The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-04-02
Great EFFECT OF
PANAMA CANAL
Bolivian Minister Tells of
Benefits.
FULFILLS AGE OLD DREAM.

How South American Continent Will
Be Developed In Future Through
! Great Waterway-Distances Almost
( Annihilateo-The Riches of Bolivia
4 Descrbed-has Monopoly of Tin.
The dream of centuries will be re
allied and physical distances will be
almost annihilated by the opening in
the near future of the Panama canal"
writes Ignacio Calderon. minister of
Bolivia to the United States. in the
March issue of Export American In
duStries. The slow development of
commercial relations between this
country and the republics of South
America in the past has been largely
due to the difficulties of crossing the
ISthmuS. The transportation charges
via Panama nave been to Il large eX-
tent prohibitive. The freightage by
steamer from our ports to New York
via Magellan and from our ports TO
Europe is on an average from - TO
80 per cent cheaper than our COM
MERGE with New York via Panama,
, this despite the fact that the most dis
tant ports of our respective republics
are but $500 miles from New York
via Panama and 1000 miles from
New York via Magellan.
The completion Of the Panama ca
nal will remove these and other OBJ
f stacles. Equally important will be the
better understanding of the markets
: of South America 10y the exporters
and manufacturers of this country.
= who will have more opportunity to
study and consult the tastes and ne
ceSsitieS of the South American people
and also will have greater facilities to
= visit the various countries i'm order to
: get acquainted with the business men
. Personal and direct contact * pow
erful element of union and powerful
agency for the promotion OF advan-
tagcous relations.
South Americas Riches.
THE continent of South America is
capable Of unlimited development 10y
reason of its size. the variety and rich
ness Of its products. The total nopula-
tion OF the ten republics does not eN-
- coed G0.000.O00 people, but their inter
Iilltbhdl commerce AAAAbAhNN ~ sAAN'AiN
- S2.5OO,000.O0O annually. and grows
y steadily every year.
My country. Bolivia. situated i'm the
center of the continent ana crossed 10y
double chains Of the Andes. watereC
by great rivers flowing 10 the Amazon
- and the Plata. rich i'm virgin forests
- abundance of rabber and all tropica
, | products. offers in its eastern plain.
wonderful opportunities for stock rails
) ! ing. The mines of silver. copper, bis
muth. zinc and tin are the priucipa
Y sources of wealth ever since the domi
nation of Spain. The silver mines O
| Potosi produced billions during the 30
- years of the colonial period, and if
- had not been for the great depreciation
fin the value of this metal and the lac
of cheap transportation the numerou
8 mines abandoned would today he il
active operation.
BOLIVIA Has Tin Monopoly.
ION the other hand. the exploitation
of tin has increased considerably. IL
. livia. being the only American countr
where this metal is found in payin
9 quantities. has. j will say, the natur;
more than 24,OGO tons of pure tin wei
exported. and. with better transport
vice tion facilities and greater working po
ulation. Bolivia. that now produce
about one-fourth part Of the tin use
could easily supply enough for IL
worlds consumption.
The opening of the Panama can
will make yet more important the d
velopment of the free commercial rel
lions between both Americas. II
completion Of that stupendouS wor
-, called to reyOlutiouize the political III
mn trade relations of the world. will she
nm how near neighbors we are and no
up close together are the countries of ii
hemisphere May their relations
up crease and. with the development
up trade and friendly intercourse. all I
nations of America become the HON
rect of happy and free peoples and of p'
. manent peace and good will amo