Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: ...canal will be to bring these separated commercial and industrial complements into closer relation. The west coast of South America bears a relation to the manufacturing centres of Europe and the United States similar to that which Montana, Colorado, and Texas, with their raw products, bear to the manufacturing States of the East. The countries of the North Atlantic need and are buying the export products of the west coast of South America--the nitrate and the ores of copper, silver and gold, the grain, sugar, cotton, cocoa, coffee, wool, hides, rubber and woods. In return for this export these South American republics are importing from many countries, but chiefly from the United Kingdom, all kinds of manufactures, from steel rails to jewelry and fine clothes. Both parties will be benefited by increasing this trade. The production of raw material will be stimulated no less than the production of manufactures. For any gain that comes to South America, the rest of the world must receive an accompanying or complementary advantage. The United States will derive especial advantage from the shortening of the roundabout path of this large and increasing commerce. Because of the present route around the continent, the trade of the west coast is mainly with Europe; but on the opening of the canal there will be a change of front toward the United States. Both European and American traders will have greatly improved opportunities, but the larger relative improvement will come to the east coast of North America. Our ports will then have from 2,000 to 3,000 miles advantage over Europe in the journey to the west coast, whereas at present the distance from New York and the ports of the English Channel to that section of the world are nearly equal, the southern cities of E...