Evening star., 1916-10-21
South and Central American Affairs
PAN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES.

| The total value of the foreign trade
of Ecuador for 1915 was $21.3i0.631,
against s21.602.0s1 the preceding year.
| The imports during last year amounted
i to sS,i22,Ss1 and the exports to Sl2,-
917.750. The United Kingdom led, sup
| plying S3,353,333 worth of goods. and
/ the United States second with s3.209,-
COS worth. The total weight of the i'm
j ports from the United Kingdom
amounted to 22.o06. 800 pounds. where
as those from the United States were
/ s3,S71,342 pounds. This is accounted
for by reason that most Of the imports
from the United States are bulky. such
as machinery. construction materials.
foodstuffs. etc. while those from the
United Kingdom are mostly textiles,
i etc.
Recently published statistics on the
/, production of sugar in Peru show that
/ in 1914 the average production was
4.547 short tons per acre. while in 1915
| this average had increased to 4.629
short tons per acre. due. no doubt. to
| the introduction Of improved machinery
on several Of the larger plantations.
The commerce of the port Of Ceiba
continues to show a substantial in
crease over that for 1915. The total
declared exports from Ceiba for the
| United States during the first nine
months of 1916 amounted to $56,921
more than for the entire year 1915, the
figures being: January to September,
inclusive. s1.235,649; the whole Of 1915.
$1,292,57O. The three largest items of
export from Ceiba have been bananas,
nd 70 tnf q
for these articles for the nine months
were: Four million five hundred and
twenty-three thousand stems of ba-
nanas, 3,931,500 pounds of centrifugal
cane sugar and 266. 900 cocoanuts. There
has also been an increase in the amount
Of rubber shipped, although the price
is not yet high enough to be an incen-
tive to the natives to tap the trees.
There have been considerable in
creases in the exports of certain arti-
cles from British Guiana during the
current year, while other articles show
decreases. According to figures COM
piled up to September Z, sugar, the
cline in shipments of 10,117 tons, as
compared with the same period of the
previous year. The lack of sufficient
rain from December to March was
chiefly responsible for the falling off
in production. The rainfall since then,
however, has been much greater, and it
is anticipated that the fall grinding
will show better results. Balata, gold
ments. while rice. rum. citrate Of lime,
rubber, diamonds and coffee show sub
stantial gains.
Consul Thomas w. voetter reports.
under date of September s, that Chilean
newspapers state that the bill provid-
ing for the construction of harbor
works at Antofagasta has passed ooth
houses of the national congress ana
has been approved by the council OF
The growth of the automobile busi-
ness in Chile has been remarkable In
that 1t has not been hampered. appar-
emily, by the non-improvement OF the
roads. Although touring Is looked
upon more as a motor test than a
pleasure. and a trip between Santiago
and Valparaiso is still considered
crease in importations has been great
This is shown by comparing the totals
for 1908. 1909 and 1910. which were
S14,054, $11.760 and $26.971. respective
ly. with the totals for 1913 and 1919
which were $494.355 and s302,S13.
There are no official crop statistics
or forecasts in Venezuela. but reports
from all over the country indicate that
the rainfall has been better distributed
this season than in any recent year.
Damage by grasshoppers has been
much less than usual. and not only
the coffee and cocoa crops, but also
those of beans, maize and potatoes are
said to be in fine condition and prom
Use extraordinary yields Recent ex-
ports of coffee and cocoa have been. in
tons: Coffee-1911. 44.2ss tons: 1912,
5s.oss: 1913. s4.41s; 1914. 55,e44. and
1912. 1o.so0; 1913. 1887; 1914. 1886.
and 1915, 1921.
A statement published by the Lloyd
Brasileiro. giving data regarding the
supplies of coal held by the company
in Para, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro,
| FIorianapolis, Rio Grande and Monte
video. or in transit to those ports
shows total Of 47:71 tons 1t Is Is
(24,55O tons) is the largest in Brazil
| and was acquired at $20.95 a ton, the
current price being $23. 1t is further
, stated that no orders for coal are
pending at present, but that bids will
+. soon be solicited by the directorate
Of the company In 1915 the company
| imported 151,322 tons Of coal from New
York.
High freight rates and the scarcity OF
tonnage have tended to diminish the
relative Importance of Rosario's share
of the Argentine import trade. While
the situation created by the war rs dis
tinctly unfavorable to this port. Its i'm
portance as a grain center. the CONNER
ciaI enterprise and capacity OF its pop
ulation and the proximity to consider.
able consuming markets should, a1ter
return to normal conditions, insure Its
progress as a leading distributing cen
ter for northern Argentina. 1t is graft
fying to note that since the war sew
eral American concerns or concern:
handling chiefly or exclusively Ameri'
can products have recognized the i'm
portance of this market by establishing
branches at Rosario.
Recent discoveries of oil in the ter
j ritory of Magellan have created mucf
interest. for heretofore Chilean oil ha:
been found only in the northern ant
central sections of that country. Th'
National Association of Manufacturer!
in a recent bulletin states that geologi
cal experts from various parts OF thu
world have made tests OF the oil II
Magellan, and pronounce 1t equal II
quality to that found in Argentina. ant
1.-The extent of the deposits appears tt
rival that of the famous Comodor'
Riyadavia fields.
The port administration at Monte
video. Uruguay, has accepted the bid o
an American firm to provide freight car
for the port railway, and last week ;
shipment of fifty 1ow-side gondoia cars
having passed all the tests. was ap
proved. The officials. are well pleased
with the cars and with the manner II
which the contract was carried out, th'
manufacturer not only having delivered
practically on time. but also refrainet
from asking an increase in the price