cc an abundance 81 commodiiie.
that are In demand IN oahcr lands
The combined value OF their cxports
almost wholly made M " unmanu.
featured articles IL about 81 n12 600 .
ooo per year The combined value
II their imports. composci chiefly OF
manufactured articles amounts. sp
proS'msteiy. to 3i.eos .ooo. 40 pcr
year Our country Is their test con.