The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-26
BRAZIL IMPORTS SHOW INCREASE
 OF 25 PER CENT,
Sugar and Cotton Exports Show Decline Other
 Figures Climb.

 crease of about 25 per cent. in 1916 imports compared with 19151 but about 25 per cent. below 1914. Ex- ports show increase in cocoa, meat, tobacco and leather, white rubber, coffee, tobacco and hides show in- creased prices. Sugar and cotton ex- ports show a decline.
 Annual reports of the four British railways in Chile whose lines aggre- gate '1,5O0 miles, show dividends ranging from 3 to 10 per cent, but no increase in mileage during past year.
 Brazilian committee, appointed to experiment with production of native fuel, has obtained excellent results from use of native peat, which in Ipulverized form can readily be used with engines and on locomotives. A strong syndicate also formed by Bra izilian capital to exploit coal mines.
 Reports from varioAs South Ameri-. can coauntries cohtinuA to show ar rival of Japanese laborNin considera- Ible quantities, ,5,00o agricultural i'm migrants being expected in Brazil in the immediate future.
 Coffee shipments from Brazil show marked increase over last year. Ship |ments to Nov. 5 exceeded by over t2,OOO, ,00O bags those, of correspond5, ing period 1915.
 action to prohibit further transfer of vessels from the Argentine flag, owing, to the fact that many engaged a do nt1 Ivy been sold.
 Commercial failures Argentina show marked decline. Total liabili- ties in commercial failures for first 10. months of 1916 about one-half those of corresponding period of 1915 and less than one-fifth those of same period. 1914
 Crop prospects in Argentina very unsatisfactory. :, Drought and, locusts are cited as principal causes, and late reports indicate prospects of un- usually small crops in all grains.
 Reports from Chile indicate uh- usually large exports of nitrates at high prices.
 Necessity for a. compliance by American manufacturers with com mercia1 customs established in South America by European manufacturers is empha sized by Prof. Cast. one of Germany's best authorities on South America, who says that thus far the commercial beverage offered to South America by the Yankee does not agree with their stomachs. The Yankees prices are high, he insists on cash delivery, and what is of still more importance cannot adapt him. self. as we Germans do, to the idio- syncrasies of the foreign customer
 Argentine exports first nine months 1916 show marked decline in grains. but increase in meats, which amount to $1SO,0O0,OO0 for the 10-month period against $150,000,000 in cor responding months of 1915, though agricultural products show fall of about $10o, 100000. Reduction in az ricultura1 products occurs in wheat, corn, linseed and barley. Imports slightly greater than those of last year, ,-. a.8e i
 Shortage of crops in Bruguay lis so great that bill has been sent to legislature proposing prohibition of wheat and four exports until results of forthcoming harvest are ascertain cO .EIlCcS <WhCdIs COIH, iIuS0cu and oats are highest for many years.
 Prices of foodstuffs in Argentina reported exceptionally high, owing to shortage of crops. high freights and the failure of more than one-half of the Argentine sugar crop.
 Argentine railways are reported transporting free Of charge men and materials necessary to combat the locust invasion in different parts ot the republic. while rebate of 50 per cent. is to be allowed on freight of live stock transported from the drought-stricken zones to districts where pastures still exist.
 Construction of new railway ir Rio, Mulato with Sucre by way o1 Potosi has been begun. The length will be slightly less than 200 miles Construction work has also been re- sunned on railway lines between. Co., chabamba and Cruro. Bolivian gov ernment has also placed loan ir the United States for the construc- tion of the La Pax Yungas railway.
 An Australian company is prepar- ing for development of tin mining properties +. Bolivia. Nominal cap. ita1 of company is $250,000 and cost of installation of plant and equip. ment is estimated at $6oo-n0o.