The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-01

reaus have been established from time
TO time in other cities of the United
states and in each case they have
Drought excellent results In this con-
heetion can point out To you no bet
ter example than the foreign trade bu-
reau or the export department of the
Association of Commerce in New Or
leans. In my official visit there yes
terday was profoundly impressed with
the practical and useful work which
It Is doing to build up the trade OF
New Orleans and the south with the
Pan American and the Pacific field
Birmingham. its Chamber of Com
merce and its leading manufacturing
interests cannot become too familiar
with the countries of Latin America
and the Pacific ocean, for the greatest
opportunity. not only today bus in the
| future. for an extension OF the foreign
commerce of the United States Is in the
manufacture and sale abroad OF It's iron
and steel products There is, in a sense
no limit to the value and quantity of
| these goods that will be wanted in
the 20 Central and South American
countries Natural conditions are such
in those lands that they will mex er be
able to manufacture iron and steel as
| cheaply as 1t can be done here in Bir-
mingham, for without cheap fuel with
out skilled labor. and without that re-
markable combination which you nave
/ mere, VI ore, Iuel ana ldDOf .lSnI TO-
getehr they can never compete sue
eessfully with you in that output and
its diversfications which characterize
the manufactures of Birmingham and
this section.
Must Work for Market
DO not think. however for a mo-
ment that the market is yours just be-
cause of your natural advantages. 1t
Will be necessary for you to meet the
vigorous competition not only of the
other manufacturing centers of the
| United States but of Europe. The Pan
anna canal and Pan-American COM
merce are no magic wands which will
suddenly make your great plants work
overtime or double your population. IL
will take time and mighty effort to
get your share of this trade, but you
can and will get magnificent results
with the effort II you will only fight
the battle according to your courage
and your capacity
Let us consider a few remarkable
| facts of this Pan-American and Pa
i cific field open to the efforts of Bir
mingham South of Birmingham, to be
| reached through Alabamas port of Mo-
bile or through New Orleans, are 20
ambitious countries covering an area
of 100000 square miles or three tines
| the area of the United States main
| tanning a population of 100000 or
seven n-tenths of the United States, and
conducting an annual foreign trade
valued at the ma gnificent total of ST.
| 500, ,0eO, 600
| Last year these 20 countries bought
and sold in trade with the United States
alone products valued at $S00,0000 900.
which in turn represents an increase OF
nearly 100 per cent in the last ! 0 years.
or this total the largest export indi-
vidual classification was that of man.
ufactured iron and steel products.
| almost within 1900 miles of Bir-
mingham bordering on the Gull of
Mexico and the Caribbean sea,N are
| Latin American countries. already con-
Quoting foreign trade with ,he world
valued at $500, ,000, 900 and this Is only
| in the infancy of it's possibilities.
On the Pacific Side
The ships that will sail from Mo-
bile ana New Orleans through the Pan
anna canal. laden with the products of
Birmingham and other manufacturing
centers of the United States. Will when
| they reach the Pacific side of the
| isthmus. enter upon the waters of an
ocean which has combined Latin Amer
| lean, United States, Canadian. Asiatic
and Australian coast line. conducts an
nually foreign trade valued at an ex-
traordinary total of $4,000. 900, 900 and
maintains population of 100000 900.
"The Pacific coast line of Latin
America. which will be easily reached
| in few days steaming from Mobile
and New Orleans. and which hereto
fore has only been accessible FOR ves-
| sells steaming for month around
| South America. has a reach of 5000
miles from Mexican California line
| southeast to the Straits of Magellan
and conducts now. without the canal,
a foreign trade valued between $780,
000 900 and $500. 900, 900. When the canal
ic mil at pd hi oh Ia al
with great demands upon the southern
| states of the United States.
Before close / urge upon you most
earnestly: First, to participate in the
Southern Commercial congress by send
| ing a large delegation to that great
gathering at Mobile in the latter part
of October. Second, to send a worthy
delegation to the Panama canal on the
| excursion following that congress,
planned by DR.. Clarence J. Owens, the
able managing director thereof; who
has spoken to ycu tonight so eloquently
and forcibly. Third to make sure that
one or two or more of your thoroughly
qualified and responsible men take the
trip, also being organized by the
Southern Commercial congress, around
South America, going down the West
coast and returning by the east coast.
Through such representatives you will
be able to tell the South Americans
ABOUT birmingham ana Alabama, ltS re-
sources and its potentialities. In turn
they will come back to you and tell
you what Peru, Chile, Argentina and
Brazil and other countries of South
America have in store for Birmingham
and Alabama, and unless l am greatly
mistaken you Will rise up and. when
you greet these returning delegates,
call Doctor Owens and my humble self
blessed for urging you to this parti-
cipation in Pan-American excursion.
Word About Mexican. Situation
In conclusion | would not be honest
with myself and with you unless /
said speaking as one who knows Latin
America well as he knows the United
states. a kindly word about the Mexi- |
can situation.
Let the thoughtful and sensible peo-
pie of this great city and state use
their moral influence against forcible
intervention by arms in our sister re-
public of Mexico. Let us respect the
Sovereignty of this sister nation and
remember that her sovereignty is just |
as dear 10 her people as the sovereignty
Of the United States is dear to us When