COMMUNICATION ON THE GULF OF MEXICO AND

CARIBBEAN SEA.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION ON THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA.

[As submitted to the Conference January 27, 1890.]

The President of the International American Conference: The committee appointed to consider and report upon the best means of extending and improving the facilities for commercial, postal, and telegraph communication between the several countries represented in this Conference that border upon the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, has the honor to submit to the Conference the following report:

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.

Telegraphic communication is carried on between the different countries by means of lines which connect the principal cities of the several countries. It seems that the service meets all requirements, and is to be considered satisfactory.

Cable communication is carried on by means of two lines between the United States and the republics of the South. One of them connects Galveston, Tex., with Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the countries on the west coast of South America. The other goes from Tampa, Fla., to Havana, round the south coast of Cuba to Kingston, Jamaica, and from there to Ponce de Leon, Porto Rico; thence by way of the Windward Islands to Trinidad, and across to the coast of Venezuela. The rates charged by both of these companies

make it impracticable to do much business over their lines, and all but the most imperative messages are reserved for the mails.

We recommend that steps be taken to secure a moderate scale of charges over the present cable lines, and in the event that this can not be accomplished, would suggest the necessity of granting charters to one or more independent cable companies under the auspices of the several Governments representing the countries at interest; the said companies to be incorporated with the provision that cable tolls shall in no case exceed reasonable maximum rates to be fixed in their charters. We further recommend that large systems may be used as far as possible. Short single sections between two isolated points can never pay. It is nearly as expensive to maintain a short as a long circuit, and with a system of several cables the only additional expense is the salaries of the staff of operators at the stations.

POSTAL COMMUNICATION.

Postal communication between the United States and the countries bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea is governed by the provisions of the Universal Postal Union, and is carried on by several lines of steam-ships, which sail more or less frequently, and carry the mails under the direction of the post-office authorities of the respective Governments.

A statement from the Post-Office Department, hereto attached, will show the number and character of these lines, the amount of mail transported, and the compensation paid by the United States Government during the fiscal year ending June 30 1889.

COMMUNICATION WITH HAYTI.

The facilities for commercial and postal communication between the United States and Hayti are fair, being furnished by the Clyde Steam-ship Company, whose steamers sail under the United States flag.

VENEZUELA.

The facilities for communication with Venezuela are ample, through the enterprise of the managers of the "Red D" line of steamers, running between New York and the ports of that country. During the last few months this company has added to its fleet three fine new steamers, equipped with modern improvements, namely, the Venezuela, of 2,800 tons; the Carácas, of 2,600 tons, and the Maracaibo, of 1,260 tons. This line was established by Messrs. Boulton, Bliss & Dallet, of New York, as a necessity to transport the merchandise of that firm. For many years they employed sailing vessels alone, but in 1879 it was decided to substitute steam for sail, and three German steamers were chartered until vessels could be built especially for the trade. All of the steamers are provided with accommodations for passengers, and modern improvements for safety, convenience, and comfort. The main line runs from New York to the Island of Curaçoa, from there to Puerto Cabello, and thence to La Guayra, in Venezuela, with a branch line to Maracaibo. Steamers now leave New York every ten days, but it is desired that the service be increased to four sailings per month.

The effect of the establishment of this line of steamers upon the trade of the United States and Venezuela has been very great. But a few years ago the commerce with that Republic was only $3,300,000; now it amounts to about $14,000,000, and comprises nearly one-half the total foreign trade of that country. The value of the trade that has been built up by this line of steamers is confirmed by the fact that 10,000 bales of cotton goods were shipped from the United States to that country in 1888, while in 1880 but 1,200 bales were shipped.

There is also a line of steamers sailing once a month from New York to Cuidad Bolivar, on the Orinoco River.

COLOMBIA.

The commercial and postal communication between the United States and the Republic of Colombia is furnished by the Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company, which sails three

times a month from New York to Colon (Aspinwall), the average length of the voyage being from eight to nine. days. The Pacific Mail steamers carry mail not only for Colombia, but for the west coast of Central and South America, making connection at Panama with the various lines of steamers on that coast. The Pacific Mail steamers sail under the United States flag. The mail for Savanilla and Cartagena is carried by the Atlas Line of steamers, sailing under the British flag, twice a month, the average length of the voyage being thirteen days. Both of these lines would give a more satisfactory service if the sailings were increased to one per week.

There is also another line, under the Spanish flag, which sails between New York, Cuba, Venezuela, and the United States of Colombia, and is said to receive from the Spanish Government a subsidy of $243,687.60.

These three lines furnish six sailings a month between. New York and the ports of Colombia.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

The mails to Central America are carried either by the Pacific Mail and the Atlas, steamers or by the small lines sailing from New Orleans, and, while they are rendering. as good service as is practicable under present conditions, it is very desirable that the facilities shall be increased in order that better service may be secured.

MEXICO.

Steam-ship communication between the Gulf ports of the United States and Mexico is limited to the Morgan Line between New Orleans and Vera Cruz-average time three and one-half days, sailing twice a month. By reason of railway communication between the two countries they are not dependent upon steam-ships for mail, passenger, or freight service. Their rapidly increasing commerce, as the result of railroad connections, is an evidence of the benefits that will arise from the establishment of proper means of communication between other countries.

It will be observed from the study of the annexed report of the United States Post-Office Department, that the earnings of all of these lines of steamers are derived almost exclusively from the intercourse and trade that these countries maintain with the United States. Very little could be derived from the commerce between the several nations on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea outside of the United States. This is due to a great extent, if not wholly, to the fact that none of these countries are engaged in manufacturing. They all produce similar raw products, and their importations are composed of similar merchandise. Manufactured cotton goods, machinery, and provisions compose the bulk of the imports of these countries from the United States, and in their turn they export to the same markets of the United States the same raw materials and tropical fruits. Consequently there is no reason for active trade between the Central American States, and no direct lines between them could be successfully maintained unless they were extended to the United States. They are now in communication by coasting steamers, which almost all of these countries have established, and which call periodically at their ports. We consider, therefore, in view of actual conditions, that we shall have to accept the existing local service as the only one that is practicable at present.

While the present lines of steamers between the ports of the United States and those of the countries bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea furnish a tolerable service, an objection is found in the length of time consumed in making the voyages; and as much could be gained by the establishment of faster lines of steamers, or the substitution of faster steamers for the slow ones now on the existing lines, we recommend that the number of sailings be increased, and the rate of speed heightened, so that the round trips, or at least the home voyages to the ports of the United States be made in the shortest possible time, in order that perishable freights may be preserved.

At present a letter mailed on the 1st of the month in St. Louis will not arrive at Colon before the 15th. It requires