Evening star., 1919-01-19

that country in the interests of nearly
all lines of production. During the
last year. Dominican customs receipts
show, that republic has enjoyed the
most prosperous season in it's history,
and the United States has won friends
there by absorbing the largest part of
the increased production.
While the gratifying increase in the
volume of the foreign commerce of
Santo Domingo
OPPORTUNITIES in is due principal
Santo Domingo. anmont " @ af nat
ural resources. resulting in Il greater
number of domestic products for ex-
port and a corresponding increase in
the purchasing power of the country,
it should be understood that the high
percentage of the share of the United
States in the trade of the republic is
due. In large measure. to the abnor-
mai conditions which have placed
America in a position TO take over
nearly all the overseas competition.
To hold this trade under normal
conditions 1t will be necessary for the
American producers to offer the Do
minican customer as generous terms
of credit as he can find elsewhere
The skill of the American manufac-
turer and his proximity to the Do
minican market will enable him to Of
fer better article more quickly than
his competitor, and it only remains
Tor him to satisfy his customer with
reference to credit accommodations.
The Dominican Republic is large,
considering the population, and is
fich, fertile and undeveloped. Rail-
roads are to be built and equipped
the timber resources are TO be tapped,
sawmills are to be erected, and mod
ern methods of agriculture are to be
introduced, for which all kinds of
modern agricultural machines viii be
needed The demand is constantly
increasing in the important cities for
modern electric lighting plants and
for water and sewerage systems 1t
is evident that as the republic is en-
tirely dependent upon its import
trade to supply its needs. a market
exists there for every class of com
mercial commodity.
Trade of the United States with
Paraguay is expected to he developed
generally through the
Trade With establishment of three
American meat-packing
al udy. companies in that coun-
try, where cattle raising is one of the
chief industries. The investment of
this American capital should open up
an important source of wealth, which
should liven up trade in many lines
with the United States.
One of these packing concerns has
acquired extensive quebracho lands
in northern Paraguay, on which an
extensive extract factory has been
! built. This is the only one of the
six large auebracho plants financed
by American capital, and tremendous
quantities of quebracho as a leather
/ tanning material have been consumed
in the United States.
The need for American selling
agencies in South America was en-
phasized in an earlier article in this
series. Such an American selling con-
cern has now been established Mt
Asuncion to act as the representa-
tive of American manufacturers of
high grade products who are desirous
of maintaining permanent trade re-
lations with Paraguay. This meets
transition from war conditions re-
vivifying trade competition. Most
of the commercial countries already
had selling agencies established in
Asuncion for protection of their
trade.
Foreign trade interests in the Unit
ed States have noted recently the
visits of a large number
Southern of merchants, importers
~. :, and manufacturers rep
sASltoIs. resentatives from South
Africa, who have journeyed hither to
obtain agencies for American houses,
TO arrange more satisfactory repre-
sentations. or to obtain new lines of
merchandise. The most encouraging
feature OF these improved trade re-
lations between South Africa and the
United States is that they should
prove to be reciprocally advan-
tageous.
There already exists IN the United
States a large demand for many of the
raw products of South Africa, such as
hides. skins, wool and chrome ore, and
with the reopening of more favorable
shipping conditions the exportatio of
copper tin, corundum. asbestos and
various products native to the coun-
try.
Although the United States has long
held a prominent rank in supplying
manufactured goods to South Africa
the basis of trade has rested largely
on the gold mining industry. Recently
a more general survey of opportuni-
ties for American manufacture has
been made There has been a notice
able lack of cooperation by American
manufacturers in giving direct aid to
agents American firms are beginning
can be had by developing close rela-
tionships.
Mongolia is also showing eagerness
to build up a lasting trade intercourse
with the United States.
Mongolia Trade commissioner
Interested. peking reports that
Russian business men in Mongolia
have organized at Urga a Russian
commerce and industry association
with the purpose of getting In touch
with American concerns. The raw ma
terials that Mongolia offers are Sleeps
and camers WOOL cattle and horse
hides, sheepskins and several kinds
of fur. including marmot and fox
American goods are wanted in ex-
change for these.