The Washington herald., 1915-08-28
j. 5. TRADE With
COLOMBIA grows
This Country in 1914 Enjoy
ed 50 Per Cent Of Foreign
Deals of Republic.
AMERICAN GOODS SELL
Great Demand for Products of United
States-Resources Mainly Agri-
cultural and Pastoral.
BIZ consul ROSS HAZELTINE.

Colombia. the Keyston" State of South
America. covers an area of approximate
~ 10000 square milcs-more than ter
times the size Of New York State and
considerably larger than the combined
areas Of France, Germany. Denmark
Netherlands, Switzerland. and Belgium
The population of Colombia is estimated
at about 4c0,oOO. of whom 30 per cent arc
white. 81 per cent negroes. and l. pei
cent Indians. These estimates give al
average of S persons to the square mile
The overseas trade amounts to only
$50 per capita.
The climate varies from torrid on the
coasts to temperate in the interior.
Colombia has a coast line of about 3,1o(
miles about equally divided between the
Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean,
affording equal facilities for the Atlantic,
Gulf, and Pacific ports of the United
States. This fact is an important feature
in the prescnt-day trade with the United
States and offers almost aunlimited pos
sibilities for the future.
CoIombia's Foreign Trade.
During 1914 the foreign trade through
the port of Cartagcna amounted to. eX-
ports, 5,l63 5g3: and imports, $i.7J0. S04
making a total foreign trade of 1884 497.
These figures. in the absence of official
national statistics, may be accepted as
representing approximately one-third of
the total foreign trade of Colombia, or.
say. S29,7f3.0Oo.
If the statistics for the port of Car
tagena are taken a criterion. the
United States in 1914 enjoyed about 50 per
cent of the total foreign trade of Colon
bia, supplying 1875 per cent of the i'm
ports and taking % per cent of the ex-
ports. II is doubtful whether the United
States maintained an equally favora BILE
position with any other South American
country during tine past calendar year.
The accessibility Of this field and the
excellent transportation facilities were
dominant factors in the stronghold aC-
CURED by the United States. Another
factor was the stOppage of imports from
Germany. one of its principal competi
tors. during the latter part of the year.
while the imports from Great Britain
were greatly reduced. Present conditions
indicate that the United States will oc-
cupy an even better position in 1915.
The favorable trade balance that
Colombia enjoys with the United
States is of immense value to Ameri-
can exporters owing to the fact that
most of the exporters are also general
importers. and the favorable trade bal
anCe constitutes credit depository
against which Anne riCan exporters may
draw. This fact partially obviates the
necessity or advisab ility of establish
ing American branch banks in Colom-
bIa. and although the pound sterling
Is the official exchange. yet the dollar
exchange prevails in practice and all
prices are quoted in American dollars.
The import trade of Colombia de-
ponds almost wholly on tn" export
tIad". and InaSmuCh as the United
States affords 4 market for three
fOurtha of ColOmhia's exports, it is fair
and REASONABLE" to expect that CoIom-
bias wants VIII hs met by its best
buyer.
Principal Imports and Exports.
ColnmhiaS foreign trade is based
upon agricultural and mineral re-
sources almost exclusively. The ex-
ports from the port of Cartagena in
1914 III the order of their value We're:
Coffee. platinum. hides. gold, Panama
hats. and sugar. The imports embraced
wild" variety of manufactured goods,
with textiles prc-emin"nt. but includ-
ing fOodstuffs manufactures of metals,
drugs and medicines. and many other
classes in lesser proportions
The lack of productive capital. trans
credit information will continue to re-
strict the foreign and domestic trade
Of Colombia. There are other deterrent
features of less Importance. but the
greatest draw back l. the lack of CAPT
tai: that j.. foreign investments in
productive enterprises. That sort of
foreign capital. in cooperation with
local capital and the central govern
ment, would yield large returns di-
r"Ctly reflected IN the increased over
seas trade.
Share of the United states.
Statistics OF tho import trade through
The port OF CaItaGcua for 1874 reveal that
the United States enjoyed a. per cent
of the total, winch Amounted to Si7JD-
St+ Statistics compiled I"r the fiscal
Year ended Jun" -. l"ll. also gathered
by this consulate show that durir;, this
period OF pear' The Cnitcd States sup
Piled but IS per cent of the import trade.
The calendar year as compared with the
fiscal year exhibits a decline 81 $l,6H4 as
IN import trade. Thus. during a period !
% retrenchmeut the United States gained !
IS per cent over European competitors.
The imports during the fiscal year end |
ed June 30 1914 totaled $S.ii4.959. as
against A.75095+ during the calendar year
1914 This decline was of course to be !
expected. but in spite OF the elimination |
OF certain European markets for Colom- |
bian products. the imports from the |
United states only declined from s.. 45S. S33 |
during the fiscal year ended June 80, 1914. |
TO s, D+i7.I49 during the calendar year 1914
q loss of only 1891. OSi in the total. which |
will no doubt he more than offset by the |
large increase during the present fiscal |
and calendar years.
a feature that is far more notable than |
the increased participation of the United |
States i'm fllp total inlnOrt