The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-22
AFTER COAL TRADE
IN LATIN AMERICA
Birmingham Operators Believe
Field Can Be Captured
STEPS ALREADY TAKEN
1t Is Believed NO Less Than 4,O0O,OOO
Tons Annually Can Be Supplied
to Latin America If Trade
Is Worked
STEPS ALREADY TAKEN

The plan to furnish Alabama coal to
boats in New Orleans for export ship
ments and for bunker purposes has been
such success that local coal merchants
are planning to enter the South Amer
lean and Mexican coal trade with hither-
to unprecedented energy. 1t is planned
to supply the Latin countries with their
coal from Birmingham and 1t was stat
ed yesterday that with a slight expendi-
ture at least 100000 tons of coal per
year could be sold from this district to
those countries.
If this plan Is carried to success hte
local district will rob British Columbia
and England of the present trade which
is estimated to be far above the tonnage
that it is expected will be supplied by
this district at the outset.
Birmingham at the present time ships
a large amount of coal, coke and iron
to the Latin countries but has not ag-
gressively entered into competition for
the maximum tonnage supply.
With s150,00O it Is claimed that this
huge tonnage could be brought here and
if one company does not feel able to
handle the proposition, it is given out
that two or three companies will do the
work in conjunction.
The Mexican mines are capable of pro-
ducing 100000 tons per year, but on
account of conditions of labor the ton
mage is cut exactly in half The Ma
tional Railways of Mexico consume this
no in 70
has been importing from West Virginia
and New Mexico. 1t is planned and be-
lieved to be feasible, to get this tonnage
to Birmingham if possible.
At Maxatlan. Mexico, where the late
Edward II. Hartman started railroad
line to the Mexican capital, only eight
tons of coal were shipped last year from
America while British Columbia shipped
into that one port is, 400 tons to one con-
Germ. With the present freight rates Ala
bama it is claimed can easily handle this
port for coal and thus deprive the Brit
ish of a large annual revenue from this
source.
At Matamoras, no coal at all Is i'm
ported and the people depend upon mes
quite wood as a source of fuel 1t is
believed here that proper representations
could be made that would result In small
sales at that port. At LaPaz which Is
developing fast it is reported that the
industries are contemplating the impor-
tation of coal from British Columbia.
From Birmingham this coal could be
easily supplied, the local coal merchants
believe
1t has been officially announced in con-
nection with this new field that an Ala
bama concern has been given a trial or
der of coal by the Interoceanic railroad
at Tampico which is part of the mer-
ger system Further it is given out
that two large vessels belonging to the
Hartman lines have been leased and
that II every feature works out we'll
the Alabama concern will enter the mar
ket and dispose of large tonnage an
nually. In Vera Cruz, Alabama has
timidly entered the market The United
States imported to this point 2s1. 400 TONS
and England 1882 tons in 1909
Yucatan now uses some coal from
America, but the larger amount of fuel
Is wood. However wood is getting to be
rather expensive In Yucatan, and 1t is
ennounced that wood will he given over
for American coal If the field is devel-
oped.
Alabama coal is well known and has
been thoroughly tested in Ceiba, Hondu-
ras. Faccaro Bros. recently placed a
This coal from Birmingham is placed on
board the company vessels at New Or
leans and is imported free of duty on
account of concessionary privileges given
the firm. as they own steamers and a prl-
vate railroad
Puerto Cortes Of the same country buys
Alabama coal, Aand last year 5000 tons
were purchased and consumed by private
enterprises.
Argentina seems to be the real juicy
plum for Alabama coal, according to To-
cal opinions. From 1904 to 1909 the i'm
portations from the United Kingdom We're
II, 309.b 66 tons. In this period and while
such gigantic tonnages were being con-
sumed the United States only sold 1922
tons of coal. This In spite of the fact
that Alabama is nearer and can load coal
cheaper and quicker than any point in
the United Kingdom. This trade will re-
ceive the quick attention Of local people.
In Panama the Alabama coal trade is
worked pretty well. The government re-
Gently purchased a large tonnage for the
canal work The Panama railroad is a
large consumer. This company alone pur-
chased from Virginia 3S0,792 tons in one
year. while from this district 1t is claimed
that the coal could be shipped cheaper
and more quickly.
l 1t was a long time before Birmingham
came into her own on the coal bunker
supply or New Orleans. After period
of anxious Investigations 1t was seen that
Alabama could supply the steamers and
other users plenty of coal better AMI
cheaper than any other point. This trade
of the Latin countries is just as feasible
as the New Orleans trade and will re-
oeive shortly the most energetic attention
of local people.
Alabama sells quite a large tonnage
for the vessels sailing from Tampa,
Now ORLEANS Mobile and Pensacola In
the Latin countries a small tonnage is
used, but 1t is planned to work all the
southern trade up to a large gross ton
mage.