The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-27
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

general of the Pan American Union.
was one of the principal speakers. He
emphasized the important fact that
the Mississippi valley and its tributary
sections between the Alleghanies and
the Rockies have q remarkable ana
peculiarly advantageous. relationship
to the Latin-American commercial
opportunity which IL not generally ap-
preciated.
For practical study and action. said
Mr.. Barrett during the course OF his
remarks. let it be understood that the
Mississippi valley has a particular
sphere Of territory in Latin America
which is in many respects different
from those open to tho Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. This sphere includes.
first. the coast line OF eleven Latin
American countries bordering upon
the Gulf Of Mexico and the Caribbean
sea. This commercial area bears es-
sentiaily the same relationship in
proximity, shipping routes. and mar
kets to the Mississippi valley that the
countries of northern Africa and west
ern Asia bear to the European coun-
tries of the Mediterranean sea. This
coast line Of eleven countries-Mex-
leo. Guatemala, Honduras. Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ven
ezuela, Dominican Republic, Haiti and
Cuba-has debouching upon it pop
ulation Of twenty millions, and last
year. according to figures just at
hand, bought and sold products val
ued at the. surprising total of approx
imately 500. 100000. With the new
impetus coming from the opening Of
the Panama canal, this commerce
should easily grow to $1.400.O00,0OO
during tho next ten years, and there
is no valid reason why the Mississippi
valley should not control two-thirds
Of that total in both volume and
value.
This sphere includes, secondly, the
Pacific slope Of western South Amer
lea which reaches for four thousand
miles, from Panama south to Puntas
Arenas on the Straits of Magellan, in
cludes western Colombia. Ecuador,
Peru. Bolivia and Chile. supports a
population of fifteen millions, and
conducts an annual foreign trade val
ued at approximately $400,000,00o.
This total, which is large, considering
that 1t was built up before the canal
was opened, represents a remarkable
increase over ten years ago and bids
fair, with the active and growing use
of the canal, to increase to 1000, O00,-
900 in another ten years. Again here
the Mississippi valley has an extraor-
binary opportunity to supplant with
it's own exports and imports those of
Europe, which heretofore have held
the field against the United States be-
cause Of shipping advantages around
South America and through the
Straits.
This sphere also includes, third. the
western orr Pacihc coast of Central
America ind Mexico; to which the
canal gives tho Mississippi valley d.
rest access for the first time. Here
we have three Thousand miles of coast
| line. including Panama, the five Gen.
trail American countries and Mexico,
upon which debouch nearly ten mil
lions Of people and a foreign trade Of
i approximat- ly $100.0O0.o00.
To sum up, the Mississippi valleys
special sphere OF opportunity and ac-
tivity In Latin America comprises por-
tons Of sixteen countries. a. popula-
ton Of nearly fifty millions, and a
present foreign trade Of $1,20O,OOO,-
, 600, which must, with no exaggera-
ton of possibilities, grow to $2,4OO,-
| 100000 within the next ten years!
Now what Is to be done in the
premises?
First. great edit must be given
to those persons, firms. and organiza-
lions which have for many years been
working successfully in this field.
What they have done and are doing
lowed.
Second. The whole situation must
be approached from the Latin-Ameri-
can as well as the United States stand
point, and from the side of imports of
their products for our manufacturing
plants as we'll az Of exports Of our
finished Manufactured goods and our
surplus agricultural products suited to
their markets. Ships must have re-
turn as we'll as outgoing cargoes.
Third. 1t is most important that
money as we'll as merchandise should
be supplied to Latin America. II the
financial institutions Of the Mississip-
pi valley could lend Latin America
$500, 100000 during the next five
years. they would by that agency
alone and in that period increase the
Mississippi valley trade with Latin
America $500, 900. Some meth
cd must be devised by the federal re-
| serve board and private banking and
trust companies to meet the situation.
for Europe can supply no more money
to Latin America for the next decade.
Fourth. A great and immediate
need Of the hour is well organized and
developed banking and credit facili-
ties between the commercial and