The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-09-27
URGES
U. S. To Double Efforts To
Develop Pan.Amerlcan
Trade

uidHuidCtuTiuS, exporting, Importing,
and shipping interests OF the United
States exert themselves to the limit
during the next 1S months, they will
find that they will be distanced from
the start by foreign competitors in
deriving practical advantages from the
Panama canal and the rapidly develop.
ing field Of Latin America. This is the
conclusion of Director General John
Barrett of the Pan-American Union as
the result of his study of European
conditions and reports received from
both South America and Asia.
Director General Barrett gives these
facts:
Every important port of Great Bri.
tain, France, Germany, Holland. Bel
gium, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy and
Austria, is being improved to the high.
est degree of efficiency for oversee
commerce.
Every European shipbuilding yard Of
recognized standing Is busy to its ca.
pacity constructing ocean going mer-
chant vessels.
European governments are instruct
ing their diplomatic and consular
agents to study and report upon every
phase of trade opportunity expected to
result from the canal. Their banking
and investment houses are extending
their foreign facilities. Their private
business companies of already large
established trade and their new com
panies are sending agents to Latin
America and all parts of the world af,
fected by the canal to investigate trade
possibilities.
In Japan three steamship companies
are building vessels for the canal. Jap
anese banks are considering the open.
ing of branches in Latin America. One
Chinese owned steamship company is
planning to operate a line from Shang-
hal and Hongkong to Central and
South America. Australia's CONNER.
cial organizations are sending men to
South America to develop trade, while
Australia and New Zealand are plan.
ming to establish canal steamship
freight vessels is to run from Calcutta
or Bombay to South America. Cana.
da will run two new direct lines re-
spectively from Vancouver and Mon
treal to the corresponding coasts OF
Latin America.
Chile, Peru and Bolivia are spending
$50, 100000 In opening up their inter
iors with railways. Chile is building
at Valparaiso new artificial harbol
to cost $15,OOO,OO0. Guayaquil, the
principal port of Ecuador and one ol
the best harbors on the Pacific ocean
is to be made sanitary at a large ex
pense. Callao, the chief port of Peru
Is being improved On the east coast
the activity is even greater. for botf
Argentina and Uruguay will spent
nearly $3O,OOO,00O in port improve
ments at Buenos Aires and Mon
tevideo, respectively. Brazil Is putting
in first.class condition every port alons
her 5000 miles of coast line from RID
Grande do Sui, in the south, to Para
at the mouth of the Amazon. One hun
dred million dollars Is being expended
In constructing new railways into tn
interior of Brazil. Venezuela and Co
lombia, Central America, Mexico, Cub
and the other West Indian countries
are awakening also to the signiflcanc,
and possibilities OF the canal and ar,
sending agents and appointing com
missions to. study the situation as |
affects them.
The conclusion of Director. Genera
Barrett IL summed up In the statemen
that, while the United States govern
ment and some OF It's commercial oI
ganizations and interests are doin
much to get ready for the canal and l.
develop Pan-American trade and de-
serve great credit for what they ar
doing, they must In view Of thes
facts reduble and extend their efforts
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