The daily Alaska citizen., 1920-01-16
AMERICA LOSES
 TRADE BY LACK
 REGULAR SHIPS

PARA, Brazn.-(P1- is much speculation locally as to the steam ship service which Is to be maintained in the future between the United States and Para. at the mouth of the Amazon river, in view of the activity in development work which has been steadily increasing since the begin ming of the year, and the increase In exports which will follow as a result. So far the service has been cratic. some weeks three or four steamers leave together for New York and then there will not be another for a month.
 Americans here are impatient Speaking of the development of our foreign trade, an importer remarked to the Associated Press correspond- ent: For heavens sake let us stop talking of what We are going to do and get busy!" This accurately sums up the attitude of most Americans here. They believe that If the United States is to get her share of the trade of the Amazon valley, there Is no time to be lost
 Prior to the war the Booth Steam ship Co., of Liverpool, had virtually a monoply of the trade of the valley. During the few years immediately preceding the war the Germans had been edging in and were steadily growing stronger, but at the outbreak of hostilities these activities, of course ceased The Geranms who took refuge in the south of Brazil when this country declared war are now beginning to come back to the Anna zon, and are renewing their efforts to gain a substantial foothold. With the renewal of business activity since the armistic, the Booth line has not had enough steamers to handle the busi- ness.
 There Is now an opportunity for some American steamship company to come in here with a f1rst-class ser vice and capture the business the Germans were going after when the war broke out, as well as fair portion of future business which will develop as the possibilities of this great valley immensely rich in nat ural resources, become known.
 Since last July the Lamport & Holt company have been sending steamers to Para, but local merchants say they need permanent and adequate service. The New York & Cuba Mall steam. ship company has announced It's in tention of making Para port call for It's South American steamers, but so far only two have arrived, and there Is uncertainty as to the future service. The Prince line Is temporari- ly making this a port of call for their northbound steamers to New Orleans, and, since this service was announced, the Brazilian Lloyd Is said to be considering the opening of a line from Rio de Janeiro to New Or leans, via Havana.
 The steamer Cotopaxi. a United States Shipping Board vessel. Is now repaired and will leave shortly. She is loading a cargo of cedar logs, The Cotopaxi Is fabricated" ship. She was on her way to Pernambuco with coal when she developed engine trouble and pust managed to reach the mouth of the Amazon where she ran aground.
 Local Americans are enthusiastic as to the future possibilities of the de of the Amazon valley. ana are of the opinion that the United States should devote attention to t'e market here for Anne l. can goods, as also an inexhausti oIe source for many valuable raw ISa- terials needed by manufacturers of the United States. The region wi.ter- ed by the Amazon and it's thousands of afruents is larger In area thai the United States. and all the produce of this immense area must pass thru Para, as this is the only channel of the river which is navigable 70 the ocean For this reason Para Is