The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-12

& President w. w. rihieS, VI so
Southern Railway. has written an
newspapers urging them to arouse In
terest among the people in the mat
fer of improving the trade of the Unit
ed states with the Latin American
REPUBLICS to the South. This move
ment Mr.. Finley regards as OF the
utmost Importance. His letter fol-
lows: ,.o.
Editor Advertiser, Montgomery. Ala.
Dear SIR
Referring to my letter Of pscem-
Der IL. 1908, to editors Of Southern
nAwspapers, on the interest OF the
eouth In the expansion Of our export
trade with the Latin American coun-
fries. 1 take the liberty OF addressing
YOU on the great Importance 81 direct
ana regular steamship communication
between the South Atlantic and Gulf
ports and those countries.
III is obvious, Of course. that IL the
products Of the Southern states are to
BE- sold in Mexico. Central and south
America, and the West INDIA isianos'
they must be carried to those coun-
tries. Mexico is the only one with
vb,c, we have rail communication,
and to a great part Of that country.
especially from our territory south OF
the Ohio and Potomac rivers and east
OF the Mississippi. traffic can be NOV
ed eficiently by water as well as by
3 rail-. There are direct and regular
lines from some OF the South Atlantic
and Gulf ports 10 some Of the Mexican,
Central American. and West Inoian
ports. There are no such lines 10 any
South American port. New YORK
the only port on our Atlantic coast
from which there are regular steam
shin sailings to ports south OF Vene-
vueia There are four regular steam
ers per month from New York to Bra
III. seven to the River Plata. and
three or four to the West coast. max
ing total Of seventeen or eighteen.
From European ports there are FOUR
teen to Brazil: eighteen to the River
Plata. and three to the West coast
or a total of thirty Ave. The Inferior
3tv OF the service from the United
states IL even greater than Is indi-
Gated by the comparative number OF
saflinRs, as the steamers from Euro
pean ports are generally faster ana
have superior passenger acccmmooa-
lions.
From our South Atlantic ana Gulf
ports there IL occasional conmunfca-
ton by tramp steamers with ports
south Of Venezuela. but as rule such
as find their way into the markets
OF South America are sent through
Northern ports In fact. a consider
able proportion Of the exports from
the United States to the east coast OF
south America. south OF Para, Brazil,
70 from New York across the Atlantic
to Europe, ana across the Atlantic
again 70 South AmericG. For instance,
IN a report on trade conditions In
AAf
Hutchinson, published by the Bureau
81 Manufactures. Il Is stated that at
least so per cent. Of the American
hams sold in Brazil are shipped by
way OF England. ana considerable pro-
portions of other kinds OF traffic move
by the same route.
Cuitsvating the latin Trade.
IL is sometimes argued that. X our
merchants and manufacturers would
devote sufficient attention TO cuitivat-
fnr latina American trade, and would
develop a sufficient volume OF traffic,
there would be no difficulty about Sc
curing adequate transportation faciii-
ties. TO a certain extent this IL true.
There are large numbers Of so-calied
tramp steamers constantly looking for
trafac wherever IL is to be found,
ana any shipper in any American port,
who had a full cargo for South Ameri-
"a. would doubtless have little dincul-
ty IN finding ship to carry It. the
difficulty is that our merchants ano
manufacturers. In their efforts to build
up trade with the American
countries, come into competition with
European rivals who are generally
served by regular lines Of steamers
receiving aid, either In the form OF
subsidies or Of liberal payment for
carrying the mails. from the countries
whose hags they fly. Vessels from
these countries sail on regular sched-
MES. The South American merchant
ordering goods In Liverpool or Ham
burg by mail knows when his order
Will be received. by what steamer It
win be shipped. and just when he
may expect 1t to arrive. II he sent his
order to the United States. unless 1t
was from one of the comparatively few
points having regular sailings. ne
could have no idea when IL would be
received by the American shipper or
when the goods would be shipped.
Therefore, while It is true that, after
trade has once been developed. there
would probably be no difficulty In OBJ
tanning all the ships needed TO carry
n, the difficulty of building up such a
trade is greatly increased by lack OF
direct and regular steamers carrying
the malls and passengers as we'll as
freight. In the report on trade con-
ditions in Brazil above referred to,
Mr.. Hutchinson tells of Instances IN
which II took twice as long to get
mail orders from the United States as
from Europe, and says: SIN a very
large part OF our Brazil trade the mails
are an important factor, and there
can be no doubt that many orders
which might otherwise go to our man.