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LATIN AMERICA 
 
 THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY 
 
 A REPRINT OF OFFICIAL REPORTS 
 AND SPECIAL ARTICLES 
 
 ^Prepared by 
 
 JOHN BARRETT 
 
 The Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics 
 
 Formerly United States Minister to Argentina, 
 Panama, and Colombia 
 
 2 LAFAYETTE SQUARE 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C, U. S. A. 
 
 1909 
 
LATIN AMERICA 
 
 THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY 
 
 A REPRINT OF OFFICIAL REPORTS 
 AND SPECIAL ARTICLES 
 
 'Prepared by 
 
 JOHN BARRETT 
 
 The Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics 
 
 Formerly United States Minister to Argentina, 
 Panama, and Colombia 
 
 2 LAFAYETTE SQUARE 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., U. S. A. 
 
 1909 
 
PRESERVATION 
 COPY ADDED 
 
 ORIGINAL TO BE ' ^ 
 
 RETAINED 
 
 AUG 2 6 1992; 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The material in this pamphlet is reprinted in response to a demand, 
 which constantly reaches the International Bureau from various parts 
 of the world, for one or all of the reports and articles quoted. Each 
 paper was originally reprinted in an individual pamphlet, but the 
 call soon exhausted the supply. As a matter of economy in publica- 
 tion, all are now combined under one cover. There is some repetition 
 and a slight divergence of statistical figures due to different dates of 
 original publication, but this is unavoidable under the circumstances. 
 2 
 
SOME SPECIAL PHASES NOT COMMONLY CONSID^ 
 ERED OR UNDERSTOOD OF THE COMMERCIAL AND 
 GENERAL RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES 
 WITH HER SISTER AMERICAN REPUBLICS. 
 
 The purpose of this report is to present a special view of our sister 
 American republics and awaken greater interest throughout the 
 United States in their progress and development. 
 
 The time is at hand that calls for what might be termed a wide- 
 spread Latin American movement in the United States. The com- 
 mercial, economic, and social conditions of our southern neighbors 
 invite our immediate and particular attention. To say that it may be 
 " now or never " with Xorth American prestige and trade in Central 
 and South America is not a statement of an alarmist or pessimist. 
 It is a simple and logical conclusion drawn from a thorough study 
 of the actual situation. 
 
 There never was a period in the history of the relations of the 
 United States with her sister American republics which afforded such 
 combined opportunity and necessity as the present for the develop- 
 ment not only of our moral influence but of our commercial interests. 
 On the other hand there never was a time when European nations 
 and business interests put forth such efforts as they are now legiti- 
 mately exerting to increase their own prestige and trade in South 
 America. Although the situation should be one of closest rivalry 
 where the United States can and ought to win, if it does not give* 
 Europe too long a start the advantage now is decidedly with thft 
 latter. There is no gainsaying the fact that Latin America to-day is; 
 strongly inclined to be more sympathetic in its actual likes and dis- 
 likes with the old world than with the United States, because of 
 plain reasons of race, language, and association which are discussed 
 later on. 
 
 CREDIT TO CONSULS AND SPECIAL AGENTS, 
 
 Too high praise can not* be given to our consuls throughout Latin 
 America for their excellent trade reports, nor too much credit allotted 
 to the special agents who have recently visited this part of the world 
 and carefully described the commercial conditions and opportunities. 
 
 a Published first in part, September, 1906, when Mr. Barrett was United 
 States minister to Colombia, in the Daily Consular and Trade Reports of the 
 Department of Commerce and Labor, and republished in full, February, 1907, 
 by the International Bureau of American Republics. 
 
 240988 3 
 
AMERICA. 
 
 igV$:p0Ety aawev6E f dbks^rrbt trespass on their specific field nor ex- 
 pect to compete with them in figures of trade exchange, country by 
 country, or in a statement of articles that can be bought or sold. It 
 rather discusses other phases of our commercial, social, and general 
 association as these affect the expansion or contraction of our com- 
 merce and prestige. We may go on writing about trade opportunities 
 until doomsday, but, if we do not get at the bottom of our relation- 
 ship with Latin Americans, we will never make the conquest of their 
 markets and affections an absolutely necessary combination for per- 
 manent good which is the goal of our effort. 
 
 There are, of course, many North Americans doing business with 
 or in Latin America to whom what is written in this report is not 
 
 NORMAL SCHOOL, CITY OF MEXICO, MEXICO. 
 
 In 1885 the Mexican Congress appropriated 100,000 pesos to found a normal school in the capital 
 of the Republic. The course of study covers a period of four years. A normal school for girls 
 was established in 1890. 
 
 new. Most of our diplomatic and consular representatives are also 
 aware of the facts stated, but the great majority of our people are 
 unfamiliar with the true situation and it is to them that this dis- 
 cussion is directed. 
 
 LATIN AMERICA MOVING RAPIDLY FORWARD. 
 
 Many of our sister republics are now making a progress that chal- 
 lenges the attention and respect of the world. Some of them are 
 going forward with such splendid energy that they are running a 
 close race with the past records of the United States and the present 
 achievements of Japan. Others are on the verge of a progressive 
 
6 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 growth that will astonish skeptical critics of the Latin race and 
 delight knowing admirers of their latent possibilities. 
 
 In short, it is safe to predict a forward movement during the next 
 decade for the Latin American republics that will give them a posi- 
 tion and prominence among the nations of the earth not thought 
 possible a few years ago. It will bring to them a commerce for which 
 the United States and Europe will compete with every resource at 
 their command. 
 
 That the writer may not be deemed overenthusiastic or be too se- 
 verely arraigned by pessimistic interpreters of the future, he desires 
 
 I 
 
 THE RAILROAD STATION AT SAO PAULO, THE CHICAGO OF BRAZIL. 
 
 It was built by the English company operating the tidewater railroad over which is transported the 
 larger part of the coffee exported through the port of Santos. It is one of the most beautiful build- 
 ings of its kind in South America and cost, approximately, $ 1,500,000. 
 
 most humbly to point out that all the predictions he made ten and 
 twelve years ago, while United States Minister to Siam, about the 
 future of Japan and the general commercial development of the Far 
 East, and which caused him to be called many unpleasant names by 
 those who opposed his views, have more than come true in every 
 respect. The premises on which he based these predictions, while out- 
 lined as a result of careful study and investigation, were not any 
 more secure than those on which he bases his faith in the future of 
 Latin America. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 7 
 
 PRESENT VALUE OF LATIN AMERICAN TRADE. 
 
 To impress upon the minds of those who are very practical, the 
 importance from a strictly commercial standpoint of the field being 
 discussed, it is desirable before proceeding further to give some gen- 
 eral figures covering the present extent and value of Latin American 
 trade. 
 
 A careful estimate based on the official figures of 1903, 1904, and 
 1905, shows that the total foreign trade, exports and imports, of the 
 20 Latin American republics from Mexico and Cuba south to Argen- 
 tina and Chile, amounts now annually to the magnificent and sur- 
 prising total approximately of $1,800,000,000 gold. The exports and 
 imports stand about in the ratio of 5 to 3 ; that is, the former repre- 
 sent three-fifths and the latter two-fifths of the total. Exportations, 
 therefore, can be placed at about $1,080,000,000, and importations at 
 $720,000,000. Now if we went no further into this investigation, 
 these remarkable sums alone, which show almost a phenomenal ad- 
 vance over those of ten years ago, would be incontrovertible argu- 
 ments in favor of the United States bending its energies to increase 
 its commerce with Latin America. Although they speak eloquently 
 in support of the writer's contentions about the trade and progress 
 of the Latin republics, let us note just where our country stands. 
 
 EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 The total exports of the United States in 1905 to Latin America 
 were valued at $182,000,000; the total imports from Latin America 
 to the United States at $309,000,000. This means that there is an 
 annual balance of $127,000,000 against the United States which Latin 
 America, in turn, uses to buy a vast quantity of articles in the more 
 enterprising markets of Europe. Considering the greatness of the 
 United States, the variety of its, manufactures and products, and its 
 conditions of demand and supply, there is no valid reason why it 
 should not now sell to Latin America as much as it purchases from it. 
 
 If we study the exports and imports -of the United States from all 
 parts of the world, we find additional proof that we are not carrying 
 on the trade with Latin America that we ought to conduct. Only 
 10 per cent of our huge total of exports went to Latin America in 
 1905, although the latter's imports are valued at over $1,000,000,000; 
 and only 20 per cent of our immense total of imports found their 
 origin in that part of the world whose exports are valued at 
 $720,000,000. 
 
 a Later figures appear in other articles reprinted in this pamphlet. 
 
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LATIN AMERICA. 9 
 
 LATIN AMERICA AND THE FAR EAST COMPARED, 
 
 The markets of the Orient are of vast importance to the United 
 States, but it can not be successfully contended that they will be per- 
 manently more valuable to us than those of Latin America, just 
 because the former at the present moment buys more from us than 
 the latter. If we had devoted one-third of the energy and spent 
 one-tenth of the money in developing our interests in our sister 
 republics that we have in the Far East, our trade with Latin America 
 would be double what it is with the east coast of Asia. The total 
 value of the foreign commerce of Latin America, having a com- 
 
 THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO, QUITO, ECUADOR. 
 
 It is one of the largest and oldest convents of the capital. The city is situated near the equator, at 
 an altitude of 9,371 feet, and has recently been connected by rail with the coast. 
 
 paratively small population, is far in excess of that of the Far East, 
 north of Hongkong, having an enormous population. Argentina, 
 with only 6,000,000 people, bought and sold more in 1905 than China 
 with 300,000,000, or Japan with 40,000,000. The foreign commerce 
 of Chile, whose population does not exceed 3,500,000, was greater than 
 that of eastern Siberia, Korea, Siam, Indo-China, and the Philip- 
 pines combined, with a population of 50,000,000. 
 
 The writer is an earnest advocate of trade development with the 
 Far East and has always labored hard to awaken interest in its vast 
 
10 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 potentialities ever since he first went to Asia as American minister 
 in 1894. These facts are stated, therefore, not to decry in the least 
 the value and importance of our commerce there, but to emphasize 
 by comparison the value and importance of the opportunity in Latin 
 America. 
 
 APPRECIATION OF LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 The writer admits that he seems to speak with an element of 
 prejudice. Frankly he likes Latin America and Latin peoples. The 
 more he sees of them the better he respects them. Would that more 
 North Americans could become better acquainted with South Ameri- 
 
 THE AUTOMOBILE IN URUGUAY. 
 
 The French car predominates in Uruguay, as in Brazil, Argentina, and other South American 
 Republics. Well paved streets and suburban roads in and around Montevideo make motoring a 
 popular pastime. 
 
 cans, study more intimately their impulses, ambitions, hopes, achieve- 
 ments, and see things from the Latin American standpoint. Other- 
 wise expressed, it would be a signal blessing to international Pan- 
 American accord and it would inaugurate a new era immediately in 
 the relations of the United States with her sister American republics, 
 if, in thinking, writing, and speaking of them, their peoples, and 
 their politics, we could follow the old Biblical adage and remove the 
 beam from our own eye before looking for the mote in that of the 
 Latin American. Of this very important point more will be said 
 later on. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 11 
 
 A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 This report is phrased in direct and earnest terms because the 
 writer believes what he says. As suggested in the first paragraph, 
 he holds that the United States has reached a most critical period in 
 its relations with Latin America. What is done or accomplished 
 during the next few years may determine forever the relative position 
 of North American trade and prestige in Central and South America. 
 The Pan-American Conference in Rio Janeiro and the visit of Sec- 
 retary Root to South America should awaken sufficient interest 
 throughout the United States in this part of the world to inspire our 
 people, in general, and our newspapers, our manufacturers, our mer- 
 chants, our Congressmen, our travelers, and our students of foreign 
 intercourse, in particular, to a new and active appreciation of the 
 Latin American republics. 
 
 Without half the reason we have for improving the opportunity, 
 European commercial, financial, and diplomatic interests, with com- 
 mendable judgment and spirit which we can not criticise but must 
 admire, are alive to the situation and doing everything legitimately 
 in their power to gain a hold of which they can not be dispossessed. 
 They keenly realize the present and future possibilities of the mate- 
 rial and economic exploitation of Latin America, and they are leav- 
 ing no stone unturned to gain the necessary advantages before the 
 manufacturers and tradesmen of the United States suddenly become 
 aroused to the situation and compete for its control. 
 
 FACTORS UNFAVORABLE TO NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 The first great factor unfavorable to North American trade and 
 influence in Latin America is the essential difference in lineage and 
 language, but this point is little appreciated. The power of simi- 
 larity in race and tongue is mighty. Kinship in these respects brings 
 men closer together. It makes them more sympathetic, and this 
 counts much in Latin countries. The average North American, in- 
 stead of carefully studying methods of counterbalancing these con- 
 ditions adverse to his progress in Latin America and of adapting 
 himself thereto, undertakes an independent line of action and 
 ultimately fails in his purpose. 
 
 The second great factor is corollary to the first, and it is one of 
 which, in our seeming abundance of knowledge and self-confidence, 
 w r e are lamentably ignorant. Frankly termed it should be called 
 the " holier than thou " attitude, too commonly and persistently 
 assumed by North American statesmen, newspapers, writers, travelers, 
 and business agents when discussing or dealing with Latin America. 
 In other words, the people of the United States have too much and 
 too characteristically " patronized " the peoples, customs, institutions, 
 

 zj 
 
 II 
 
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 Z X 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 13 
 
 achievements and governments of their sister American nations. Per 
 contra, we should give Latin America more credit for its actual and 
 praiseworthy progress in developing stable national and municipal 
 government, in promoting both high class and general education, in 
 making its own excellent literature, historical and romantic, in ad- 
 vancing scientific investigation and invention, in solving grave social 
 and economic problems, "and comprehensively striving under difficult 
 conditions to reach a higher standard of civilization. 
 
 OUR IGNORANCE OF LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 How few North Americans realize that Latin American history 
 during the last four centuries is replete with incident and event, 
 names, and results that compare creditably with those of the United 
 States, Europe, and Asia. How few know the names of the great 
 heroes, statesmen, writers, and scholars who have figured prominently 
 in evolving the Latin America of to-day. How few are aware that 
 the principal countries and capitals of Latin America have groups 
 of eminent scholars, scientists, and philosophers, as well as univer- 
 sities and professional schools, which are no less advanced than simi- 
 lar groups and institutions in the United States and Europe. 
 
 How few North Americans, moreover, of high position in public 
 life, in literary, scholastic, and scientific circles, visit Latin America 
 and exchange courtesies with their fellow-statesmen and students, 
 as they do with those of Europe. No greater blessing to Pan-Ameri- 
 can accord could now be bestowed than an exchange of actual visits 
 and views of the leaders of Pan-American thought and action. Latin 
 America is too much accustomed to seeing and meeting only those 
 North Americans who are intent on making money, securing this 
 and that concession, and thinking only of selfish material considera- 
 tions and a return, with pockets filled, as soon as possible to the 
 United States. 
 
 A change, a renaissance in "higher class association, acquaintance, 
 and friendship, will not only start an era of good will and better 
 mutual appreciation, but indirectly prove an extraordinary advantage 
 to commerce and trade. European countries long ago realized the 
 distinct advantage of such intercourse with, and knowledge of, Latin 
 America and have improved every opportunity to promote more 
 intimate acquaintance. 
 
 NORTH AMERICANS MUST LEARN OTHER LANGUAGES. 
 
 As to language it is difficult to write with patience. So small is 
 the percentage of North Americans visiting Latin America on busi- 
 ness or pleasure who speak Spanish, or Portuguese, or French, that it 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 15 
 
 is a wonder that the}- make any progress in their plans. Ninety-five 
 per cent of the Europeans who go to Central and South America 
 understand one of these tongues. French is mentioned because nearly 
 all the well-educated Latin Americans speak that language. This sub- 
 ject requires no argument it is simply impossible for the North Amer- 
 ican who knows none of these languages to become thoroughly " sim- 
 patico " and to master the Latin point of view in either commercial or 
 political relations. I would that both our business schools and regular 
 colleges might make the study of either Spanish, French, or Portu- 
 guese compulsory in order to receive a diploma. Portuguese is more 
 important than is generally regarded, because it is the working lan- 
 guage of Brazil and Brazil to-day is taking rank as one of the 
 great nations of the world ; but the average well-to-do Brazilian also 
 speaks French. 
 
 LACK OF FAST STEAMSHIP FACILITIES. 
 
 In studying the causes that act as deterrents to Pan-American 
 accord we must emphasize the lack of first-class passenger and mail 
 steamship service, such as characterizes the systems of communication 
 between Europe and Latin America. The long-established and well- 
 defined association of Latin Americans with Europe has been im- 
 measurably encouraged by the excellence of steamship facilities, which 
 have given them ready access to the satisfactory conditions found 
 there in turn for business transactions, education of families, and 
 enjoyment of leisure and travel. If the average merchant and trav- 
 eler of South America could reach New York with the same comfort 
 and speed that he can proceed to Paris, there would be at once a vast 
 and radical change in the situation favorable to the United States. 
 
 This statement is not introduced as an argument for a " subsidized " 
 merchant marine. The writer is not discussing the pros and cons 
 of that mooted issue. He is simply stating a fact and describing a 
 condition. That there is not one first-class mail and passenger 
 steamer flying the American flag and running between New York 
 in the United States and such important South American points as 
 Rio Janeiro and Buenos Aires was given glaring prominence by the 
 experience of the delegates to the recent Pan-American Conference 
 in Rio Janeiro. Only a few took accommodations on the foreign ves- 
 sels that make direct trips from New York to the great capital of 
 Brazil. All the others went via Europe, where six different lines 
 provide a score of splendid, modern, up-to-date, fast ships between 
 the principal ports and those of South America. 
 
 No Latin-American merchant or capitalist is going to North Amer- 
 ica on slow boats when there are numerous fast steamers bound for 
 Europe with as fine arrangements as our trans- Atlantic liners. This 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 17 
 
 is axiomatic, but it means the loss of millions of dollars of trade to 
 the United States every year, according to the direct testimony of 
 South Americans themselves. It is true that there are excellent 
 freight-steamship facilities between North and South American ports, 
 but they do not meet the passenger requirements any more than would 
 a purely railway freight service suit the passenger traffic between 
 New York and Chicago." 
 
 MONROE PALACE, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 
 
 The Brazil Building at the St. Louis Exposition, removed to Rio de Janeiro and erected on the 
 
 Avenida Central. 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS EXAGGERATED. 
 
 Too much importance is now attached in the United States to the 
 idea that revolutions prevail all over Latin America and that, there- 
 fore, commerce and investments are insecure. This conception of 
 Latin America as a whole is entirely erroneous and does our pro- 
 
 a Since the above was written a foreign steamship company has put on sev- 
 eral new boats of good passenger accommodations. 
 
 88812 09 2 
 
18 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 gressive sister republics a great injustice. The continent of South 
 America to-day is free of serious insurrectionary movements, with 
 few, if any, indications of more civil wars. The recent conflict in 
 Central America was unfortunate, but it served to emphasize the 
 firm peace and prosperity of Mexico. The tendency of public opinion 
 and the powerful influence of large business interests in such great 
 nations as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru is all against 
 revolutionary movements, and, although now and then some slight 
 sporadic attempt shows itself, it is most difficult for it to grow into 
 dangerous proportions. Then, again, the gridironing of these coun- 
 tries with railways permits the immediate sending of troops to any 
 place and crushing without delay incipient revolts. 
 
 OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. 
 
 Having enlarged upon some of the most important general con- 
 siderations bearing on our commercial and friendly relations with 
 Latin America, it is now well to enumerate, without comment, a few 
 specific but still interesting agencies that demand attention, improve- 
 ment, or development, such as 
 
 (a) The extension of the work and sphere of usefulness of the 
 International Bureau of American Republics in Washington, D. C. ; 
 
 (b) The invariable appointment of men of culture and refinement, 
 combined with energy and tact, as ministers and consuls to Latin 
 American capitals and ports ; 
 
 (c) The sending of business representatives or traveling salesmen 
 who are always gentlemen and speak Spanish, Portuguese, or French ; 
 
 (d) The manufacture in the United States or adaptation of 
 articles to suit the local Latin American demand ; 
 
 (e) The giving of credit to reliable purchasers, as is done by 
 European shippers, instead of always exacting payment in advance 
 or on shipment ; 
 
 (/) The use of greater care in packing goods for the long distance 
 to be traveled, for the severe changes of climate, and for the size of 
 parcels required in different markets; 
 
 (g) The opening of North American banks, or branches thereof, 
 in the principal cities of South America ; 
 
 (A) The inducing of young Latin Americans to come to our tech- 
 nical and professional schools instead of going to those of Europe ; 
 
 (') The popularizing in our schools and colleges of the study of 
 Latin languages, history, institutions, etc. ; 
 
 (j) The early building of Pan-American railway connections so 
 that North, Central, and South America may be literally united with 
 ties of steel ; 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 19 
 
 (7i-) The investment of North American capital in the resources, 
 mines, industries, and in the construction of railways, tramway, and 
 electric-light plants, in the more peaceful and progressive countries 
 of South American ; and 
 
 (I) The correction, through the careful diplomacy of our ministers 
 and consuls and the just policies and methods of our business men, of 
 the false impressions in regard to the intentions of the United States 
 toward Latin America as existing in the minds of some Latin Amer- 
 ican editors and publicists, and the gradual development, in place 
 
 PETROPOLIS, A MOUNTAIN SUBURB OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 
 
 Here the foreign diplomats make their permanent homes because of the delightful climate and the 
 
 proximity to the capital. 
 
 thereof, of a kindly attitude toward their Yankee sister republic so 
 often described as the " Yankee Colossus " and " Yankee Peril." 
 
 In conclusion I have only to submit humbly that I hope every 
 person whose interest in the relations of the United States with the 
 Latin American Republics may have been awakened or increased by 
 this little study of the situation may find time to visit Latin 
 America to make the " grand tour," like Secretary Root, down the 
 Atlantic coast and up the Pacific, or vice versa, via Argentine and 
 Chile, and confirm with his own eyes the truth of all that I have 
 related. 
 
BOLIVAR'S STATUE, BOLIVAR SQUARE, CARACAS. 
 (Courtesy of the Venezuelan Government.) 
 

 
 A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF SOUTH AMERICA, OUR NEIGHBOR CON- 
 TINENTTHE FABULOUS RICHES LOCKED UP IN ITS FOR- 
 ESTS, PLAINS, AND MOUNTAINS TREMENDOUS POSSIBILITIES 
 OF DEVELOPMENT, MUCH OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN. 
 
 South America is distinctly the land of to-morrow. It is a conti- 
 nent of vast and varied possibilities. The traveler and the scholar 
 or the merchant and the promoter will find its people, problems, and 
 potentialities of compelling interest. And yet the ignorance prevail- 
 ing generally throughout the United States in regard to this great 
 southern continent is almost appalling. The average American, 
 with all his close study of Europe and Asia, has neglected the history, 
 growth, and characteristics of our sister American republics. He has 
 been so absorbed, moreover, by our own astounding material progress 
 and our home politics that he has given no heed to the industrial and 
 economic movements and to the administrative achievements of South 
 America. 
 
 Now, the whole world is beginning to turn its eyes southward. 
 Europe has been gazing thither longer than the United States and 
 has results to show for her attitude. Even Japan, China, South 
 Africa, and Australia are discussing, more than we appreciate in 
 the United States, the valuable opportunity for the extension of their 
 commerce and trade with that wealthy, resourceful continent which 
 is so accessible by either the Atlantic or the Pacific. More attention 
 is given by the press of Europe to South America in a week than by 
 all the papers of the United States in a year. There are many signs 
 of increased interest, however, throughout this country. 
 
 The International Bureau of American Republics at Washington, 
 of which the writer is the Director, finds particular evidence of this 
 wider interest through the growth and nature of its correspond- 
 ence. The Bureau, founded sixteen years ago (1890) by the first 
 Pan-American Conference, over which James G. Elaine presided, is 
 maintained by the 21 republics of the Western Hemisphere, each of 
 Avhich contributes annually a certain sum in proportion to its popu- 
 lation. Their diplomatic representatives in Washington constitute 
 its governing board, of which the Secretary of State of the United 
 States is chairman ex officio. 
 
 Although the Bureau has done excellent work in the past, its 
 responsibility and programme were broadly enlarged at the third 
 Pan-American Conference, held in Rio de Janeiro last summer. It 
 is the intention of the International Union of American Republics 
 
 a Reprinted from Munsey's Magazine, June, 1907. 
 
 21 
 
22 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 the official name that represents their united action to make the 
 Bureau a practical, world-recognized office and agency not only to 
 build up commerce and trade among all the American republics, but 
 to promote closer relations, to establish more friendly intercourse, to 
 bring about a better understanding one of the other, and to assist the 
 approach to one another on the educational, intellectual, moral, and 
 social as well as material and commercial side. This is an ambitious 
 scheme, but it is all possible of attainment. 
 
 The most encouraging feature of the new interest in the Bureau's 
 work is Andrew Carnegie's generous gift of $750,000, with which to 
 
 THE PAVILION FOR ZEBUS AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE 
 
 REPUBLIC. 
 
 The Zoological Gardens are situated in the large and beautiful Palmero Park, which comprises an 
 area of about 1,000 acres. The grounds are artistically laid out, and there are a number of artificial 
 lakes, as well as attractive walks lined with shrubbery and trees. The principal species of animals 
 are housed in separate building*. These gardens become popular resorts on Sundays and holidays, 
 at which time thousands of people visit them to inspect and admire the large collection of animals. 
 
 erect a permanent home, or Temple of Peace, as he appropriately 
 names it. This large sum, with the amounts appropriated by the 
 United States and other American governments for the site about 
 $250,000 provides the Bureau with $1,000,000 for a new plant and 
 equipment. Facing the so-called White Lot, below the White House 
 and State, War, and Navy building, in Washington, a structure will 
 be erected, not only noble in architecture and helpful in the con- 
 
 a It is now (July, 1909) nearly completed, and will be occupied in November, 
 1909. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 23 
 
 summation of the Burnham plan for beautifying the capital, but 
 also suited in every way to the practical carrying out of the work of 
 the Bureau. 
 
 South America has many extraordinary features of natural and 
 artificial development that surprise the uninformed. For example: 
 How many people realize that Brazil could completely cover the 
 United States proper and still have room for another New England, 
 New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia combined ; that out of the 
 Amazon River flows every day three times the volume of water which 
 flows from the Mississippi, and out of the Parana twice that of the 
 North American queen of waters. These great South American 
 streams afford incomparable opportunities for interior navigation 
 and the development of commerce. 
 
 The North American does not stop to think, when he remembers the 
 old geographical story about the beautiful harbor of Rio de Janeiro 
 and the threadbare legends of yellow fever, that this capital of 
 Brazil now has a population of 900,000, and is growing as fast as 
 Boston, St. Louis, or Baltimore ; that it spent more money for public 
 improvements last year than any city in the United States excepting 
 New York ; and that to-day it is one of the most interesting national 
 centers of civilization, industry, art, literature, and education in the 
 world. 
 
 Again, how many North Americans know that Buenos Aires, the 
 capital of Argentina, is the largest city in the world south of the 
 equator; that it is the second Latin city, ranking after Paris, in all 
 the world ; that it now has a population of 1,200,000 and is growing 
 faster than any city in the United States excepting New York or 
 Chicago ? 
 
 If surprised at this statement, they might be interested to learn 
 that in Buenos Aires is the finest and costliest structure in the 
 world used exclusively by one newspaper, the home of " La Prensa; " 
 the most magnificent opera hoilse of the Western Hemisphere, costing 
 more than $10,000,000 and erected by the Government; the hand- 
 somest and largest clubhouse in the world that of the Jockey Club ; 
 the most expensive system of artificial docks in all America, repre- 
 senting an expenditure of $50,000,000. 
 
 At Lima, Peru, and at Cordoba, in Argentina, are universities 
 whose foundations antedate Harvard and Yale. There are so 
 many other high educational institutions which go back to the six- 
 teenth century that we fully appreciate the compliment Secretary 
 Root paid to South America when he said that the " newer " civiliza- 
 tion of North America had much to learn from the " older " civiliza- 
 tion of South America. Among the ruins of the Incas in Peru, 
 Ecuador, and Bolivia are evidences of a wonderful age of material 
 and intellectual development that long preceded the Spanish Con- 
 
LEZAMA PARK, BUENOS AIRES. 
 
 This is one of the popular parks of the city. Its location on a beautiful hill is picturesque, 
 from which can be seen the surrounding suburbs of La Boca and Barracas, and a long 
 stretch of La Plata River. The Russian church is shown in the background of this view. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 25 
 
 quest, and are equaled in North America only by the similar ruins 
 of the Aztecs in Mexico. 
 
 Referring now to exceptional commercial phases of South Ameri- 
 can development, there are some remarkable points to be borne 
 in mind. It is predicted that within one or two years Argentina 
 will export more wheat than the United States. Two other startling 
 possibilities are linked with this: One is, that refrigerated beef, 
 grown and killed in Argentina, will soon be shipped to New York, 
 and will there be sold under the present so-called trust prices; and 
 the other is that in a decade the northern section of Argentina will 
 become a great cotton-growing country, competing successfully with 
 our Southern States. 
 
 REMARKABLE RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 The North American railroad man may be surprised to learn that 
 between Chile and Argentina is being constructed one of the long 
 tunnels of the world. The highest points and most difficult construc- 
 tion that have ever been encountered in railway extension are found 
 in Peru. 
 
 All over South America elaborate programmes for new railroads 
 are being worked out. Argentina is already gridironed with excel- 
 lent systems. Chile is pushing lines in all directions. Brazil is 
 preparing to penetrate her vast jungles and connect distant points 
 with Rio de Janeiro. Bolivia is spending more than $50,000,000 in 
 new work, while Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, and 
 Venezuela are considering various practical and needed plans for 
 new construction. 
 
 Throughout the United States interest is growing in favor of build- 
 ing, or aiding to build, a Pan-American railway, or connections, that 
 will literally unite North and South America with ties and bands 
 of steel. A permanent committee, created by the second Pan-Ameri- 
 can Conference, at Mexico, in 1D01-2, and continued by the third con- 
 ference, at Rio de Janeiro, in 1906, has at its head such men as ex- 
 Senator Henry G. Davis, of West Virginia, and Andrew Carnegie, 
 who not only are deeply interested in its consummation, but have the 
 money themselves to undertake the work, if necessary. Charles M. 
 Pepper, an authority on South American matters, recently made a 
 careful study of the plan, and gave his conclusions in an elaborate 
 favorable report. Elihu Root, Robert Bacon, and W. I. Buchanan 
 approve the project. 
 
 The average North American may not realize that a perpendicular 
 line drawn south from the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor 
 would find nearly all of South America to the east of it. This admis- 
 sion sorely distresses the person who thinks of South America as 
 directly south of the United States, but it is true nevertheless. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 27 
 
 Likewise, few stop to think that northeastern South America 
 bulges out so far into the Atlantic that it is necessary for a ship or 
 traveler from a North Atlantic port to proceed eastward a distance 
 about equal to that of going to England or France before rounding 
 this bulging point and continuing southward to Rio de Janeiro, 
 Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. South America in its relation to 
 North America ought really to be called " Southeast America." 
 
 On the map, as we commonly study it, South America looks much 
 smaller than North America. If we omit the great barren, frozen end 
 of North America, or, on the other hand, leave out Alaska, South 
 America would, in fact, entirely cover North America from Panama 
 
 
 RAILWAY STATION, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI. 
 
 Port au Prince is connected by rail with 1'Etang-Saumatre and Lake Assuei. A railway is also under 
 construction between the city and Gonaives. Other lines building will join the capital with Cape 
 Haitien and Pen-in. 
 
 to Bering Sea. Although we think of South America as possessing 
 a large waste area due to tropical heat, this portion is not any more 
 extensive than that of North America lying barren under lasting 
 snows or continued cold. The Tropics, moreover, as a result of mar- 
 velous vegetation, will support a great population, while the severely 
 cold regions must always be thinly populated. 
 
 SURPRISING COMPARISONS OF AREA. 
 
 Comparisons often help us to grasp the size of unknown portions 
 of the world. Brazil has already been mentioned as exceeding the 
 United States proper in extent the exces in favor of Brazil being 
 about 200,000 square miles, or four times the area of New York. 
 
28 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 In Argentina, located in the South Temperate Zone, with a cli- 
 mate like that of the United States, could be placed all that part of 
 our country east of the Mississippi River plus the first tier of States 
 west of it. 
 
 Bolivia is comfortably half a dozen times larger than the com- 
 bined areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. 
 
 Into Chile could be put four Nebraskas. 
 
 Peru would obscure, if placed over them on the map, California, 
 Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho. 
 
 Paraguay is only four times bigger than the State of Indiana, 
 while little Uruguay could wrap within its limits North Dakota. 
 
 Texas could be lost twice in Venezuela and still leave room for 
 Kentucky and Tennessee. 
 
 On the globe, Ecuador does not spread like a giant, but it could 
 hold all New England, New York, and New Jersey. 
 
 Finally, there is Colombia, a land of splendid promise and mighty 
 resources, whose nearest port is only 950 miles from the nearest port 
 of the United States. This Republic has an area as great as that of 
 Germany, France, Holland, and Belgium combined. 
 
 These comparative data may aid in increasing respect for the 
 " small-?' South American Republics, which are too often mentioned 
 throughout the United States in a patronizing manner. 
 
 A sad mistake is frequertly made in considering the climate of our 
 neighboring continent. Because it is called " South " America, the 
 general supposition seems to be that it is all hot ! A look at the map 
 appears to support this theory. A large portion of the northern end 
 is wholly in the tropical zone, and the equatorial circle passes across 
 northern Brazil and Ecuador. 
 
 Probably, however, it is not remembered, except by special travel- 
 ers and expert authorities, that vast sections of Colombia, Venezuela, 
 Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil possess wide-reaching high plateaus where, 
 on account of the elevation above the sea, the climate is as cool the 
 year round as that of our Southern States in October. The tempera- 
 ture is so equable and favorable that there can be grown all the 
 products of the Temperate Zone. 
 
 Altitude effects a very remarkable physical phenomenon in climate. 
 For instance, if a man standing on the equator at sea level mounts 
 a mule and rides straight up into the mountains for 5,280 feet, or 1 
 mile, he will experience as great a change of temperature and vege- 
 tation as if he traveled 1,500 miles due north by land or sea ; if he 
 continues on higher to the plateaus of 10,560 feet altitude, or 2 miles 
 up, he will find a difference as great as if he journeyed 2,500 miles 
 north on the surface of the earth. 
 
30 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 MULE BACK ALONG STRANGE ROUTES. 
 
 Last summer (1906) it was my experience, in company with Mr. 
 Mahlon C. Martin, jr., of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to make one of 
 the longest journeys over untraveled routes that has ever been under- 
 taken by any American official in South America. 
 
 At the time I was United States minister to Colombia and stationed 
 in Bogota, its remote but interesting capital. Partly in an effort to 
 comply with Secretary Root's instructions to meet him on the west 
 coast of South America during his famous tour of that continent, 
 partly from a desire to study carefully a vast unknown section of 
 South America that will have a great development after the comple- 
 tion of the Panama Canal, and considerably from a spirit of adven- 
 ture and in quest of strange scenes, I covered, including detours, a 
 distance of 1,500 miles over the high summits and plateaus and through 
 the tropical valleys and deep canyons of the main ranges of the Andes 
 Mountains. Of this 1,500 miles, more than 1,000 were traversed on 
 mules by thirty-one days of continuous sticking to the saddle. The 
 rest of the distance we traveled in railroad trains, steamboats, canoes, 
 afoot, and in automobiles. 
 
 Not infrequently we would break camp in the morning at an alti- 
 tude of 10,000 feet and regret that we were not clad like arctic 
 explorers. By noon we would be lunching under a palm tree with 
 monkeys chattering about and filling us with envy that we were not 
 dressed as sensibly as they. At night we would have climbed up 
 again and sought rest almost under the shadow of perpetual snow. 
 During this one day's journey we had seen growing the vegetation 
 of both Montreal and Panama, and had passed through as many 
 stages of climate and classes of products as we could in a two weeks' 
 trip to and from Canada and the Isthmus. 
 
 The country we crossed, from Bogota to Guayaquil, by way of 
 Quito, in Colombia and Ecuador, now has a population of 1,000,000, 
 largely Indians descended from the Incas. Within a decade after 
 the Panama Canal is constructed, these uplands and valleys should 
 experience a special exploitation, for they could easily support a white 
 population of 5,000,000 and are splendidly rich in both agricultural 
 and mineral possibilities. 
 
 THE STORY OF COMMERCE AND TRADE. 
 
 The foreign commerce of South America tells a convincing story. 
 It shows us that the field is of critical importance to our manufactur- 
 ers and exporters. It proves that South America has awakened to a 
 new life, and is buying and selling like any prosperous part of the 
 world. 
 
32 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 The total foreign trade exports and imports of the ten independ- 
 ent South American republics Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, 
 Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguy, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and of the 
 British, French, and Dutch Guianas, exceeded in 1905 the sum of 
 $1,200,000,000. Now, if we study the long list of exports and imports 
 of these countries and consider the geographical relations of the same 
 countries to the United States, we say that the latter's share of this 
 trade ought to have been at least $500,000,000. In fact, it was under 
 $250,000,000, with a balance against us of nearly $1,000,000 in the 
 value of their exports over their imports. This situation alone shows 
 that we are not mastering the opportunity as we should, and that 
 
 REVIEW OF PERUVIAN CAVALRY ON THE MAIN PLAZA OF LIMA, PERU. 
 In front of the Government Palace, on the occasion of the inauguration of the President. 
 
 Europe is awake to the benefits which will result from keen exploita- 
 tion. 
 
 Argentina's record in material progress rivals Japan's. With only 
 6,000,000 inhabitants, Argentina astonished the world by conducting 
 in 1906 a trade valued at $562,000,000 buying and selling more in 
 the markets of foreign nations than Japan with a population of 
 40,000,000 and China with 300,000,000. Surely these are figures and 
 results which should make us stop and think. Of these $560,000,000 
 in foreign trade, the portion of the United States was only $52,000,000. 
 
 Brazil sold to the United States in 1905 coffee and other products 
 worth nearly $100,000,000, but bought our exports only to the small 
 value of $15,000,000. Something is wrong here, and the situation is 
 
LATIN AMEKICA. 33 
 
 emphasized when we note the heavy purchases from or in Europe. 
 Chile engaged (1905) in a foreign commerce worth $140,000,000, but 
 the allotment of the United States was only $17,000,000. Of almost 
 every other South American country we might sing the same song. 
 
 There are now nearly 50,000,000 people living south of the Panama 
 Canal, or a population equal to that of the German Empire. Immi- 
 gration is pouring rapidly into Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and 
 Chile. As admission to the United States becomes more strict, the 
 tide will turn to South America. As it is, nearly 500,000 Italian and 
 Spanish immigrants landed at Buenos Aires during the past year. 
 The totals at Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Valparaiso were, of 
 course, much smaller, but they indicated a marked increase in the 
 number of people leaving southern Europe to seek new homes in 
 southern and middle South America, where the climate is not at all 
 dissimilar to that of their home countries. 
 
 While the Spanish language is the common tongue of all South 
 America except Brazil, it must be remembered that the latter has a 
 population of nearly 20,000,000 and occupies nearly half the area of 
 the continent. Portuguese is spoken throughout its limits, and Span- 
 ish is seldom heard among its people. The languages are similar but 
 difficult for the same person to understand, unless the ear is carefully 
 trained to the sounds and inflections of both. All well-educated per- 
 sons in Spanish and Portuguese America speak and read French 
 almost as well as their native tongue. 
 
 It would be fortunate if more Americans would try one of three 
 or four trips to South America instead of always running over to 
 Europe or seeking Japan and India. The best general route would 
 be to go down to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires on 
 the Atlantic coast, cross to Santiago and Valparaiso, and then come 
 up the Pacific coast by way of Lima and Panama, and thence to New 
 York. Such a tour could be made in three months, but it would 
 mean rapid movement. 
 
 There are fast, capacious, handsome passenger and mail steamers 
 leaving Southampton, Hamburg, Cherbourg, Lisbon, or Marseilles 
 for Rio and Buenos Aires at frequent intervals; but there are no 
 first-class, large, rapid passenger and mail boats flying the American 
 flag and running from New York or other North American ports 
 direct for the east coast of South America. It is true that there are 
 several foreign lines of semicargo and regular freight steamers, but 
 they do not answer. 
 
 There must come an improvement in steamship facilities between 
 the United States and Brazil and Argentina, if the United States is 
 not to be distanced in the race with Europe for trade. 
 8881209 3 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 35 
 
 SOME MISTAKES OF THE PAST. 
 
 If the question were asked : " Why have we not made more progress 
 with our prestige and trade in South America in the past?" it might 
 be said that we have not appreciated and studied South American 
 peoples, nations, governments, habits, and customs as they deserved. 
 There has been a tendency to look down upon our sister republics. 
 
 Difference in language and lineage has also worked against us. In- 
 stead of our mastering Spanish, Portugese, or French, we have ex- 
 pected them to understand our English. We have always approached 
 South America on the material side and discussed opportunities for 
 making money without endeavoring to get into closer touch along 
 intellectual, literary, and educational lines, to which South Americans 
 
 THE MUSEUM OF IPYRANGA, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL. 
 
 It marks the site of the declaration of freedom from Portuguese rule, which was followed by the 
 establishment of the Empire. The building is remarkable for its size and imposing architecture. 
 
 give great attention. We have neglected to realize that their history 
 teems with the exploits of patriotic heroes and with the names of bril- 
 liant authors, philosophers, and poets of whom we have no knowledge. 
 Then, we have taken little note of the universities, hospitals, training 
 schools, literary circles, newspapers, libraries, art and scientific mu- 
 seums, which, in proportion to population and opportunity, rival 
 those of North American cities and capitals. 
 
 The presence now in South America of Professor Moses, of the 
 University of California; of Professor Rowe, of the University of 
 Pennsylvania; and the prospective visit of Professor Shepherd, of 
 Columbia University, following close on the journey of Secretary 
 
36 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 Root, will be productive of great good in inaugurating a new era of 
 intercourse and relationship. One of the principal influences that 
 helped to make the mission of Mr. Root a thorough success was the 
 recognition by South Americans of a great intellectual force and 
 noble, statesmanlike character in him that was far above the consid- 
 eration of barter. They saw in him a man who stood for the best in 
 American contemporary life, and they gave him a welcome that could 
 not have been surpassed in spontaneity, magnificence, expense, and 
 effect, if he had been President Roosevelt or King Edward. 
 
 Through his speeches, manner, and personality, Secretary Root 
 accomplished more, in the three months which he spent encircling 
 South America, to bring about a new era of Pan-American confidence 
 and good will than all the diplomatic correspondence and all the visits 
 of promoters and exploiters in a century. 
 
 South America is undoubtedly entering upon a new industrial and 
 material movement. Its development during the next ten years will 
 arrest the attention of the world. Its mining wealth and resources 
 alone, especially those of gold, copper, silver, tin, platinum, and 
 nitrate in the Andean States of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and 
 Chile, will require the investment of North American capital not un- 
 like that already needed in Alaska and Mexico. If, as statistics cer- 
 tify, $700,000,000 of North American money have been placed in 
 Mexico, there will be room for many billions throughout the immense 
 territory of all Latin America, from Mexico and Cuba to Argentina 
 and Chile. 
 
 There is no limit to the demands upon capital for legitimate rail- 
 way building, but the requirements for electric tramways, electric 
 lights, for utilization of water powers, for the erection of factories, 
 water-supply plants, sewerage works, telephone and telegraph sys- 
 tems, for agricultural extension, stock raising, and kindred undertak- 
 ings, offer innumerable attractive opportunities for the personal or 
 combined action and interest of North Americans. 
 
c 
 
 It is my desire to interest every banker and investor in the United 
 States in the industrial and material development of Latin America. 
 For American capital it is a great undeveloped field. It has vast 
 potentialities which are not appreciated. There is no time to be lost. 
 Latin America is on the verge of a forward movement that will aston- 
 ish the world. Unless American capitalists are up and doing, those 
 of Europe will control the situation and reap the chief benefits. 
 
 This is no frightened cry of alarm. It is no despairing shout. It 
 is not a pessimistic wail. On the other hand, it is a simple statement 
 of truth, based on a careful study of Latin America and a diplomatic 
 experience in many of its principal countries covering some six years. 
 I do not ask that heed be given to my story because I tell it, but 
 simply because it narrates facts that any man of common sense, who 
 is familiar with conditions in Latin America, can relate and prove as 
 well as I. Without appearing to lay stress on my personal views, but 
 in order to create confidence in my humble observations, I would 
 recall that a dozen years ago, when I had the honor to be United 
 States minister to Siam in Asia, I made similar prophecies in regard 
 to American commercial and material opportunities in the Orient. 
 These were first ridiculed and even scorned by many of the leading 
 American newspapers. To-day the realization is far beyond what 
 was pictured in my most hopeful descriptions. I have studied Latin 
 America, from Mexico and Cuba to Argentina and Chile, no less care- 
 fully than I did Asia, from Japan and China to the Philippines and 
 Siam, and I am now convinced of the truth of all my conclusions. 
 
 PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE INVESTMENT. 
 
 There is no better argument in favor of the importance and value 
 of the Latin American opportunity than a citation of what is being 
 done to-day. Mexico, Central America, and Cuba can be passed over 
 with brief references, because they are so much better known in the 
 United States than is South America proper. It is well to remember, 
 however, in passing that, according to the opinion of Senor Don 
 
 Reprinted from The Bankers' Magazine, June, 1907. 
 
 38 
 
40 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 Enrique C. Creel, the distinguished ambassador (1907) of Mexico in 
 Washington, and a man who stands high both in financial and diplo- 
 matic circles of that Government, over $700,000,000 of money from the 
 United States are invested throughout his country. This shows how 
 eagerly the capital of the United States will seek Latin nations if 
 peaceful conditions prevail. It is a logical conclusion that if this 
 sum is invested in Mexico, there is room for ten times that amount, or 
 $7,000,000,000, to be placed in South American countries from 
 Colombia to Chile. Of course, I do not mean that this sum can be 
 put in all at once ; but there will be a demand and opportunity for it 
 during the next twenty j^ears if the investors of the United States do 
 not let those of Europe take the best chances first. The other day a 
 reliable financial paper in Europe made the significant statement that 
 $2,000,000,000 of European capital would be invested in South 
 America in various enterprises during the next ten years, and that 
 many of the great financial institutions of Europe were seriously 
 beginning to believe that capital was safer in South America than in 
 the United States. Of this point, in so far as it refers to revolutions, 
 I shall speak pointedly a little later on. 
 
 THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 
 
 In Cuba, already over $150,000,000 of American money are invested. 
 In Porto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Central American 
 States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and 
 Panama are $50,000,000 more and yet all experts who have studied 
 these small countries agree that the development of their resources 
 has only begun. They may be in a somewhat disturbed state, but 
 there is a strong sentiment growing among all of them against revo- 
 lutions and in favor of permanent law and order. Some people 
 describe the present trouble in Central America as the straw which 
 will break the back of the revolutionary camel and inaugurate a new 
 era of peace and prosperity. 
 
 OTJR NEAREST SOUTH AMERICAN NEIGHBORS. 
 
 Now, coming to South America proper, we have a fascinating field 
 of study. Let us first glance at Colombia, our nearest neighbor, and 
 yet perhaps the least known of the countries on the South American 
 continent. Its Caribbean ports are only 950 miles from Florida. It 
 is closer to New York, Boston, and Philadelphia than Panama and 
 most of the Central American States. It covers an area as large as 
 Germany and France combined. Possessing a marvelous variety of 
 climate from the temperate cold of the wide plateaus of the Andes 
 to the tropical heat of its lowlands, rich with a remarkable variety 
 of minerals, producing almost every important vegetable and timber 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 41 
 
 growth, and yet in the very infancy of its foreign development and 
 exploitation, it is most tempting for capitalists looking for virgin 
 fields. Although Colombia has had the name of being disturbed with 
 internal strife in the past, it is now r , through the wise administration 
 of its President General Rafael Reyes gradually substituting con- 
 fidence and quiet for distrust and conflict. General Reyes is doing 
 all in his power to interest foreign capital in the exploitation of the 
 resources of Colombia. He wants to build trunk and branch lines of 
 railroads over its wide area ; to open up its mines of gold, copper, and 
 platinum ; to improve the navigation of its many rivers ; to carry to 
 market the valuable timber of its primeval forests ; to put in electric 
 light and street-car lines in its principal cities, and to take advantage 
 
 LANDING WHARF AT PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 
 
 Puerto Plata, on the north coast, ranks next to Santo Domingo in commercial importance. The 
 town itself is not a large one, the population being about 6,000, but the harbor affords splendid 
 anchorage for a large fleet of ocean-going vessels. It is a prominent shipping point for products of 
 the Republic, and is the natural outlet for the northern provinces. 
 
 of its numerous water powers. When I was recently United States 
 minister in Bogota, its capital, one of the most conservative repre- 
 sentatives of a great English banking house told me that Colombia 
 alone could give profitable investment during the next ten years to 
 $25,000,000 of foreign money. 
 
 THE RICH LAND OF THE ORINOCO. 
 
 Venezuela may seem a little disturbed at times, but those familiar 
 with its interior agree that, in proportion to area, no other South 
 American country has a more extended variety of resources capable 
 of profitable development. One trip up the mighty Orinoco River 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 43 
 
 and its tributaries will convince the most skeptical that millions of 
 dollars are to be made in taking advantage of what nature has given 
 Venezuela in prodigal supply. Like Colombia, it is almost a terra 
 incognita to the American capitalist or traveler when he gets beyond 
 the Caribbean coast. With these two republics crossed by trunk lines 
 of railroads, with branches into various valleys and upon their high 
 plateaus, they would enter upon a new era of prosperity hardly 
 contemplated at present. 
 
 THE COMMON MISTAKE REGARDING THE TROPICS. 
 
 I am here reminded to emphasize the mistake that the average 
 North American makes when he classes countries like Colombia, 
 Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil as purely tropical and there- 
 fore dangerous for men of the United States and Europe if they 
 expect to spend much time there. It is altitude above the sea rather 
 than nearness to the equator that determines heat or cold. A man 
 who climbs up from the tropical sea level to 5,280 feet, or 1 mile, 
 upon a plateau, finds it cooler and more temperate than if he travels 
 1,500 miles north or south from the equator. Again, if he goes up 
 10,560 feet, or 2 miles, upon any one of the numerous high plateaus 
 of the Andes, he will find a far more agreeable and equable climate 
 than if he journeyed 2,500 miles north or south from the equatorial 
 line. What does this suggest? Simply that the so-called and much- 
 despised tropical section of South America, having many large and 
 cool areas wonderfully mingled with low tropical valleys, all of which 
 are characterized by exceptional fertility of soil and variety of re- 
 sources, will experience an astonishing development when capital 
 realizes the opportunity and feels that it is safe. 
 
 Ecuador, which looks small on the map, but which is big enough to 
 include w r ithin its area several^ Pennsylvanias, is a good illustration 
 of this point. Through its entire length for many hundred miles 
 there are fertile, populous Andean uplands, in the center of which is 
 located its capital, Quito. In a short time a railroad built by an 
 American in the face of great financial and engineering difficulties 
 will connect at Guayaquil, its port on the Pacific, with Quito, first 
 traversing in this distance the rich tropical lowlands and then climb- 
 ing up into the mountains. This road, together with one in Colombia, 
 which is being built from Buenaventura, on the Pacific coast, into the 
 famous and beautiful Cauca Valley, will form important divisions in 
 the mighty Pan-American Railway system which is being so strongly 
 advocated by ex-Senator Henry G. Davis, of West Virginia, Andrew 
 Carnegie, and others. 
 
44 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 THE RICHES AND PROGRESS OF GREAT BRAZIL. 
 
 When one speaks or writes of Brazil he has difficulty in finding ad- 
 jectives which will describe truthfully the opportunities in that coun- 
 try for legitimate exploitation of North American capital and yet 
 which wall not suggest the use of exaggerated phraseology. The sim- 
 ple facts that Brazil covers a greater area than the United States 
 proper; that out of the Amazon River every day flows three times 
 more water than out of the Mississippi; that this gigantic stream 
 is navigable 2,000 miles for vessels drawing 25 feet of water; that 
 the city of Rio de Janeiro, its capital, has now a population of 
 900,000, and spent more money last year for public improvements than 
 
 
 
 PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE, ON BRUNSWICK PENINSULA, TERRITORY OF MAGELLAN. 
 
 This is the southernmost city of the globe and coaling port for steamers passing through the Strait of 
 Magellan. It was formerly a penal settlement but is now an enterprising commercial city of 
 10,000 inhabitants and the leading port in southern Chile for the export of fur, wool, and minerals. 
 
 any city of the United States excepting New York; and that to-day 
 the central Government and the different States are expending larger 
 sums for harbor and river improvements than the Government or 
 ^States of the United States all convince the most skeptical that 
 Brazil is a field for the investor to study thoroughly and thoughtfully. 
 Only recently it was announced that a celebrated American engi- 
 neer who designed the elaborate dock system at Buenos Aires, in the 
 Argentine Republic, had secured a concession for building a great 
 harbor at Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil, and would ex- 
 pend over $14.000,000 on the project. Plans for the construction of 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 45 
 
 railways into the heart of the country, including one that will event- 
 ually connect Bio de Janeiro with Montevideo, the capital of Uru- 
 guay, on the south, and with Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, on the 
 southwest, are well under way. The navigation of the upper branches 
 of the Amazon River are to be so improved that there will be con- 
 nection by rail with Lima, on the Pacific side, and with La Paz, the 
 capital of Bolivia, located in the central Andean plateau. All over 
 Brazil new towns and cities are springing up which will require water 
 works, electric lights, sewerage systems, and street-car lines. Back in 
 the interior, which has heretofore been described as a jungle, are being 
 found mountains of iron and coal and forests of valuable timber, 
 upon which the world must largely draw for its supply in the future. 
 Over 1,000 miles up the Amazon is the thriving city of Manaos, 
 which reminds one of the pushing western cities of the United States. 
 It is now looking forward to a population of 100,000, and prides itself 
 on its fine streets, business buildings, street-car service, and handsome 
 opera house. If the traveler will go another 1,000 miles up this great 
 stream he will arrive at Iquitos, the Atlantic port, as it were, of Peru, 
 a city which is growing as a rubber market, although its neighbor- 
 hood a few years ago was considered a rendezvous of savages. With- 
 out enlarging on the possibilities of Brazil to supply the world's de- 
 mand for rubber and coffee, so well known in the United States, it can 
 be said that this Empire Republic of South America offers a field for 
 safe investment of $200,000.000 of American money in the near future. 
 
 AMERICAN CAPITAL BUILDING NEW RAILROADS. 
 
 It is regrettable that there is not space in this article to go into 
 details about such important countries as Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, 
 and Bolivia, but a few points must be kept in mind. Chiefly through 
 the influence of the able minister of Bolivia in Washington, Mr. 
 Ignacio Calderon, nearly $100,000,000 of American capital will be 
 invested in the construction of Bolivian railways, which will result in 
 bringing her limitless mineral resources and their consequent exploi- 
 tation directly to the attention of the world. In Peru the greatest 
 mining enterprise is in the hands of Americans, and they declare that 
 they have only scratched the surface. The millions that the Haggins 
 have put, and are putting, into the copper deposits of the Peruvian 
 Andes are evidence of their value. Paraguay seems to be tucked 
 away in the interior of South America so that its agricultural and 
 timber wealth are not appreciated, but every consular report that 
 comes from Asuncion shows that the Paraguayans are anxious to en- 
 courage the investment of North American money. In Uruguay we 
 find one of the most fertile soils in all the world and a thrifty people ; 
 and as evidence of Uruguay's forward movement it can be cited that 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 47 
 
 the Government is spending $10,000,000 in making the harbor at 
 Montevideo one of the best in all America. 
 
 CHILE A SCENE OF GROWING ACTIVITY. 
 
 Where to begin or end in a description of Chile's material and in- 
 dustrial possibilities is difficult to decide. That Europe has confidence 
 in its future is proved by the eagerness with which German and Eng- 
 lish capital is seeking investment along numerous different lines 
 within its limits. Reaching for over 2,500 miles along the Pacific 
 coast of South America and having a wide variety of climates, prod- 
 ucts, and natural resources it presents an extremely inviting oppor- 
 tunity. Its harbors are being improved, its railroads are being 
 extended, and its cities, especially those injured by earthquakes, 
 reconstructed. The Chilean Government expects to spend at least 
 $10,000,000 in making Valparaiso a safe harbor. 
 
 THE PROSPEROUS ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 
 
 Last, but undoubtedly far from least, we consider the Argentine 
 Republic, some times called the " Wonderland " of South America. 
 Located to the south of the equator not unlike the United States 
 north of it; possessing through its greater portion a temperate cli- 
 mate ; covering an area as large as that section of the United States 
 east of the Mississippi River plus the first tier of States west of it; 
 drained by the great River Plate system, out of which flows twice 
 as much water each day as out of the Mississippi;- and boasting a 
 capital city, Buenos Aires, which has a population of over 1,200,000 
 and is growing faster than any other city on the Western Hemisphere, 
 excepting New York and Chicago, the Argentine Republic says to- 
 day to capitalists, investors, and bankers of the world that they have 
 no more inviting field for the secure placing of their surplus money. 
 Business " talks," and it speaks loudly and convincingly in regard 
 to the Argentine Republic. There can be no more logical argument 
 in support of Argentina's claim to commercial importance than 
 the fact that in the year 1906 it carried on a foreign trade, exports 
 and imports, amounting, in all, to the magnificent total of $562,- 
 000,000. This, though true, seems almost incredible when we realize 
 that the country has yet only about 6,000,000 people. It means that 
 her trade with the rest of the world is nearly $100 per head, or 
 proportionately greater than any other large country on this earth. 
 
 The railway systems of this Republic, which connect Buenos Aires 
 with Bolivia on the north, with Chile on the west, and with Patagonia 
 at the southern end of Argentina, rival, in proportion to population, 
 the railroad systems of the United States and European countries. 
 The cities of the interior are growing rapidly, and there is every- 
 
48 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 where a demand for capital to give these towns modern advantages. 
 The amount of money required not only to do this but to improve 
 the vast agricultural possibilities of her plains and the mineral 
 wealth of her mountains should be supplied, in a considerable part, 
 by the United States. 
 
 GENERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT. 
 
 I would add, in reply to the many inquiries which come to the 
 International Bureau of American Kepublics, that money is wanted 
 
 AREQUIPA, PERU. FOUNDED BY PIZARRO IN 1540. 
 
 Situated at an altitude of 7,360 feet on the site of an Inca settlement. In the background is seen the 
 
 Misti Volcano, 19,200 feet high. 
 
 for the establishment of North American banks, or branches thereof, in 
 the principal cities of South America ; for floating government and in- 
 dustrial loans; for the building and extending of railroads; for the 
 construction of electric rail and street-car lines, electric lighting 
 plants, waterworks, sewerage systems; and for financing concessions 
 covering harbor improvements, agriculture, timber, and mineral ex- 
 ploitation, not to mention a score of lesser opportunities that combine 
 to make a general onward movement. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 49 
 
 REVOLUTIONS AND ACTUAL COMMERCE. 
 
 As for revolutions, I desire to emphasize the fact that capital must 
 not be frightened or misled by occasional outbreaks in some of the 
 lesser Latin American countries. The truth is that four-fifths of 
 South America has known no serious revolutions in the last decade 
 and a half, while the present prospects for lasting peace and pros- 
 perity are better than ever before. 
 
 The query as to what Latin America is doing in its relations with 
 the outer world can be summed up in the gratifying and surprising 
 statement that the total foreign trade, exports and imports, of Latin 
 America in the year 190G were valued at $2,035,350,000. Of this 
 amount, exports were $1,138,260,000, and imports, $897,095,000, leav- 
 ing a remarkable balance in favor of South America of $241,165,000. 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU AND MR. ROOT'S TOUR. 
 
 In conclusion, I wish to take advantage of this opportunity to call 
 the attention of capitalists, investors, bankers, and business men in 
 general to the broadened scope and plan of the International Bureau 
 of the American Republics, which, under the ambitious programme 
 outlined by the Third Pan-American Conference, held at Rio de 
 Janeiro, Brazil, in 1906, is being reorganized and enlarged so as to 
 become a world-recognized and powerful agency not only for the ex- 
 tension of commerce and trade but for the development of better rela- 
 tions of peace and friendship among all the republics of the Western 
 Hemisphere. 
 
 The impetus given to this plan by the extraordinary visit in 1906 
 of Elihu Root, then Secretary of State of the United States, to South 
 America, can not be overestimated. He accomplished more in his 
 three months' journey, by his contact with the Latin American 
 statesman, by his speeches, and by his personality, to remove dis- 
 trust and to promote mutual good will, confidence, and their corollary, 
 commerce, than all the diplomatic intercourse and correspondence 
 of the preceding seventy-five years. As a result of Mr. Root's visit 
 to South America, a new era has already dawned in the relations of 
 the United States with her sister nations, and it now remains for 
 the capital of this country, accumulated through our past prosperity 
 and looking for new fields, to improve the wonderful opportunity 
 in the great southern continent. 
 88812- 
 
THE CATHEDRAL, SANTIAGO, CHILE. 
 
 Santiago Cathedral, an imposing structure and one of the oldest churches in South America, is 
 situated on the Plaza de la Inde 
 
 iependencia, or Haza de Armas, Santiago's favorite "paseo." 
 
se 
 
 * 
 
 The best way to understand or study any section of this world 
 which may be little known is to locate it on the map clearly and then 
 make comparisons as to its size with sections better known. 
 
 Central America is sometimes described as all that portion of the 
 North American continent lying between the Rio Grande and the 
 Atrato rivers, the former dividing Mexico from the United States 
 and the latter forming practically the boundary line between Panama 
 and Colombia. Politically, however, it comprehends the five inde- 
 pendent states of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and 
 Costa Rica. In the order named, they lie directly south and east of 
 Mexico, between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Salvador 
 is the only one of the five that borders solely on the Pacific, or that 
 has not shores washed by both waters. 
 
 As the average newspaper reader sees the names of these republics 
 mentioned in the dispatches he thinks of them as indefinitely existing 
 somewhere to the distant south of the United States. He believes 
 that they are nearer Mexico than Patagonia, but he hesitates before 
 he goes on record to that effect. 
 
 In fact, all these countries, grouped as Central America, are so close 
 at hand that they are within a few days' steaming of New Orleans, 
 Mobile, or Galveston. They are much nearer geographically to our 
 Gulf coast than Panama, which, on account of the advertising it has 
 enjoyed from the canal, now seems only a few hours from New York. 
 Panama, as it looks on the map, should belong to Central America- 
 it certainly is not part of South America. Having formerly been a 
 portion of Colombia, the greater part of which is in South America 
 proper, it naturally has never been classed as belonging to Central or 
 North America. 
 
 APPROACHES TO CENTRAL AMERICA. 
 
 A strong influence that has worked to make Central America seem 
 far away has been the necessity, in the past, of reaching the different 
 capitals or principal cities either by sailing from San Francisco on a 
 journey occupying from ten days to two weeks down the Pacific coast 
 past Mexico, or by crossing the Isthmus of Panama and proceed- 
 ing north. The physical conformation of Central America is such 
 
 a Reprinted from the American Review of Reviews, July, 1907. 
 
 51 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 53 
 
 that the high and accessible lands suitable for cities and the better 
 classes of population are much nearer the Pacific Ocean than the 
 Caribbean Sea. The shores and the interior facing on the latter sea 
 are generally low, and, until recently, when banana cultivation began 
 to open them to the world, they were a wild, swampy, mosquito jungle. 
 The few railroads have started from the Pacific coast and wound 
 their way to the capitals and commercial centers, but now rapid prog- 
 ress is being made toward rail connections with the Caribbean side. 
 Costa Rica is already well provided in this respect, and its beautiful 
 capital of San Jose is easily reached in half a day's ride through im- 
 pressive scenery from Port Limon. Guatemala hopes to have its 
 railroad to the Gulf of Honduras completed next fall. Nicaragua is 
 planning a line that will connect the Caribbean Sea with its great 
 interior lake, while Honduras has begun a road that is destined to 
 provide an approach on the same side to Tegucigalpa. In a few 
 years it should be possible to cross by rail each Central American 
 country from sea to sea. An era of continued peace, which ought to 
 be at hand, would see this desired condition of communication soon 
 accomplished. 
 
 COMPARATIVE SIZE OF CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 
 
 Very few people have a correct impression of the size of Central 
 America as a whole or of its States, taken separately. California 
 seems like a large State. It extends 770 miles along the Pacific and 
 has an extreme width of 375 miles. If California were laid end for 
 end on Central America it would cover it with the exception of Sal- 
 vador, which is just the size of New Jersey and occupies a little over 
 7,000 square miles. Stated in another way, if Central America Avere 
 lifted up bodily and laid down on our Atlantic coast it would just 
 hide all New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. 
 In short, it has a combined area of approximately 167,000 square 
 miles. Individually, aside from Salvador, already mentioned, the 
 States could be compared as follows : Honduras to Pennsylvania, 
 45,000 square miles; Guatemala to Mississippi, 47,000; Nicaragua to 
 New York, 49,000; Costa Rica to Vermont and New Hampshire, 
 18,000. 
 
 Data as to the population of these States are somewhat contradic- 
 tory, but the official figures given to the International Bureau of 
 American Republics by the diplomatic representatives of these 
 countries at Washington are here used. Guatemala heads the list 
 with 1,364,678 people. Then come Salvador, with 1,006,848; Hon- 
 duras, with 543,741 ; Nicaragua, with 423,200 ; and Costa Rica, with 
 331.340 a grand total of 3,671,807. This nearly exceeds that of either 
 Texas or Tennessee, and is about twice that of California. Such a 
 
 G This line is now (July, 1909) running. 
 
54 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 population should disabuse the minds of many persons that Central 
 America is a sparsely settled, savage land. Of course, there are con- 
 siderable portions of the lowlands and along the seacoasts where the 
 inhabitants are few, and even these live in most primitive manner, 
 but on the plateaus and higher sections of the interior are cities and 
 towns of advanced civilization, with up-to-date features of municipal 
 life, and an agricultural population that leaves little valuable land 
 unoccupied. 
 
 THE TEMPLE OF MINERVA IN GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA. 
 
 Erected for the annual festival of Minerva, a national educational holiday celebrated throughout 
 
 the Republic. 
 
 CONDITIONS OF POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 It is a surprise to the man who has not studied Central America 
 to learn that Salvador, with only 7,000 square miles, has more than 
 1,000,000 inhabitants. This indicates a density of population far 
 greater than that of New Hampshire or Vermont, and means that 
 there are not many " deserted farms " for sale in Salvador. Guate- 
 mala, with an increasing population that, since the last census, has 
 probably now reached nearly 1,500,000, can not be regarded as a 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 55 
 
 land of untra versed jungle, for the density of population is greater 
 than that of Louisiana. Honduras has the largest area of unused 
 country, with Nicaragua next, but the development of the banana 
 industry and the demand for valuable timber grown in the low in- 
 terior sections are destined to make every unknown part accessible 
 and open to exploitation. 
 
 Too strong emphasis can not be placed on the varied riches and 
 possibilities of these five republics. Taken as a whole, they possess 
 more agricultural and timber wealth than mining potentialities, but 
 they are developing rapidly along all three lines in a way to prove 
 that they have not been appreciated heretofore, either in Europe or 
 in the United States. 
 
 The number of recent disturbances in Central America has given 
 the impression abroad that these nations are always in a state of 
 strife, and hence that commerce and material progress have little 
 to encourage them. A consideration, however, of the figures of their 
 foreign trade with the world at large, and with the United States in 
 particular, demonstrates that despite warlike struggles at frequent 
 intervals they have time and money to do a very fair business with 
 the outside world. 
 
 CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 
 
 People are always asking, What is the climate of Central America ; 
 is it not unfavorable to North Americans or to persons accustomed 
 to a temperate climate? Were the entire area of Central America 
 similar to the part along the Caribbean coast I should be inclined to 
 speak disparagingly of it, but it must be remembered that large sec- 
 tions are located either at such an altitude or in such relation to 
 prevailing winds that the temperature seldom becomes too hot for 
 ordinary comfort, and never too cold. Even in the lower and so- 
 called fever, malarial, and mosquito districts, it is wonderful what a 
 change can be wrought by clearing away the jungle, providing good 
 sewerage and pure water, and generally developing a sanitary envi- 
 ronment. Then, the terrors of excessive heat seem to disappear and 
 the Tropics become a source of delight. 
 
 What has been done at Panama can be duplicated everywhere in 
 Central America if the same methods are employed. There is hardly 
 a depressing, forbidding port of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, 
 Nicaragua, and Costa Rica which could not be made healthy and 
 habitable for foreigners if a well-developed plan for sanitation were 
 carried to complete execution. This is sure to come some day, with 
 the result that the whole so-called " Mosquito Coast " and the re- 
 mainder of the Caribbean shore of Central America will be busy with 
 prosperous commercial entrepots, which, in turn, will be connected by 
 railroads with all parts of the hitherto impenetrable jungle, as well 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 57 
 
 as with the mountain capitals and towns. In fact, I look to see, 
 during the next twenty years, a transformation in Central America 
 which will astonish the world and make it difficult to realize that, in 
 1907, it was commonly regarded as a terra incognita, 
 
 HOW TO REACH CENTRAL AMERICAN CITIES. 
 
 The query is often propounded to the International Bureau of 
 American Republics: How does a visitor go to the principal cities 
 of Central America, and what are the conditions of travel? The best 
 way to-day to reach San Salvador, the capital of Salvador; Teguci- 
 
 GOVERNMENT PALACE, MANAGUA, THE CAPITAL OF NICARAGUA. 
 
 galpa, the capital of Honduras, and Managua, the capital of Nica- 
 ragua, is either by the way of Panama and the Pacific or by San 
 Francisco and the Pacific, except that the new rail route across the 
 Isthmus of Tehuantepec may presently provide connections that will 
 be quicker than the route via San Francisco or Panama. San Jose, 
 the capital of Costa Rica, has direct rail connections with Port 
 Limon, on the Caribbean shore, and will soon have a through railroad 
 to Puntarenas, on the Pacific Gulf of Nicoya. The Pacific port of 
 Guatemala City is the town of San Jose, from which a railroad runs 
 to the capital. The line from the Caribbean, about completed, begins 
 at Puerto Barrios. Northwestern Guatemala is reached through the 
 
58 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 ports of Ocos and Champerico, and a raiJroad extends from the latter 
 place to several important towns of the interior. The principal port 
 of Salvador is Acajutla, from which a railroad carries one, in five 
 hours, to the city of San Salvador. From La Libertad there is a fair 
 mountain road, but it has been little used since the railway was com- 
 pleted. 
 
 The capital of Honduras has its port at Amapala, on the Pacific 
 Gulf of Fonseca, and a good macadamized road extends from San 
 Lorenzo to Tegucigalpa,, on which automobiles are operated. A 
 railroad is planned and partly constructed to connect Tegucigalpa 
 not only with the Gulf of Fonseca, but also with Puerto Cortez, 
 on the Caribbean Gulf of Honduras. When these roads will be 
 completed is, however, uncertain. The chief port of Nicaragua is 
 Corinto, on the Pacific side. From this port a railroad runs to 
 Managua and thence to Granada, on Lake Nicaragua. 
 
 PRECAUTIONS FOR TRAVELERS. 
 
 The capital towns of the Central American republics vary in popu- 
 lation, but all provide hotels and clubs that are comfortable. New 
 York and Paris hostelries do not abound, as there is no demand for 
 them, but unless a man is a chronic " kicker " he need not be unhappy 
 in his Central American surroundings. Whoever goes there should 
 be provided with an abundance of light clothing, such as white duck, 
 brown khaki, or thin flannel. He must guard against the sun in 
 the middle of the day, and should wear, unless he carries an umbrella, 
 a pith hat or some kind of sun helmet. After the sun is well down, 
 the air cools off immediately, and the nights are generally cool. 
 Except in the higher altitudes, a mosquito net is absolutely necessary, 
 and no traveler along the coast or in the low interior should be caught 
 without one. If any time is spent in this section, it is also well to 
 take regular doses of quinine, according to one's capacity or health, 
 in order to guard against malaria. Ordinary care should also be 
 exercised in the kind of food consumed, and even more care in the 
 kind of water that is drunk. 
 
 I do not wish to frighten anybody or make it appear that there 
 is any particular danger while traveling in these countries. I desire 
 rather to make a few simple suggestions which, if followed, will 
 make travel and life there more safe and agreeable. As to myself, 
 I can say that during many years' residence as United States min- 
 ister in different tropical countries of the Orient and America, in- 
 cluding a year at Panama (before it was made healthy and sanitary 
 through the great work of Colonel Gorgas), I never experienced a 
 day's sickness from any kind of tropical complaint. I exercised 
 common sense care of myself, and nothing more. To-day, I visit 
 the heart of the Tropics with far less hesitation than I do New 
 England in winter. 
 
STATUE OF COLUMBUS, GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA. 
 
 This celebrated monument of the great Discoverer adorns Central Park. The artistic composition of 
 the figures and the bronze globes is most happy, while this park, with its wealth of semitropical 
 vegetation and its commanding and picturesque location, forms a fitting background. 
 
60 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 TRADE, COMMERCE, AND FINANCIAL STATUS. 
 
 That this discussion of Central America may contain some exact 
 information about its trade, commerce, and general business, the latest 
 statistics and figures, prepared in the International Bureau of the 
 American Republics, of which the writer is the director, are given in 
 summarized form. The total foreign commerce, exports and imports, 
 of the five Republics amounted last year (1906) to the considerable 
 total of $56,133.000. Of this, exports were $32,170,000 and imports 
 $23,963,000, or a favorable balance of nearly $10,000,000. The share 
 of the United States in the above trade is interesting to note, because 
 it averaged about half. The total was $26,376,000, of which exports 
 
 SCHOOL EXERCISES AT SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA. 
 
 This country is celebrated for its excellent schools. The University contains the National Library, 
 which comprises 3,000 volumes of scientific and miscellaneous works. 
 
 to the United States were $14,992,000, and imports from the United 
 States $11,384,000. 
 
 Taking each country in turn for the purpose of providing accurate 
 and specific information, it is noted that the total trade of Guate- 
 mala with the world is $15,082,000, of which $6,844,000 are imports 
 and $8,238,000 are exports. Of this, the portion of the United 
 States is $5,582,000, divided as follows : Imports, $2,707,000 ; exports, 
 $2,875,000. The budget for 1906-7 estimates the revenues of the 
 Government at $25,000,000. 
 
 Salvador enjoys a foreign commerce of $9,986,000, divided into 
 exports of $5,640,000 and imports of $4,346,000. The share of the 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 61 
 
 United States is $2,580,000, with exports of $1,225,000 and imports 
 of $1,355,000. The annual budget for 1906-7 estimates the national 
 revenues at $8,644,295. 
 
 Honduras conducts an external trade^with the world of $7,857,000, 
 of which exports are $5,564,000 and imports $2,293,000. The United 
 States proportion of this trade is valued at $6,322,000, or much the 
 largest part, of which exports to the United States are $4,632,000 and 
 imports therefrom $1,690,000. The last budget places the revenues 
 at $3,043,000. Although the foreign debt is heavy, Honduras has 
 marvelous resources, which, developed, will enable her to meet her 
 obligations. 
 
 Nicaragua's foreign commerce reaches a total of $7,128,000, of 
 which $3,926,000 represents exports and $3,202,000 imports. Of these, 
 the share of the United States is nearly half, as the total is $3,757,000, 
 with exports at $2,089,000 and imports -at $1,668,000. The annual 
 income for government expenses is about $20,000,000. Nicaragua 
 gives every evidence of being on the highway to great material prog- 
 ress, and is offering exceptional opportunities for the investment of 
 capital in both mining and agriculture. Great public improvements 
 are also contemplated that will add much to the prosperity of the 
 country. 
 
 Although Costa Rica ranks fourth in area among the Central 
 American republics, she stands a good second in foreign trade. This 
 amounted in 1906 to the large sum of $16,000,000, of which the 
 exports were $8,802,000 and imports $7,278,000. The United States 
 shared to the extent of about half, or $8,135,000, with exports and 
 imports, respectively, at $4,171,000 and $3,964,000. The revenue for 
 1906-7 is estimated at $3,372,795. 
 
 Everybody w r ho visits Costa Rica carries away a good impression 
 and has great confidence in its future. The banana business has 
 grown to such size that it has become a decided source of wealth to 
 the country and people. Mining has not been conducted on a large 
 scale, but considerable mineral wealth is believed to exist in the 
 mountains. 
 
 PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS SOLD AND BOUGHT. 
 
 The character of the trade of Central America with the world and 
 with the United States can be best appreciated by noting some of 
 the principal articles which are exported and imported. Central 
 Americans sell abroad coffee, bananas, rubber, cacao, dyewoods, val- 
 uable lumber, like mahogany and other cabinet woods, hides and 
 skins, rice, sugar, indigo, balsam, tobacco, and minerals. They buy 
 cotton and woolen cloth, machinery, railway, electric, and mining out- 
 fits, wheat flour, drugs, and medicines, iron and steel manufactures, 
 sacks for export of coffee and fruit, canned provisions, and a host of 
 
62 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 lesser articles. The list is long enough to show that there are great 
 opportunities in Central America for the manufacturers and exporters 
 of the United States if they will make vigorous efforts to exploit it 
 along legitimate lines. As this trade will next year reach a high 
 figure, it should be carefully investigated by all those interested. 
 
 The principal centers of trade and industry in Central America 
 include Guatemala City, which has 96,000 people; Coban, Toonicapan, 
 and Quezaltenango, in Guatemala, with about 25,000 each; Teguci- 
 galpa with about 34,000, and Comayagua with 10,000, in Honduras; 
 Leon with 60,000, Granada with 30.000, and Managua with 25.000, 
 in Nicaragua ; San Salvador with 60,000, and Santa Ana with 48,000, 
 
 LAW SCHOOL, GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA. 
 
 A national institution, which, together with the school of medicine, of engineering, and of philosophy, 
 forms the university. These schools are supported by the Government and are under the direc- 
 tion of a board selected from the faculties of the four institutions. 
 
 in Salvador, and San Jose with 25,000, Heredia with 10,000, and 
 Limon with 7,000, in Costa Rica. Many of these towns are also seats 
 of notable institutions of learning, such as the schools of law and 
 medicine at Guatemala City, the Institute of Jurisprudence and 
 Political Science at Tegucigalpa, the National University at San 
 Salvador, the schools of law, medicine, and pharmacy at Managua 
 and Leon, and the schools of law and medicine in San Jose. 
 
 If anyone assumes that because there are occasional revolutions in 
 Central America and the climate is somewhat tropical, there is not 
 a considerable element of highly educated and refined men and 
 women in the chief cities and towns, he labors under great error. A 
 large proportion of the well-to-do people have traveled abroad and 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 63 
 
 send their sons or daughters to the United States and Europe for 
 educational advantages in addition to their home schools. Each 
 country has produced writers, historians, poets, novelists, jurists, 
 doctors, and surgeons, as well as statesmen, who are well known 
 throughout all Latin America and who are becoming better known 
 in the United States. The society found by the visitor in the Central 
 American capitals is always more interesting and cultured than he 
 expects to meet before he has acquired familarity with actual con- 
 ditions. Guatemala City, for instance, is a remarkable capital, with 
 nearly 100,000 people, which will become a popular point for travel- 
 ers and tourists from the United States when the Pan- American Rail- 
 road or the new line from the Caribbean shore is completed. In fact, 
 Guatemala has a splendid future before it, but the world has only 
 recently begun to appreciate its resources and possibilities. Much 
 might also be said of the conditions and attractions of the other 
 Central American capitals, like San Jose, Managua, Tegucigalpa, 
 and San Salvador, but there is not space in this brief article. 
 
 BENEFITS OF AN INTERCONTINENTAL RAILWAY. 
 
 No matter how many steamship lines may be put in operation 
 between the Pacific, Gulf, and Atlantic ports of the United States 
 and Central America, the principal cities and points of this section 
 of the North American continent will never be reached rapidly and 
 by large numbers of people until the Pan-American Railway system 
 is constructed from Mexico down through Guatemala, Salvador, 
 Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica to Panama. The line now 
 reaches practically to the border of Guatemala, and there are no 
 insurmountable difficulties in connecting it wth the small systems 
 already in operation, or in course of construction, in these different 
 states. If the movement which has been so strongly urged by ex- 
 Senator Henry G. Davis, of West Virginia, and which has been ap- 
 proved by the different Pan- American conferences, is carried to a 
 consummation, it will be one of the greatest forward steps to Pan- 
 American unity. In ten years, it should be possible for a traveler 
 to start out from New York and make the journey to each of the 
 Central American capitals in comfortable Pullman trains. 
 
 For three hundred years Central America was under Spanish 
 authority, beginning with the invasion of Pedro and Jorge de Alva- 
 rado on the north and Gil Gonzales de Avila on the south. The 
 former came down from Mexico just before the latter came up from 
 Panama, taking possession of what is now Costa Rica and Nicaragua. 
 For long years, Central America was known as the Kingdom of 
 Guatemala, with governors appointed by the Spanish Government. 
 After their independence was consummated in the year 1821, and, 
 
LATIN AMEKICA. 
 
 65 
 
 until 1847, these countries remained as one republic. Since they 
 separated there have been various efforts to unite them again into 
 one nation, but none of these has been completely successful. 
 
 THE BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. 
 
 The International Bureau of the American Republics, in Washing- 
 ton, which has the twofold purpose of developing commerce and trade 
 and of promoting better relations and closer acquaintance among all 
 
 A RAILWAY TRESTLE IX COSTA RICA. 
 
 The Pacific Railway of Costa Rica is 170 miles long, and only lacks 12 miles of construction in order 
 to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific coast from Port Limon to Puntarenas by way of the capi- 
 tal, San Jose. It traverses one of the richest tropical and subtropical portions of the Republic, 
 noted for the luxuriance of its vegetation and the beauty of its scenery. Some of the railways of 
 Costa Rica are under direct governmental^control, and all of them penetrate exceedingly produc- 
 tive agricultural regions, capable of supplying an immense tonnage of natural and cultivated 
 products. 
 
 the nations of the Western Hemisphere, will be glad to answer any 
 inquiries from the readers of the " Review of Reviews " about the 
 resources, possibilities, and general development of the Central Amer- 
 ican republics which may be suggested by this brief description, while 
 the able ministers in Washington and consuls-general in New York 
 City of these countries are always ready to consider legitimate and 
 serious questions from those who may be interested. 
 
1 
 
 
 
 
 There is no field for the study of the American manufacturer more 
 important than that of Latin America. At this very moment con- 
 ditions demand the attention of all American business men who are 
 interested in the expansion of the foreign commerce of the United 
 States. The whole world is suddenly awakening to the vastness and 
 variety of the resources and possibilities of the 20 republics which 
 reach from Mexico and Cuba on the north to Argetina and Chile 
 on the south, a section of the Western Hemisphere which includes 
 every kind of climate, product, and people. 
 
 Commercial countries of Europe, like England, Germany, France, 
 Spain, Italy, and Austria, are devoting far more attention to South 
 America than is the United States. Further than this, Japan, far 
 away across the Pacific, is exerting herself to get into close touch 
 with the west coast of South America. That statement may seem 
 surprising, but proof of it is found in the projection of a steamship 
 line which is to run from Japan to Chile, and by the arrangement 
 of postal money-order exchange between the two countries, effective 
 from January 1, 1908. The United States has done absolutely noth- 
 ing toward improving its shipping relations with any portion of 
 South America. The European countries already mentioned are 
 favored in the development of their trade by numerous first-class 
 mail, express, and passenger cteamers which connect their- leading 
 ports with those of South America and even with Mexico and Cen- 
 tral America, within the very limits of our own front yard, as it 
 were. What a sad and depressing acknowledgment it is for us enter- 
 prising North Americans that there is not one single fast-mail steamer 
 flying the American flag and running between the chief ports of the 
 United States and those of South America proper. I am not mak- 
 ing any argument for subsidy, but simply stating a fact. 
 
 SURPRISING FACTS AND FIGURES OF TRADE. 
 
 Before we go any further let us consider carefully some remark- 
 able and convincing figures which show beyond any question or 
 
 Reprinted from The World To-day, Chicago, April, 1908. 
 
 67 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 69 
 
 doubt the value of the Latin American commercial opportunity. The 
 average manufacturer, merchant, and farmer of the United States 
 has been so occupied, on the one hand, with home trade conditions or, 
 on the other, with the possibilities of commercial expansion in Eu- 
 rope and Asia that he has almost overlooked the prosperous, pro- 
 gressive, and wealthy countries in our neighborhood to the south of 
 us. He has not comprehended the essential truth that on the West- 
 ern Hemisphere, aside from the United States, there are other great 
 nations which have remarkable resources and which are making 
 unusual progress. He has assumed too readily that the United 
 
 PRINCIPAL PLAZA, BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 Plaza Bolivar is the principal square of the capital of Colombia. In the center of a garden of flowers, 
 shrubs, and trees is a handsome statue of Gen. Simon Bolivar, the liberator of five South American 
 Republics. The capital, municipal building, and cathedral are built around this square. 
 
 States was the " whole thing," and that what was not going on in 
 this country was hardly worthy of respect. Now he must rub his 
 eyes and wake to see Latin America forge ahead, appreciated by 
 the rest of the world while the average North American has been 
 asleep. 
 
 He who has not familiarized himself with Latin America does not 
 stop to think that it conducted one-third of the total foreign com- 
 merce of the 21 republics of the Western Hemisphere, including the 
 United States, during the year of 1906. It is hard for him to believe 
 
70 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 that these lands to the south of us bought from and sold to the rest 
 of the world products valued at $2,000,000,000 and that, of this, there 
 was a balance of trade in favor of Latin America amounting to ap- 
 proximately $228,000,000. 
 
 For comprehensive and reliable discussion I have taken the average 
 foreign trade of Latin America, covering Mexico, Central and South 
 America, and the West Indies, for the last two or three years, and 
 have drawn the following conclusions : 
 
 LATIN AMERICAN EXPORTS AND IMPORTS ANALYZED. 
 
 The total exports and imports of Latin America amount annually 
 to $2,052,355,000; of this great sum, Latin America exports $1,140,- 
 260,000 and imports $912,095,000, giving, as indicated above, a re- 
 markable balance of trade in its favor. 
 
 Noting next what is the average share of the United States in this 
 total with all Latin America, we find it to be $519,202,700, Avhich, 
 subdivided, gives exports to the United States as $296,932,200 and 
 imports from the United States $222,270,500, or a balance of trade 
 in favor of Latin America and against the United States of approxi- 
 mately $74,000,000. 
 
 It is interesting to notice the character and the amount of exports 
 and imports between the United States and Latin America that run 
 above the million mark. 
 
 The United States exported to Latin America during the year 1907 : 
 
 Agricultural implements, about __. .__ $5,000,000 
 
 Locomotives and cars, about 11,000,000 
 
 Electric and scientific instruments 4, 500, 000 
 
 Steel rails 4,000,000 
 
 Steel wire I 4, 500, 000 
 
 Steel tools 4, 000, 000 
 
 Sewing machines 2,500,000 
 
 Pipes and fittings 3,500,000 
 
 Copper (ore and bars)__ 1,500,000 
 
 Wheat ___ 2,000,000 
 
 Wheat flour ___ 13,500,000 
 
 Cotton, cloth, wearing apparel, etc 7, 250, 000 
 
 Twine (manufactured fiber) .__ 2,000,000 
 
 Leather, with boots and shoes 3,000,000 
 
 Lard .__ 7,000,000 
 
 Oil: 
 
 Crude, illuminating, lubricating 10,750,000 
 
 Vegetable and paraffin 3, 750, 000 
 
 Timber 2,500,000 
 
 Lumber ___ 15, 500, 000 
 
 Furniture 3, 000, 000 
 
72 : LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 Ett&s imported from Latin America during 1907, of 
 
 Cocoa (cacao) ------------------------------------------------- $7,000,000 
 
 Coffee ---------------------------------------------------------- 70, 000, 000 
 
 Copper _ 20,000,000 
 
 Bananas and fruits ______ _ 12, 000, 000 
 
 Furs and hides ----------------------------- __________________ 15,000,000 
 
 Rubber --------------------------------- 33,000,000 
 
 Iron_. ------------------------------------ 2,500,000 
 
 Lead ________________________ 3,000,000 
 
 Sugar__ _____________________ 70,000,000 
 
 Tobacco and cigars__ ________ 16, 000, 000 
 
 Woods.. ---------------------- 11,500,000 
 
 Wool__ ------------- ______ 6,000,000 
 
 Other articles, such as typewriters and various grades of manufac- 
 tured goods, show high figures, but they do not touch the million 
 mark. 
 
 These figures for all Latin America are more encouraging than for 
 the subdivision of South America proper, which comprises the ten 
 Republics of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, 
 Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the British, Dutch, and 
 French Guianas. Let us see what there is here unsatisfactory to the 
 United States. 
 
 South America proper conducted an average foreign trade amount- 
 ing to $1,513,415,000, of which the share of the United States in 1907 
 was only $233,293,300, including both exports and imports barely 
 one-seventh. Analyzing further these figures for the United States, 
 we discover that South America sold to us products to the value of 
 $147,680,000 and bought from us only $85,612,400. This gives a 
 balance against us of practically $60,000,000. 
 
 Another comparison shows how far behind we are in the race with 
 the rest of the world. South America purchased from other nations 
 products valued at $660,930,000, of which the United States furnished 
 $85,612,400, or barely one-eighth, and yet the more we study the South 
 American field the more we appreciate that the United States could 
 supply the greater portion of its imports. Correspondingly, we do 
 not give South America as great a market for her products as we 
 ought, for, of her total exports, amounting to $852,485,000, the United 
 States purchased only $147,680,900, or approximately one-sixth. 
 
 ENCOURAGING FEATURES OF THE SITUATION. 
 
 Having given these figures, some of which are averages, covering a 
 period of years, I now desire to point out, through additional figures, 
 another feature of the situation which is most encouraging, and 
 which should inspire our manufacturers and exporters to take ad- 
 vantage of the Latin-American commercial opportunity. With the 
 
LATIN AMERICA. >/>/// 73 
 
 aid of the Bureau of Statistics of the Deartment ^ 
 Labor, the International Bureau of the American Republics' "fras 
 worked out the following totals showing the growth of the trade of 
 the United States with her sister republics: 
 
 The entire commerce, exports and imports, between the United 
 States and the countries to the south of her amounted in 1897, ten 
 years ago, to $252,427,798. Three years later, in 1900, this had grown 
 to $324,680,368. Five years more, in 1905, it had expanded to 
 $517,477,368; while two years later, 1907, we are gratified to note 
 that it has reached the splendid total of $587,194,945. It is thus seen 
 that in ten years our trade with Latin America has increased by the 
 vast sum of $335,000,000, or has more than doubled. Certainly this 
 is a record of which our country can be proud, and yet it is only a 
 beginning of possibilities. 
 
 Inasmuch as the total foreign commerce of Latin America for 1907 
 was over $2,000,000,000, it can be seen that the United States is far 
 from having her share. The great point is that if the United States, 
 under present conditions and with the present lack of interest, can 
 conduct a trade with Latin America of nearly $600,000,000 per 
 annum, it is sure to do a business of $1,000,000,000 in the near future, 
 after our manufacturing and agricultural interests fully realize the 
 value of the opportunity and put forth their best energies to con- 
 trol it. 
 
 THE GREATNESS OF THE LATIN-AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY. 
 
 Having taken up these measurements of commerce and trade, it is 
 logical that we should consider some descriptive facts which shall 
 prove to everybody the greatness and importance of the Latin- Ameri- 
 can countries. There is not space in a brief article like this to 
 describe carefully what has been done by Mexico, Central America, 
 Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, which border on the Gulf 
 of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and therefore particular attention 
 will be given only to South America proper. In passing, however, 
 we should bear in mind that over $800,000,000 of American capital 
 has been invested in Mexico, and that last year that country con- 
 ducted a trade with the United States valued at over $125,000,000, of 
 which over $67,000,000 represented imports from the United States. 
 
 Central America, comprising Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, 
 Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, is entering upon a new era of prosperity 
 and progress as a result of the treaties and conventions signed at the 
 Central American Peace Conference recently held in Washington. 
 If these international agreements are approved by all these coun- 
 tries, there is no reason why they should not have a growth and devel- 
 opment like that of Mexico, because they possess a remarkable vari- 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 75 
 
 ety of resources and a favorable climate in most sections. In 1906 
 Central America conducted a foreign trade valued at almost $56,000,- 
 000, of which the imports from the United States amounted to nearly 
 $12,000,000. 
 
 The republics and islands of the West Indies are forging ahead, and 
 last year boasted of a foreign trade amounting to $240,000,000, of 
 which $153,000,000 were imports by these islands from the United 
 States. 
 
 MACKENZIE COL'LEGE, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL. 
 
 An undenominational educational institution founded in 1889 by John T. Mackenzie, of New- 
 York, who gave $42,000 t9\vard the erection of the building. It has graded and normal depart- 
 ments and a self-supporting manual training school. 
 
 Coming, then, to South America proper and noting some salient 
 facts, we are impressed first with Colombia, the nearest to the United 
 States of the South American republics, having an area as large as 
 Germany and France put together, and entering upon an era of rapid 
 progress as the result of the enlightened administration of General 
 Rafael Eeyes. Having traveled extensively over the interior of 
 Colombia, I can vouch for its richness. As soon as it is opened up 
 by railroads and by improved navigation of its rivers, it should have 
 a development not unlike that of Mexico. 
 
76 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 Venezuela greatly resembles Colombia, with an unusual mingling 
 of rich plateaus and river valleys which offer an inviting field of 
 legitimate exploitation. The mighty valley of the Orinoco alone is 
 a section in which millions and millions of capital may be safely 
 invested. 
 
 The British, Dutch, and French Guianas have only been barely 
 touched by the hand of capital, and yet they will soon experience a 
 Drogress surpassing any past development. 
 
 Brazil is indeed an interesting subject to discuss. It is so large, so 
 resourceful, and so vast in potentialities that it is difficult to confine 
 oneself to conservative language. When we remember that the entire 
 connected area of the United States could be placed inside the limits 
 of Brazil and that there would still be room for the German Empire ; 
 that out of the Amazon River flows every day three times as much 
 water as from the Mississippi; that Rio de Janeiro, its capital, is 
 already a city of 900,000 inhabitants and growing with rapidity ; that 
 the government and people of Brazil gave our battle-ship fleet a more 
 magnificent welcome than was ever given to a visiting fleet from a 
 foreign nation in the history of the world, then we shall have before 
 us some facts that show how worthy of our special attention is this 
 great Republic of South America. 
 
 All over Brazil there is evidence of the new era of material prog- 
 ress. Railroads are being built into the interior, rivers and harbors 
 are being improved, the cities are being modernized, the school sys- 
 tems are being elaborated, and the native richness of the soil and 
 forests is being exploited, with the result that a large amount of 
 European and American capital is being invested there with absolute 
 surety of good returns. In no country of South America has the 
 manufacturer and exporter a better chance to build up his trade than 
 in Brazil. To-day the balance of commerce exchanged is greatly 
 against us. Brazil buys from the United States only about one-fifth 
 in value of what she sells there. This country is Brazil's chief mar- 
 ket for coffee, but our merchants have made so little effort to supply 
 what Brazil demands from foreign countries that Europe practically 
 controls the import situation. 
 
 Uruguay, just below Brazil, and Paraguay, between Brazil and 
 Argentina, are small in area, but rich in agricultural possibilities. 
 The city of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, has a population of 
 300,000 and is an important port at the mouth of the Rio Plata. 
 The peoples of both countries are enterprising and progressive, 
 and believe that their nations will see remarkable progress during 
 the next decade. Montevideo is spending $10,000.000 in the im- 
 
78 LATIN AMEKICA. 
 
 provement of its harbor facilities, while Asuncion, the capital of 
 Paraguay, is looking forward to the improvement of the River 
 Parana and to the extension of the railroad system, so that it will be 
 in communication on the one hand with Argentina and Uruguay 
 and on the other with Brazil. 
 
 In this connection it must be remembered that southern Brazil, 
 Uruguay, Paraguay, all of Argentina and Chile are practically in 
 the south temperate zone, and possess climatic conditions not unlike 
 those of the United States far north of the equator. Such a location 
 means much for their future development as the homes of ambitious 
 peoples. 
 
 ARGENTINA A WONDERLAND OF MATERIAL PROGRESS. 
 
 Argentina is a country of peculiar interest. It has gone ahead with 
 such rapidity during the last ten years that it is difficult to predict 
 what another decade will show. It has such a large area suitable for 
 the growth of products which are needed in Europe that it is always 
 sure to have an enormous foreign trade. With a present population 
 of nearly 6,000,000 people it conducted in 1907 a foreign commerce 
 valued at nearly $600,000,000, a total greater than that of Japan or 
 of China. This gives an average of nearly $100 a head, which is 
 larger than that of any other important country in the w T orld. 
 
 Argentina is gridironed with a system of railroads which enables 
 one to cross the continent from Buenos Aires to Santiago in less than 
 forty-eight hours, including a short trip by coach over the top of the 
 Andes, and to go in a Pullman train from the borders of Bolivia on 
 the north into the heart of Patagonia on the south. 
 
 Buenos Aires, its capital, is one of the wonderful cities of the 
 world. It has a population now of nearly 1,200,000, and is grow- 
 ing more rapidly than any city in the United States with the excep- 
 tion of New York and Chicago. It has a finer system of docks and 
 wharves, a more costly and beautiful opera house, a larger club, and a 
 more extensive newspaper plant than any city of our own progressive 
 land. It has plans to build an intricate system of underground rail- 
 ways, and it is made beautiful by numerous boulevards, parks, and 
 squares. The commerce of all Argentina centers in Buenos Aires, 
 and it is not an uncommon thing to see scores and scores of merchant 
 vessels, flying the flag of every important country except the United 
 States, loading and unloading along its water front. The people are 
 decidedly progressive and represent a new race, inasmuch as they are 
 a combination of Spanish and Italian, with a sprinkling of English 
 and German blood, and they are developing a class of men and women 
 who insure the future strength and quality of the country. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 79 
 
 CHILE AND THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA. 
 
 The size and importance of Chile can be best appreciated by remem- 
 bering, first, that it runs up and down the west coast of South 
 America in the Temperate Zone just as our own west coast borders on 
 the Pacific Ocean, and, second, that if the southern end of Chile were 
 placed at San Diego, the southern end of California, the northern 
 line of Chile would be located in the middle of Alaska. In other 
 words, it extends north 2,600 miles from the Straits of Magellan to 
 the Peruvian border, while its average width is that of California, 
 
 A SECTION OF THE HISTORIC WALL OF CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA. 
 
 Erected by Spain at a cost of $56,000,000, for protection against pirates. Cartagena was the port 
 whence Peruvian gold was shipped to Europe, and is now one of the leading ports of Colombia. 
 
 with a corresponding variety of climate and products. Its capital 
 city, Santiago, has a population of 400,000, and is classed as one of 
 the most attractive cities of the southern continent. At its principal 
 port, Valparaiso, the Chilean Government is preparing to spend 
 $10,000,000 for harbor and dockage facilities, thus making it the most 
 complete port on the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 Although Chile is well provided with railroads, the Government 
 is now at work on a scheme for a longitudinal road to run the entire 
 length of the country, and to connect the capital with every section. 
 
LATIN AMEEICA. 81 
 
 The enormous wealth of the nitrate fields of Chile brings to the 
 country a vast revenue which makes it almost independent of other 
 sources for the maintenance of the Government. Chile is anxious 
 for the completion of the Panama Canal, so that it can get into 
 closer touch with the United States. When that waterway is com- 
 pleted, it should be possible to go from New York to Valparaiso 
 in less than fifteen days, while now it takes on an average of thirty 
 days. The foreign commerce of Chile last year amounted to 
 $180,000,000. 
 
 BOLIVIA, PERU, AND ECUADOR. 
 
 Although Bolivia has no seacoast, it covers an immense territory, 
 in w r hich could be placed the State of Texas twice over and still leave 
 room for Arkansas and Kansas. A large portion of it is located at a 
 high altitude, so that it has favorable climatic conditions. It 
 possesses a remarkable variety of mineral and agricultural riches, 
 and is entering now upon a period of real progress. An American 
 syndicate is building a system of railroads upon which will be 
 expended fully $100,000,000. Its interesting capital, La Paz, can 
 be reached by a combination journey of rail and water up frrn the 
 Pacific Ocean and across Lake Titicaca, the most elevated navigable 
 body of water in the world. The value of the foreign trade of 
 Bolivia is approximately $35,000,000, but it is growing with rapidity 
 and bids fair to double itself in the near future. 
 
 North of Bolivia extends Peru over an area in which could be 
 placed all of the Atlantic Coast States from Maine to Georgia. It 
 has a mingling of low country along the Pacific, and again in the 
 upper valleys of the Amazon, so that, with the great plateaus and 
 mountainous districts of the Andes, Peru possesses a wide variety of 
 climate, products, and resources. Many millions of American capital 
 have already been invested there in the development of its mines. 
 
 Lima, the capital city of Peru, is one of the oldest and most aristo- 
 cratic capitals of Latin America. Here was established a university 
 one hundred years before Harvard was founded. Here was the seat 
 of one of the Spanish vice-royalties in the days of the old regime. 
 To-day it is a prosperous, busy, and well-built metropolis. The port 
 of Lima is Callao, only a few miles away, where the American fleet 
 under Admiral Evans made its fourth stop in its journey around 
 South America. It has an excellent harbor, and through it passes 
 the greater part of the foreign trade of Peru, amounting to 
 $49,150,000. 
 
 Ecuador, in which the State of Illinois could be placed many 
 times, is rejoicing now in the prospect of the advantages of the rail- 
 road which connects its principal port, Guayaquil, on the coast, with 
 
 88812- 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 83 
 
 the famous old capital of the Republic, Quito, a city of about 80,000 
 people, located at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, upon the 
 plateaus of the Andes. When the branches of this road are com- 
 pleted the interior of Ecuador will experience a development that 
 will add much to the wealth of the country. 
 
 In 1909 Ecuador will hold an exposition to celebrate the one hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain, 
 and it is expected that there will be a great display of the natural 
 resources and products of the country, which will be sure to attract 
 universal attention and prove the value of this region as a field for the 
 investment of foreign capital. The United States has been invited 
 to participate, and President Roosevelt has recommended to Con- 
 gress that an appropriation be voted for a building and exhibit. 
 
 A VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA RECOMMENDED. 
 
 While what I have written about these countries may awaken 
 interest among those who have paid no attention to South America, 
 I am prompted to advise strongly that every person who has the 
 time and money should make a visit to the principal countries and 
 cities of South America and see with his own eyes the possibilities 
 of that part of the world. The average American business man when 
 he wants a vacation goes to Europe ; some few go to the Far East, but 
 practically no one proceeds to South America. If the conditions 
 could be changed, and travel to the southern continent popularized, 
 the beneficial effects upon the development of our commerce would 
 soon be evident. 
 
 This prepares the way for pointing out the vital importance of 
 improving our shipping facilities with South America. In contrast 
 to the possibility of reaching the chief cities of Brazil, Argentina, 
 Chile, and other countries by fast and commodious steamers running 
 from Europe in considerable numbers, is the fact that there is not 
 one first-class mail, express, and passenger steamer flying the Ameri- 
 can flag and running between any one of the ports of the United 
 States and those of South America below the equator. It is most 
 depressing for a citizen of the United States to make the grand tour 
 of these southern cities and see nowhere the Stars and Stripes unless 
 it be floating from an occasional man-of-war or pleasure yacht. Per- 
 haps he may run across a sailing vessel with the United States flag, 
 but even these are few in number compared to what they were in the 
 olden days. 
 
 I give here suggestions about travel to Latin America, because I 
 wish to show to business men, investigators, and others how such a 
 trip can be made. 
 
 To reach Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay direct, comfortable but 
 not fast steamers may be taken from New York, the journey to Rio 
 

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 U 
 
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 I Is 
 
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 e oj 
 
 SIS 
 
 I 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 85 
 
 consuming eighteen days, and to Montevideo and Buenos Aires, on 
 the through steamers, four to seven days longer. For Asuncion, the 
 capital of Paraguay, there are numerous first-class steamers up the 
 river Parana from Buenos Aires. A more popular and fashionable 
 route is to go first to Europe, where, at Southampton and Havre, 
 English, French, and German steamers of the most modern and luxu- 
 rious type provide accommodation for passengers to Rio in sixteen 
 days and to Montevideo and Buenos Aires in four to six days more. 
 
 To reach Venezuela there are two lines of steamers from New 
 York, the journey to La Guaira taking six to seven days direct, or 
 twelve days indirect service. 
 
 The Caribbean ports of Colombia, Cartagena, and Baranquilla are 
 visited by steamers from New York, which stop also at Colon on the 
 Isthmus of Panama and at Kingston in Jamaica. 
 
 All Pacific ports are reached from Panama after crossing the 
 Isthmus from Colon, or by taking a steamer from San Francisco 
 which touches all intermediate points between San Francisco and 
 
 Panama. Panama is the northern terminus of the steamers touchino 
 
 & 
 
 the Pacific ports of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. 
 
 Steamers can be taken in New York to reach Costa Rica, Nicaragua, 
 and, since the opening of the railway from Puerto Barrios, even 
 Guatemala. For Salvador, Honduras, and the west coast of Guate- 
 mala and Nicaragua, the steamers from San Francisco or Panama 
 are the more available. 
 
 NEED OF FIRST-CLASS STEAMSHIP FACILITIES. 
 
 The commerce of the United States with South America proper 
 has already been shown to be only $233,000,000 out of the total 
 foreign trade of these countries amounting to $1,500,000,000. That 
 this condition is coincident w r ith the lack of first-class steamship 
 facilities is at least a justifiable conclusion, if it is not entire 'proof 
 that one is responsible for the other. Despite the fact that there are 
 a large number of freight vessels, all of them flying foreign flags, 
 running between the chief ports of the United States and those of 
 South America, it is just as necessary for us to have fast mail, express, 
 and passenger steamers on the high seas to conduct commerce, to 
 carry letters, and to take care of passenger traffic and express freight 
 requiring early delivery, as it is to have the corresponding kind of 
 railroad trains upon land. 
 
 Can anyone imagine Chicago holding its present position if it 
 were reached only by freight trains? The fast mail, express, and 
 passenger railroad service is an absolute, if not the principal, essential 
 to the development of the exchange of trade. It is folly, therefore, 
 to expect that the United States can ever hold an important position 
 in the commerce of South America unless the facilities for going 
 back and forth and for mail communication are improved. 
 
86 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 There could be no better evidence of the unfortunate state of af- 
 fairs than the fact that more business men from the progressive 
 Republic of Argentina left Buenos Aires in one week, aboard the 
 fast and elegant European steamers, either to visit Europe on busi- 
 ness or to enjoy travel, than proceeded to the United States in a 
 whole year on the slow-going vessels that connect Buenos Aires with 
 New York. The records of Rio de Janeiro, the great capital of 
 Brazil, show that the European boats in one week carried away more 
 Brazilians to Europe than all the vessels running to the United 
 States in a whole year. 
 
 The solution of this problem is not in a so-called " subsidy," which 
 is an unfortunate term and often misleading. The whole question 
 boils itself down into the necessity of paying a good wage for work 
 
 GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN SUCRE, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES OF BOLIVIA. 
 
 well done. That is, the United States Government must be ready 
 to pay steamship companies flying the American flag such a reason- 
 able sum for carrying the mails on vessels of, say, IT knots speed 
 and first-class passenger accommodations, that they can deliver mails 
 and passengers in competition with the vessels of Europe, and so 
 provide the same kind of facilities on sea that we get from the mail 
 trains on land throughout the United States, and to which the 
 United States Government pays a regular sum for the quality of 
 service rendered. 
 
 THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. 
 
 In conclusion, advantage is taken of this opportunity to call the 
 attention of business men who read this article to the International 
 
88 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 Bureau of the American Kepublics. This institution was founded 
 eighteen years ago at the first Pan-American Conference for the 
 purpose of disseminating information throughout the different 
 American Republics concerning mutual progress and development. 
 As a result of the third Pan-American Conference held at Rio de 
 Janeiro and through the efforts of Secretary Root, who has done 
 more than any other man in the history of American diplomacy 
 to advance the prestige and influence of the United States in Latin 
 America, it has been reorganized and enlarged so that it may become 
 
 HIDE AND WOOL SECTION OF CENTRAL PRODUCE MARKET, BUENOS AIRES. 
 
 The Central Produce Market of Buenos Aires is the largest wool and hide market in the world. The 
 building is an iron structure four stories high, covering an area of 182,000 square feet, and was 
 erected at a cost of about $4,100,000. There is a complete installation of cranes, elevators, and appa- 
 ratus for loading and unloading the principal export products of Argentine Republic. Immense 
 quantities of wool, hides, and cereals are annually shipped from this market to the large commer- 
 cial ports of the world. 
 
 a world-recognized and practical agency for the development of 
 Pan-American commerce and comity. It is intended to be not only 
 a bureau of information, supplying all varieties of data regarding 
 different American countries to manufacturers, educators, travelers, 
 students, etc., but the means through which all the resolutions of the 
 different Pan-American conferences shall be put into force. 
 
 Everything possible is done by the Bureau to bring about better 
 relations and more intimate acquaintance and intercourse among 
 all the nations of the Western Hemisphere. It publishes a monthly 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 89 
 
 bulletin which is a careful record of the commercial and business 
 conditions of all the republics, and distributes a large number of 
 publications descriptive of the American republics, their conditions, 
 resources, and potentialities. Connected with it is the Columbus 
 Memorial Library, which is the largest single collection in the 
 United States of books relating to the history, progress, and present 
 status of all the countries under discussion. 
 
 Through the beneficence of Mr. Andrew Carnegie and the contri- 
 butions of the different governments, the International Bureau is 
 shortly to be housed in a magnificent new building which will cost 
 approximately $750.000, and provide in Washington a temple of 
 friendship and commerce which will be, in a sense*, a meeting place 
 for all the American republics. 
 
 The Bureau is supported by the joint contributions of the 21 
 American republics, and its affairs are controlled by a governing 
 board composed of the diplomatic representatives in Washington 
 of 20 republics, with the Secretary of State of the United States as 
 chairman ex-officio. Its chief executive officer is the director, who 
 is chosen by this governing board. He, in turn, is assisted by the 
 secretary of the Bureau and other officials and experts. 
 
 In the event that anyone desires information, he may address the 
 Director, Pan-American Bureau (as it is commonly described), 2 
 Jackson Place, Washington, D, C. It will be a special pleasure to 
 consider carefully any inquiries regarding Latin America which 
 may come from the large and representative constituency of The 
 World To-Day. 
 
CALLE DE ESTADO, SANTIAGO, CHILE. 
 
 Calle de Estado is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Santiago, running from the "Alameda de 
 las Delicias" to the principal square, the "Plaza de Armas." It is lined with numerous retail 
 stores, in which can be found all the luxuries of American or European cities. 
 
HOW THE BUSINESS MAN CAN USE THE SERVICE 
 GIVEN FREE BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU 
 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, TO BECOME FA- 
 MILIAR WITH CONDITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA, 
 TO LEARN THEIR SPECIFIC DEMANDS, AND 
 TO AID IN SECURING PROFITABLE BUSINESS. 
 
 Every business man, every professional man, every man interested 
 in our foreign relations, should become acquainted with the Inter- 
 national Bureau of the American Republics. Its great practical value 
 to the business man, its possibilities for good in the development of 
 both commerce and comity among the American nations, the vast 
 field it represents these facts bring a realization of its importance. 
 
 To understand what the International Bureau can do for business, 
 it is essential to know its history. 
 
 Although it has led a dignified and honorable existence for eight- 
 een years, and has had excellent and able men at its head, there has 
 never been until now any popular interest in our sister American 
 nations. It required the statesmanship of an Elihu Root and an 
 unprecedented journey on his part all around the South American 
 continent to make the people of the United States realize the vast 
 importance of our relations with the nations to the south of us. 
 
 The International Bureau w r as organized as a result of the first 
 Pan-American Conference held at Washington in 1889-90. The 
 delegates from Latin America found such ignorance here of the 
 peoples, institutions, and resources of their countries, and, on the 
 other hand, such ignorance on their part of the real characteristics 
 of the United States, that the conference authorized the opening of 
 what might be called an International Bureau of Information. Sub- 
 sequent conferences enlarged its functions until now it bids fair to 
 become one of the most important international institutions of the 
 world. The early directors exerted their best efforts for the welfare 
 of the Bureau, but they labored under the handicap of lack of general 
 interest. Now a new era is dawning and the present director, no 
 more capable than his predecessors, finds a far more sympathetic 
 constituency to aid his programme of reorganization and upbuilding. 
 
 THE PECULIAR ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU. 
 
 The International Bureau of the American Republics is indeed 
 unique. It is the only office of its kind in the world. It is the head- 
 
 Reprinted from " System," Chicago, March, 1908. 
 
 91 
 
92 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 quarters in the capital of one American nation of 21 American Re- 
 publics. Its director is the only international officer of America 
 chosen by the vote of all the American governments. 
 
 MERCADO DE FILAR, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 
 
 One of the numerous markets of the city of Buenos Aires. The stalls and stands are required to be 
 kept scrupulously clean, and strict hygienic regulations must be observed in the sale of fruits, 
 vegetables, meats, and other similar products. 
 
 The Bureau is not in any sense subordinate to a department of the 
 United States, as are all the other bureaus of Washington. It is 
 strictly independent, and its chief officer is responsible to the 21 
 representatives of the American governments who constitute its 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 93 
 
 governing board and guide its policies. This board lias as its chair- 
 man the Secretary of State of the United States, inasmuch as the 
 Bureau is located in Washington and its relations with the United 
 States Government are through the Department of State. 
 
 The contributions of all the American republics, based on popula- 
 tion, give it financial support. Although the United States conse- 
 quently pays more 1 than the other 20 combined, the minister of the 
 smallest nation in population has a vote in its governing board equal 
 to that of the Secretary of State of the United States. It is this 
 feature of equal, mutual interest and authority that keeps up the 
 pride of all Latin America in its work and advancement. The 
 diplomat, business man, or traveler from Central America or distant 
 Argentina and Chile, Avho walks into the Bureau or writes to its 
 staff for information, is just as much at home as the corresponding 
 man from the United States. 
 
 Out of the total 12,000,000 square miles occupied by. the American 
 countries, those of Latin America include nearly 9,000,000 against 
 3,000,000 of the United States proper. Brazil alone exceeds the con- 
 nected area of the United States by nearly 200,000 square miles; we 
 could put all of the United States, without Alaska, within Brazil 
 and still have room for the major portion of the German Empire. Of 
 the 155,000,000 people living in the American republics, 70,000,000 
 reside in the Latin-American countries certainly enough to be 
 worthy of our close study and of our sincere friendship. That num- 
 ber of millions can also buy a considerable quantity of products of 
 other countries as further figures will demonstrate. 
 
 The total foreign commerce, exports and imports, of the 21 Amer- 
 can republics, including the United States, last year exceeded 
 $5,000,000,000. Of this huge total, Latin America too often despised 
 by our business men bought and sold products valued at the vast 
 sum of over $2,000,000,000, or more than one-third. That we are 
 getting a share of this, which proves its value, is admitted when it is 
 shown that our portion of these $2,000,000,000 was $600,000,000 for 
 the past year. 
 
 This immediately suggests the question to the manufacturer and 
 exporting or importing reader of this article : "Am I getting my part 
 of this ? " . If the answer is " No," then he should write to the Inter- 
 national Bureau of the American Republics and find out why not 
 and how he may. 
 
 THE PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU. 
 
 The source of this information will be the working staff of the 
 Bureau, which is composed of about 25 persons. These are divided 
 into administrative, editorial, translating, statistical, compiling, and 
 
as 
 
 * a 
 
 x ~ 
 
 8 5 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 95 
 
 service sections. All incoming correspondence is supposed to be ad- 
 dressed " The Director, Pan-American Bureau, 2 Jackson Place, 
 Washington, D. C.," but, whatever way it may be directed, it is given 
 immediate attention and sent to whatever section is to prepare the 
 answer. 
 
 All outgoing letters are signed by either the director or by the sec- 
 retary of the Bureau, the chief clerk, or the librarian, as the case 
 requires. Careful files are kept of correspondence, and it is the rule 
 of the Bureau to answer all inquiries with the least possible delay. 
 The officer, after the director, having general supervision of the work 
 of the Bureau is its secretary, Dr. Francisco J. Yanes, an accom- 
 
 A PORTION OF THE NEW DOCKS AT BUENOS AIRES. 
 
 plished Latin- American scholar and authority on the material and 
 economic conditions of the American republics. 
 
 So far as the business man is concerned, the Bureau stands ready 
 to aid him by giving facts and advice regarding any subject of Ameri- 
 can commerce. 
 
 To supply every kind of information within its scope, the Inter- 
 national Bureau depends first on its library, known as the Columbus 
 Memorial Library, of over 15,000 volumes covering every American 
 nation and containing the best individual collection of Americana in 
 the United States; second, on the official reports of all American gov- 
 ernments, which are sent to it in accordance with the resolution of the 
 Pan-American Conference ; third, on the official gazette and private 
 
JOHN BARRETT, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU AND FORMER MINISTER TO 
 SIAM, THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, PANAMA, AND COLOMBIA. 
 
LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 97 
 
 newspapers, trade journals, and similar publications of the different 
 capitals ; fourth, on reports of American consular officers in the form 
 of duplicate copies of the originals sent to the Department of State ; 
 fifth, on handbooks and pamphlets carefully prepared from time to 
 time, describing the resources, progress, conditions, and development 
 of the different countries; and sixth, on maps and geographic data, 
 as prepared by official and private agencies and persons. 
 
 "INFERNILLO" BRIDGE, OROYA RAILROAD, PERU. 
 
 This bridge is at an altitude of 10,924 feet above the sea level, and received its name from the gorge 
 which it crosses at a height of 165 feet above the foaming waters of the Rimac River. The span ia 
 160 feet in length. 
 
 All this material is thoroughly classified and can be consulted with- 
 out delay. The library is open to responsible people from 9.30 a. m. 
 until 4 p. m. every day, and books are loaned for brief periods to 
 those who are properly accredited. If a business man, student, or 
 traveler addresses any inquiry to the Bureau, the qualified members of 
 its staff compile from the data just described the necessary reply; 
 if he calls in person, he is immediately placed in touch with the mem- 
 8881209 7 
 
98 
 
 LATIN AMERICA. 
 
 ber of the staff who can best assist him, and provided with any books, 
 pamphlets, reports, maps, or other matter he should consult. 
 
 THE PRACTICAL RESULTS ATTAINED BY THE BUREAU. 
 
 One or two illustrations will serve to show the business man how 
 the machinery of the bureau works in his interest. A manufacturer 
 of automobiles writes or calls and says that he knows nothing con- 
 cerning the Latin-American market, but that he is contemplating 
 
 entering it and wants to ascertain all about it. 
 
 LOADING COFFEE AT SANTOri, BRAZIL, THE CHIEF COFFEE EX POUTING PORT OF THE 
 
 REPUBLIC. 
 
 Brazil's exports of coffee in 1907 amounted to $142,000,000, of which over $100,000,000 were shipped from 
 
 Santos. 
 
 The director or secretary acknowledges his letter at once, giving 
 some comprehensive ideas and forwarding pamphlets describing gen- 
 eral conditions in Latin America so far that the manufacturer may 
 gain preliminary information on the field he is studying. 
 
 Then one of the statistical or trade experts of the Bureau compiles 
 a memorandum showing present imports of automobiles to Latin 
 America, country of origin, conditions of demand and competition, 
 character of roads and streets, freight charges, shipping facilities, 
 tariff or customs rates, methods of payment, climatic effects on mate- 
 rial, and any other practical data that would be useful and helpful. 
 
AMERICA. 
 
 99 
 
 A traveler who has never visited'South'Aiaerica wants information. 
 He is immediately provided with handbooks followed by a memonm- 
 
 POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 
 
 This handsome building is the central station of the 32 police precincts into which the city of Buenos 
 Aires is divided. The police force, consisting of about 4,000 officers and men, is supplemented by a 
 mounted squadron of 100 gendarmes. The police department is well organized, and is noted for the 
 
 quickness and effectiveness of its service. 
 
 dum describing steamship and railway lines, cost of transportation, 
 hotels, principal points of interest, kind of money used, clothing 
 
100 LATIN : AMERICA. 
 
 required for clim%ite, : "aiid tilne^ heedefd ^ior different journeys. The 
 university professor, student, lecturer, or writer seeks the best mate- 
 rial for acquiring information on Latin America. He is given a 
 practical list of books and magazines to read and maps to secure, with 
 names of publishers and authors. 
 
 And so I might go on and on giving examples of the constant and 
 increasing evidences of the good work the Bureau is doing, not only 
 along material, commercial, and economic lines, but in educational, 
 social, and intellectual directions. Perhaps it suffices to add here 
 that the correspondence of the Bureau has quadrupled during the last 
 eight months and the demands for its printed matter has grown in 
 proportion. It now averages nearly 3,000 letters of legitimate inquiry 
 from all parts of the world, received and answered each month, to- 
 gether with 20,000 bulletins, handbooks, pamphlets, and circulars 
 distributed for the same period. 
 
 MAGAZINES AND VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS ISSUED AS HELPS TO BUSINESS. 
 
 The most important connection between the Bureau and the great 
 commercial interests of Pan- America is its " Monthly Bulletin." This 
 is issued in magazine form at the end of each month and contains the 
 latest official data from all the American republics covering exports 
 and imports, trade conditions, tariff changes, public improvements 
 and enterprises, industrial opportunities, new laws affecting com- 
 merce, immigration, and mining concessions, and other kindred infor- 
 mation. It may be obtained by paying the annual subscription of $2 
 in the American republics or $2.50 in non-American countries. 
 
 Aside from the Monthly Bulletin the bureau has for sale at cost 
 many useful handbooks and pamphlets, together with others which 
 are sent free upon application. There is a printed list of all publica- 
 tions that will be immediately forwarded to those expressing a desire 
 for it. 
 
 In order that this article may be complete, and the scope and im- 
 portance of this institution thoroughly understood, I desire to quote 
 from the resolutions passed at the last Pan-American Conference held 
 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during 1906, and made memorable by the 
 presence of Secretary Root. They read : 
 
 The Third International Pan-American Conference resolves to continue the In- 
 ternational Union of the American Republics created by the first conference 
 and confirmed by the second. 
 
 The purposes of the International Bureau of the American Republics, which 
 represent said union, are the following : 
 
 1. To compile and distribute commercial information and prepare commercial 
 reports. 
 
 2. To compile and classify information respecting the treaties and conventions 
 between the American Republics and between the latter and non-American 
 States. 
 
FRANCISCO J. YANES, SECRETARY OF THE GOVERNING BOARD AND OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
 
 BUREAU. 
 
102 
 
 LATIN AME^IQA. 
 
 3. To supply information* on edubatl6h^! ^natters. 
 
 4. To prepare reports on questions assigned to it by resolutions of the Inter- 
 national American Conferences. 
 
 5. To carry into effect all resolutions the execution of which may have been 
 assigned or may hereafter be assigned to it by the International American Con- 
 ferences. 
 
 G. To act as a permanent committee of the International American Con- 
 ferences, recommending topics to be included in the programme of the next con- 
 ference ; these plans must be communicated to the various governments forming 
 the union at least six months before the meeting of the next conference. 
 
 7. To submit within the same period a report to the various governments on 
 the work of the bureau during the term covered since the meeting of the last 
 conference and also special reports on any matter which may have been 
 referred to it for report. 
 
 But this is not all by any means. In a report on the Bureau 
 recently prepared I say : 
 
 Further resolutions, which placed new responsibilities on the bureau, pro- 
 vided that steps should be taken for housing the institution " in such a way as 
 shall properly permit it to fulfill the important functions assigned to it by this 
 conference;" that a committee should be appointed in each republic to assist 
 the bureau in carrying out its work ; that there should be established, as sub- 
 ordinate to it, a special section for commercial statistics ; that the bureau should 
 elaborate the project for providing better steamship facilities between the prin- 
 cipal ports of the American Republics for the purpose of facilitating trade, 
 travel, commerce, and reneral communication ; that it should investigate the 
 question of the Intercontinental Railway and confer with the different govern- 
 ments with a view to determining as soon as possible what concessions of land, 
 subventions, interest guaranties, exemptions of duty on material for construc- 
 tion and rolling stock, and any other concessions they may deem it advisable 
 to grant in connection therewith ; that it should make a study of the monetary 
 systems of the American Governments for the purpose of submitting to the next 
 conference a report on the systems in force in each of the Governments, the 
 history, fluctuations, and type of exchange which have taken place within the 
 last twenty years, including the preparation of tables showing the influence of 
 said fluctuations on commerce and industrial development; that it should study 
 the laws that regulate public concessions in the various republics of America, 
 with a view to obtaining information that might be useful to it; and that, 
 iinally, it should prepare a programme for the Fourth International Conference, 
 which is to be held within the next five years. 
 
 In conclusion I desire to point out a few brief, salient facts to the 
 business man. 
 
 I. Over 1,000 manufacturers, exporters, and importers of the 
 United States have decided, during the last two years, through the 
 recommendations of the International Bureau of American Repub- 
 lics, to enter the Latin-American field. 
 
 II. Correspondingly a large element of Latin-American business 
 men have commenced transactions with the United States who before 
 knew nothing of the opportunities here. 
 
 III. The number of North Americans visiting Latin America and 
 of Latin Americans visiting North America has been greatly increased 
 by the Bureau. 
 
104 
 
 IV. The study" ti me^Spa-hisli^l&iJgiiage and of Latin-American 
 history, development, and present conditions has been inaugurated in 
 various North-American institutions of learning, which before gave 
 little attention to those subjects, while the number of Latin-American 
 young men coming to attend schools in the United States has been 
 notably augmented. 
 
 V. Chambers of commerce, boards of trade, social and literary clubs 
 and circles, in all parts of the United States, have taken steps, under 
 the initiative and with the cooperation of the Bureau, to familiarize 
 their members with Latin America as they have in the past with 
 Europe and Asia. 
 
 VI. The spirit of international friendship and mutual confidence 
 among all the American republics has been fostered through the closer 
 touch one with another, which the Bureau affords as an institution 
 supported by all and in whose welfare each has an equal interest and 
 responsibility. It must, moreover, not only oversee the acceptance 
 of the resolutions of the last Pan- American Conference, but draw T up 
 the programme for the one which will assemble in 1910. 
 
 VII. As director, or chief administrative officer of the Bureau, I 
 can honestly say that, while it has many shortcomings and the task 
 of building it up has only just begun, it is always ready to give Avhat 
 information and assistance it legitimately can for the promotion of 
 Pan- American trade, accord, and intercourse, and it hopes the readers 
 of Svstem will avail themselves of its facilities. 
 
 o 
 

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