The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-20
Impossible to Enter South America In Normal
 Times
MAY BE DIFFERENT
 NOW OWING TO WAR
Chandler Says Argentine Railroads Are Clamoring for Fuel and Lo- cal Operators May Make An
 other Effort At Field

The only reason Birmingham has never sold coal to Argentina was on ac- count of the favoritism shown Wales in coal rates as against New Orleans. The odds were far too great for Henry De- Burdeleben and associates to overcome a short time ago. and after spending hun dteds of dollars they gave up the proposi- ton It may be possible at this time for the Alabama operators to enter Argentina and other South American ports.
 That seems to be the opinion of '. iA Chandler who is South American agent fof the Southern railway and allied in- terests He wired here yesterday to l.. Se- vier, general agent that some of the Ar genuine railroads were out of fuel. and it would appear that good opportunity was presented for Alabama participation in the coal tonnage consumed In that section.
 Local producers and exporters however. know that banking facilities in Argen- tina arc so closely aligned with German. British and French interests as to make it impossible for local men to get Into that district in normal times. In war times it may be different
 Mail Service Inferior
 However inferior mail service between the American ports and Argentina render 1t almost impractical to carry on corr respondence with that section From this city 1t requires 50 days to get letter to Argentina and get an answer. even If answered promptly. Again. no American financial houses have connec- tons in south America, and when d per- son buys coal in this country that person must pay when the coal is placed on board the boats at New Orleans or Mobile. That arrangement is very unsatisfactory and economically wasteful, as well as in- efficient.
 In speaking of this question yesterday Henry DeBardeleben said that he tried to make arrangements with south American ports and finally had determined to char ter a bottom and make one trip. He tina were so much less than the Mobile tina were so much les sthan the Mobile rates. and the discharge so much in favor of Wales that it could not be done tio finally determined to send representative there to work up business. only at that time to get another contract which called for practically all his output
 Await Merchant Marine
 Local coal men are extremely anxious to enter the South American fields. They realize the immense opportunity presented without any schooling However, it is stated there will be no possible way of getting Alabama adequately represented in the South American countries until an American merchant marine Is established and until the difference in rates from Wales and European ports are brought down to a point where they are in striking distance of the rates asked for Mobile and New Orleans boats
 At this time. while the war Is raging and everything in Wales is paralyzed, and there Is a cry of help going up from Argentina, it may be possible to get some Alabama coal into that section. The per manency of the proposition Is the solu- ton that Birmingham coal operators want determined while they have at least a temporary advantage over Wales.
 The information conveyed here by the Southern railway interests will more than likely be used by some coal operators to make a try for entry into the Argentine territory 1t may be interesting also to point out that coal in Argentina sells for $l0 per ton.