The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-08-15
LATIN AMERICA
Shows PROGRESS
Southern Sister Republics Ready To
Benefit BY Panama
aHe Canal.

Washington. d. c., Aug. 14.-As an
nounced. the Southern Commercial
Congress- secured the services of Mr..
William A. Reid to prepare four ar
ticles dealing with practical subjects
in connection with Latin America.
The first of the series follows:
The stupendous work of cutting
asunder the two great American con-
tinents is gradually drawing to COM
pletion Within one short year, the
officials tell US, the waters of the At
lantic and the Pacific will be united
and a wonderful ship highway thrown
open to the commerce of the world.
Commercially, the important ques-
ticn arises. are we Americans ready
to use this canal and for the impetus
that will surely be given to trade with
our fellow-men of the great Southern
Continent?
In general this question might be an
swered in the negative; but despite
this fact there are many important
interests already active in their work
of getting ready" The voice of the
able head of the Pan-American I'm
ion. at Washington, has been heard
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
he doubtless reflects the official SEN
timent of the 81 Republics of the two
continents in urging cooperation and
active work in preparing for the use
of the canal.
New Orleans, still progressive in the
hour OF defeat lin securing the Ex-
position). has petitioned the Govern
ment for permission to send the first
commercial vessel through the new
waterway. and the spirit of brother
hood manifests itself when the vic
torious city of San Francisco seconds
the request, st. Louis and other Mis-
sissippi Valley cities are making great
plans for fostering trade with the
West Coast countries; Boston, New
York, Seattle, Mobile, and scores of
other cities have their commercial rep
resentatives in the field all over South
America, and the fruits of their labors
are reflected in trade statistics which
show steady and increasing growth.
How about our South American
brother, What are his commercial
activities and what has he accom-
plished? What are his efforts in be-
half of fostering trade relations with
North America?
am requested to be. brief; hence /
shall have to avoid details, mention
ing only leading facts that have come
under my observation during my trav-
4. els up and down the vast Continent
of Opportunity.
It has been said that commerce fol-
lows the steamship and the railway.
First. then. let us take a glimpse, a
passing glimpse if you please, of the
activities in these and kindred lines.
Railways.
Throughout Latin America the Pan
American Railway links are gradually
uniting. While the journey from New
York to Buenos Aires by rail may new
err become popular. although probably
possible within few years. the vari
GUS branches of this great system will
prove feeders for the ships that ply
between our shores. Argentina rail
ways. building northward have almost
met the Bolivian rails coming from
Lake Titicaca southwark; northwart
from this lake the traveller now jour
neys by rail as far as Cuzco, and it il
planned to have this line tap the ia
nous 0roya railway; then the all
..-.<l t<-.roor From, I ir,a IN par., "