Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-27
LATIN AMERICA IS
GOOD TRADE FIELD
Expert Says Southern Republics
Hold Great Possibilities for
U. S. Manufacturers
OFFER FINE TRANSPORTATION
Yankee Dealers Can Compete Be-
low Equator with Europeans
on an Equal Footing
OFFER FINE TRANSPORTATION
Cspeclal to The Herald)


WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-'Every
month sees the establishment OF new
American business houses in South
America" said DIR. Albert Hale, chlet
of the division of information of the
Pan-American union, in an interview
here today, land almost all OF these
are proving highly successful There
is no doubt that the great future for
the trade expansion of the United
States lies in our sister republics OF
the western hemisphere.
'"Trade with these nations Is increas-
ing far more rapidly at the present
time than with any other part of the
world. In 1900 our exports to South
America amounted to $3S,945, 1853. In
1910 they were $93, 4682O, or nearly two
and a half times the earlier amount.
To the countries of North America, in
Guiding, of course, Canada, we sent
S1S7, ,594, ,625 in 1900 and 1856, $40 069 in
1910, doubling in value In the same
period our exports to Europe advanced
only per cent in total value, while
those to Asia and Africa show a slight
decline between the beginning and end
of the decade. Of course, If our COM
merce with other countries is to grow
we must take as we'll as give, and our
imports from South America have more
than doubled since 1900 while those
from North American countries have
grown even more rapidly. When one
realizes how little has been done by
American manufacturers toward deVel-
oping a demand for their products in
Latin America it becomes evident that
the possibilities in the systematic en-
couragement of reciprocal trade rela-
tions with our neighbors of the west
ern hemisphere are simply tremen-
dous."
HALE AN AUTHORITY
Dr. Hale is probably the best in
formed authority in the world on con-
ditions in the countries of Central and
South America, having Travelled
through them repeatedly and being in
close touch with correspondents in all
the leading cities of these lands. His
observations on the prospects of COM
mercial expansion in the trade between
these countries and the United States
therefore possess exceptional value.
There is a common impression
among Americans who have not in
formed themselves" said DR.. Hale,
that the merchant and manufacturer
of the United States is handicapped in
seeking South American trade by in
adequate transportation facilities and
high rates. Conditions In this respect
have improved greatly in recent years.
AS the freight movement, and more
particularly the passenger movement,
is far greater between South America
and Europe there naturally are more
steamship lines in operation between
these two continents and great many
more tramp steamers are in this trade
The liners running from American
ports, however, are very good sub
stantial and efficient boats as Is shown
by the fact that few tramp steamers
run between the two continents. There
is no American line running south of
hh ton
a source of pride and satisfaction if
our flag was more in evidence, but it
is mistake to say that there are no
good steamships running to South
: America from the United States. The
time is the same, or to some ports a
little less, by the ships running from
this country, and the rates are on
par with those from European ports.
CAN COMPETE WITH EUROPE
"The American manufacturer who
proceeds intelligently is able to COM
pete in South American markets on
equal terms with those OF Great Brit
ain, Germany, France and Italy, as is
shown by the success Of those Ameri-
cans who go about it systematically
and who do not expect to capture
market without any adequate outlay
of time, money and effort.
"a plan that is being adopted with
SoOd results by many manufacturers
who do not feel like undertaking the
expense of developing the South Amer
lean field all by themselves is to make
arrangements with other plants in al
lied or related lines and to have all Of
them work together through one agen-
cy. This is an excellent method for
the small manufacturer. Americans
are learning that they cannot build
UP trade by simply placing catalogues
or samples with old established houses
having European affiliations but must
do it by their own efforts and through
their own representatives These rep
resentatiVes of course must familiari2e
themselves with the trade customs and
language Of those from whom they
seek business and the manufacturer
who is in a hurry for immediate re-
suits is likely to be disappointed
1.-THE better understanding that has
come about between the people Of this
country and those to the south of US
within recent years has laid the foun-
dations for a great commercial ex-
pansion. We need many of the prod
ucts of these countries and they can
use rapidly increasing quantities Of our