Exports of produce from Rio Grande do Sul to the United States during calendar year 1885.

Table showing the fluctuations in exchange for 90-day bills on London, Paris, and Hamburg for the calendar year 1885.

Commercial paper fetched to 1 per cent. higher on London, to 1 per cent. on Paris or Hamburg.

CHILI.

Report of Consul Dunn.

TRADE, ETC.

Trade during 1885 has been in a depressed condition, owing to the low prices ruling abroad for the principal Chilian exports, and also to the excessive importation of foreign goods during the three or four years preceding 1885. The heavy stocks of imports have been considerably reduced during the past years, and the market is much healthier in tone than it was a year ago.

No general statistics for 1885 are yet available, but the imports for 1884 amounted to $59,462,154 against $61,096,539 in 1883. The value of the exports in 1884 was $59,632,150 against $72,262,556 in 1883.

The value of the imports from the United States in 1884 was $4,160,570, or $559,078 more than, 1883. In 1884 the United States sent machinery and railway material of the value of $1,116,811, against $219,242 in 1883. In 1879 the total value of the imports from the United

States was $1,414,464, whilst, as already stated, the total value in 1884 was $4,160,570, or three times as much as in 1879.

The exports to the United States in 1884 amounted to $1,336,315, or $192,469 less than in 1883.

The total value of the chief imports from the United States in 1884 was as follows:

The chief exports to the United States in 1884 were:

Value.

$22, 761

172, 496

71, 679

21, 339

6, 477

153, 918

65, 957

1, 116, 811

39, 436

13, 962

25, 615

63, 655

98,864 157,000 7,700 11, 940 7, 173

6, 321 14,648

13, 055 9, 212 8,932

7,998

94, 000

155, 561

The total quantity of nitrate shipped to the United States in 1885 was 892,708 quintals (a quintal=100 pounds Spanish), of which 77,712 quintals were for San Francisco, Cal., and the remaining 814,996 quintals were for the east coast. The respective quantities in 1884 were 59,393 and 1,213,850 quintals; and in 1883, 157,390 and 968,731 quintals. I pointed out in my previous report what I considered to be the most appropriate methods for increasing the trade between the United States and Chili, and the experience I have since acquired has fully confirmed the opinions I then expressed. Many of our manufacturers attempt to build up a trade by means of traveling or resident agents who sell by samples-in the majority of cases by lithographed sample books. This plan is good to a certain extent. In order, however, to create an extensive trade between the two countries, we must adopt the English system, which consists of the establishment of branch houses (chiefly in Valparaiso) of London, Liverpool, and other firms, the managers of which carefully study on the spot the peculiar requirements of the country, and are ever on the lookout to suggest not only alterations in the style and make of goods, so as to make them more acceptable to Chilian consumers, but also to recommend, when practicable, the manufacture of entirely new articles to meet certain specific requirements of the country. In this way the English and German houses have built up an extensive

trade with Chili, and they are continually introducing new articles, which their experience teaches them will find a market here. In addition to this, we require for the development of our trade with Chili, and the west coast republics, generally, a regular line of American steamers. This is a subject of paramount importance in connection with the extension of trade, not only with Chili, but the west coast republics generally.

NAVIGATION.

The entries from foreign ports in 1884 were 881 sailing vessels, representing 614,470 tons, and 885 steamers, of 1,278,617 tons. Of the former 65, of 47,163 tons, and of the latter 6, of 4,807 tons, were American.

The clearances for foreign ports in 1884 were 671 sailing vessels, of 466,617 tons, and 1,136 steamers, of 1,529,145 tons. Of the former 78, of 57,883 tons, and of the latter 9, of 6,044 tons, were American.

The total tonnage employed in the coasting trade was: Entries, sailing, 890,929; steamers, 4,774,425. Of the former 58,373 tons, and of the latter 2,166 tons, were American. The clearances were 870,168 tons sailing, and 4,535,294 tons steamers. Of the former 52,743 tons were American, while in the latter the American flag was unrepresented.

NATIONAL DEBT, ETC.

The total national debt (home and foreign) amounted, with interest, on January 1, 1885, to $60,430,329. This amount has been reduced by the payment of a home loan known as the banks' loan, amounting to $3,350,000, and by the withdrawal from circulation of $150,000 of paper money. The foreign debt has also been decreased by the payment of sinking fund, but the amounts have not yet been published. Another feature in the foreign debt is the conversion, in London, of the balance of the 7 per cent. loan into a 4 per cent. debt, which will effect an annual saving of about $300,000.

It is expected that the customs revenue in 1885 will exceed that of 1884, which amounted to $26,139,601.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Valparaiso, February 7, 1886.

D. M. DUNN,

Consul.

UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA.

Report of Consul Smith on the commerce of Carthagena in 1885.

The trade of the port of Carthegena for the year ending December 31, 1885, considering the siege suffered by the city and the consequent paralyzation of every branch of commerce for the time being, does not show much apparent decrease over that of the preceding year, as the accompanying statements will clearly show. The unfortunate war which for months raged fiercely all over the country, and which compelled the tillers of the soil and capitalists alike to take up arms, leaving agricult ure, cattle-raising, mining, incipient manufactures, and means of communication in complete abandonment, would no doubt have been productive of total ruin and desolation if it had lasted much longer, destroying thereby the chances of recuperating the same standing which this port was commencing to attain during the latter part of last year by the regular navigation of the Dique Canal.

Owing to uninterrupted steam communication between Carthagena and the interior, by reason of this canal, the commerce of the Magdalena River basin, that has heretofore found its unsatisfactory outlet by way of Barranquilla and Sabanilla, is now being diverted to a far more economical and expeditious channel. Over 50 per cent. in time and 33 per cent. in transportation charges are effected over the old Barranquilla route.

With the restoration of peace, which is beginning to have a greater hold on the people's mind, due to the reassurances of such that came from every side, the anxiety of all to return to the enjoyments of a peaceful life, and the strong measures adopted by the Government to maintain order at any rate, confidence is commencing to reappear, and new life seems to be imbued into everything.

The future predicts great development of trade for this port, and we have already the river steamers Rafael Nuñez, Cartajena, and Once de Noviembre, of the Dique Steam Navigation Company; the Lebrija, of the Lopez y Navarro Company; the Sextatulia and Magdalena, of the Cisneros Company; the Roberto Calexto, of the Campania Unida, of Barranquilla. All of these steamers now make regular trips between this port and Handa, the head of the Magdalena River navigation, via the canal. The stock in above lines is mainly held by Americans and Colombians. A new line of river steamers is about to be established, to ply between this port and the Atrato and Sinu Rivers, which will materially augment the trade. I have been informed that the Government is about to award a contract for the construction of a tramway from here to Arjina, an interior town, to an American, and also another to an American company for the laying of a submarine cable between this port and Colon-Aspinwall.

The Government has appropriated a large sum for the further improvement of this already magnificent harbor. A new light-house has been put up at the "Boca Chica" entrance to the harbor.

TRADE.

During the past two years an immense trade has sprung up with Colon, due to the demands of the Lesseps Canal for laborers and provisions. Hundreds of laborers come and go each steamer. Hogs, fowls,

and goats, to value of $104,338, and live cattle, valued at $121,970, were exported last year to Colon-Apinwall.

The total value of exports of this port for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1885, amounts to $1,018,937; the principal exports having been to the United States and Germany. This compared with the imports for the same period, which amounts to $1,069,822, shows a difference in favor of imports of $50,885. The customs duties on these imports have been $410,388.

The principal exports to the United States for 1885 have been the following:

Hides. The great demand which there has been for this article and the lack, for a time, of almost every other article of export-the recent unfortunate revolution in the country having stopped all profitable labor, paralyzing in this manner the many avenues of supply of this rich soil-together with the consequent high rate of exchange, have caused the high price of $22 to $24, paper money, per hundredweight to be paid. Since peace has been established the price is now lowered to $17 and $19. The number of hides exported was 38,951. The exportation, now that communication is established with Bogota, is constantly increasing.

Rubber. Although this product still figures on the list of exports, it will soon become a thing of the past, due to the practice of cutting down the trees to obtain the sap. It has received a recent stimulus in the market, and greater efforts are made to gather it, due to better prices in New York and the high rate of exchange bills here. Market quotations are now $650 and $750 to $1,000 per ton. That which comes from the Magdalena River and tributaries commands a better price, due to cleaner process in gathering it. Exports of rubber for 1885 have been, in value, $50,215.92, and $156,519.60 for 1884, which shows a decrease of $106,303.68. Coffee.-Formerly this article hardly figured in the list of exports from this port. Due to direct communication with the vast coffee districts of the interior, the year 1885 shows an export of 121,786 kilograms, valued at $33,308. This shows a decrease over the year 1884 of, in value, $67,537, due of course to the recent revolution.

Cedar and mahogany.-There are at present three companies engaged in felling and exporting this valuable timber to the United States, and their final success, considering the unlimited quantities of timber that exist, cannot but be a certainty. At the present time regular shipments are being made in American bottoms to Chelsea and New York. This article shows an increase of $5,898, the total exports for 1884 being $29,102, and $35,000 for 1885.

For 1886 it is estimated that $100,000 worth of cedar and mahogany will be exported to New York and Boston. In addition to cedar and mahogany, many valuable hard woods exist in the forests that surround this port-woods that, in my judgment, are far superior to mahogany and cedar-yet not a single stick is exported. In comparison to other woods, mahogany, in this country, for furniture making purposes is considered inferior. Even cedar takes precedence.

It is very difficult to tell the difference between the cedar of the high lands and mahogany.

A wood called ceiba colorada is highly esteemed for making furniture and house building purposes, and is most admirably adapted for shipbuilding purposes, resisting, in a most wonderful manner, the attack of worms. Lignum vitæ is so plentiful that it is used as firewood for river steamers, and also made into railroad ties and shipped to Colon for the Panama Railroad Company. Among the other woods that abound are