The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-17
NEED MORE STEAMSHIPS.
United 81 les Has Practically No
Lines Iatin-American Ports.

L
Referring to my letter of Decem
Der Ia. 1908. to editors of Southern
newspapers, on the interest of the
south In the expansion of our export
trade with the Latin-American coun-
uies, [ take the liberty of addressing
you OH the great Importance OF direct
and regular steamship communities
tion between the South Atlantic and
Gulf ports and those countries.
1t 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 Is
lands. they must be carried to those
countries. Mexico Is the only one
weth which we have rail communica-
tion, and to great part Of that coun-
try especially from our territory
south Of the Ohio and Potomac rivers
and east Of the Mississippi, traffic can
bs moved efficiently by water as we'll
"a by rail. There are direct and reg
ular lines from some of the South At
lantic and Gulf ports to some OF the
Mexican. Central American. and West
Indian ports. There are no such
lines to any South American port
New York Is the only port on our
tantic coast from which there are
regular steamship sailing to ports
socth OF Venezuela. There are four
regular steamers per month from
New York to Brazil; seven to the
River Plata. and three or four to the
West coast. making a total of seven
teen or eighteen. From European
ports there are fourteen to Brazil:
Eighteen to the River Plata, and
three to the West coast, or a total of
30. The inferiority OF the service
from the United States is even greater
than Is indicated by the comparative
nYmber Of sailings, as the steamers
fiom European ports are generally
faster and have superior passenger
accommo odations.
From our South Atlantic and Gulf
ports there Is occasional communica-
ton by tramp steamers with ports
south OF Venezuela. but as rule such
o. the products of the Southern States
n md their way into the markets of
south America are sent through
Northern ports. In fact, a consider
allie proportion Of the exports from
the United States to the east coast of
south America. south CT Para, Brazil.
SO from New York across the Allan
TIC to Europe. and across the Atlantic
again to South America. For In
stance. In a report on TRADE conditions
In Brazil! by Special Agent Lincoln
Hutchinson. published by the Bureau
of Manufactures. II rs stated that at
least fifty per cent of tAe American
hams sold In Brazil are shipped by
way OF England. and considerable
proportions OF other kands of traffic
move by the same route.
1t IL sometimes argued that, IL our
merchants and manufacturers would
devote sufficient attention to cultiyat-
Ing Latin-American trade, and would
develop sufficient volume of traf-
fic. there would be no difficulty about
securing adequate transportation ia
cilities. To a certain extent this Is
true. There are large numbers OF So
called tramp steamers constantly
looking for traffic wherever 1t is to be
found, and any shipper In any Amer
iean port, who had q full cargo for
South America, would doubtless have
little difficulty in finding ship to
carry 1t. The difficulty Is that our
merchants and manufacturers, in
their efforts to build up trade with
the Latin-American countries, come
into competition with European RI
vals who are generally served by reg
ular lines OF steamers receiving aid,
either In form of susidies or Of lib
eral payment for carrying the mails.
from the countries whose flags they
fly Vessels from these countries sail
OH regular schedules. The South
American merchant ordering goods In
Liverpool or Hamburg by mail knows
when his order will be received. by
what steamer II will be shipped, and
just when he may expect II to arrive.
l. he sent his order to the United
states. unless II was from one of the
comparatively few points having reg
ular sailings. he could have no idea
when 1t would be received by the
american shipper or when the goods
would be shipped. Therefore, while it
- true that, after trade has once been