The Washington herald., 1909-06-06

In a recent article the New Orleans
Picayune comments upon the opening Of
the transcoaunentaI railroad through the
republic OF Guatemala and points out how
II may be taken advantage OF by the mer-
chants OF that city as means OF ex-
tending trade. The view Is taken that
this railroad opens a new. large. and
promising field 20 Southern trade in
which New orleans and other cities may
operate 10 advantage. II is set forth,
also. that this line OF railroad makes an
easy and effective route or transportation
10 the west coast OF South America, By
transshipment OF freight 20 railroad and
again 10 steamers on the other side Of the
continent
The Picayune says this railroad places
the markets Of New Orleans and the
Mississippi Valley within a few DAYS
travel OF 100000 Of people who have been
accustomed 10 look 10 san Francisco FOR
American made goods. and 10 Germany
for everything they could not find in Cali
fornie
Trade Difficult Formerly.
In relation 10 the possibilities OF trade
in that country The Picayune goes on 10
say: The lack Of transportation facili-
ties from the city OF Guatemala, the heart
OF the great trade Of the country. 10 the
eastern shore. made communication be-
tween New Orleans and the interior OF
the republic so dificult that merchants
OF New Orleans were not induced 20
trouble themselves investigating what
lay beyond the long ride on muleback
across the mountains The far-reaching
energies OF German and English mer-
chants made these discoveries long ago.
IN spite OF the dlfhculues in transporta-
ton. established their agencies and built
up a wonderful trade, and now that the
railway development has been weH ad-
Vanced by the policy Of President Estrada
Cabrera. these foreign merchants have
reaped the profit OF their years Of labor.
The import duties in Guatemala have
been so extensive that goods imported
had a valuation Of S50ooo.G09 in one year.
and the bulk OF this money has gone 10
German and English traders.
The imports Of the United States. which
have really meant san Francisco. have
also reached millions. Fully 80 per cent
Of this trade can De secured By New Or
leans and the Mississippi Valley. and
there are not difficult qualifications 10
meet. either The trade IS there. but IL
IS there Tor the man who comes after a,
who packs his goods properly and who
ships exactly what the merchant orders.
IN the manner the merchant wants II.
All that the merchants OF Guatemala
want is 10 be given what they ask for.
and 70 be given it properly.
Guatemala IS the richest of the 1--WE
Central American republics. and in some
respects IS the farthest advanced. The
completion Of the Guatemala railroad
gave 20 that country an interoceanic
line extending from Puerto Barriost on
one side To san Jose de Guatemala on the
westward. which means that New Or
leans merchants can snip 10 Puerto Bar
rios and across 10 the Pacific and either
north or south along that shore 70
Mexico or salvador.
Three Days Run by Sea.
II IS but a three days run al sea from
New Orleans 70 the port and two Gays
by rail- for freight from this port 10 the
capital. making a total OF i've days Il
requires seventeen days 10 travel from
san Francisco 10 san Jose, and two days
10 bring freight from San Jose 70 the
city Of Guatemala.
New Orleans has two weeks advantage
IN time. but the lack OF transportation
facilities FOR so many years has LEFT the
merchants ignorant Of what Guatemala
really is. Many years ago the Central
Railroad was constructed 10 the Pacifc
Coast. giving san FranciscO's merchants
easy access TO the interior Of Guatemala,
and they sent their travelling statesmen
could produce in the way OF trade They
followed this tour OF Investigation closely.
and merchants OF san Francisco have
made fortunes Naturally with so many
years advantage san Francisco has es-
tablished business connections which are
binding. bat they cannot hope 10 com
pete with New Orleans merchants and
merchants OF St Louis. Chicago, Gin
cinatu Kansas City. and the ike. II
these merchants but get into the market
and make a bid for the trade, based
upon business principles.
Water Rates Cheaper.
The long haul across the United States
ana the long haul 10 san Jose could
never withstand the river communication
or shorter rail freight rates 10 New Or
leans and the voyage Of three davs
f q
OF Guatemala. the land Of the CONNER
cially unknown, as far as New Orleans
and the Mississippi Valley is concerned
covers the widest possible latitude. II
includes every class of goods used bv
cultivated people. planters. mill men.
sugar planters. miners. and general mer-
chandise merchants. Guatemala is
great grower OF sugar cane, and their
mills are small. but numerous. and the
bulk OF this sugar-house machinery
comes from England. There is no section
Of the world where sugar house machin-
cry is better understood than in Iouisi-
ana, but Guatemala planters buy their
machinery from England just the same.
The English mill builders have gone
after the business and have secured il.
and that is the only reason. There Is no
country south OF the United States which
furnished a better hardware territory
than Guatemala. and until very recently.
Germany and England were getting prac-
tically al or this trade. In this particu-
lar line New Orleans hes made a bid for
the trade and has gotten a big section
Of II. but the carelessness OF one firm
in the simple shipment OF bar iron in
place Of steel has given a bad name in
New Orleans. which was difficult 10 over
come.
TIE completion OF the Guatemala rail-
way should mean 10 New Orleans a great
awakening Of trade with the tropics. for
II places this market In touch with mer-
chants who could never before look 10
the eastern section OF the United States.
Now there is under construction a branch
road from Zacapa, a point midway be-
tween the coast and Guatemala City. 10
la Union. a seaport Of Salvador, and
Sir William Van Horne and Mr.. Minor
{. Keith have this work in hand II is