Paragraph 1 of article 30 of the law of agriculture referred to in paragraph of the decree reads: All lands belonging to the nation which are within 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) from the sea or from Caratasca or Brewers Lagoon, and all islands. TRADE OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The American chargé d'affaires at Buenos Ayres, Mr. E. W. Ames, sends the following facts and figures in regard to the foreign trade of the Argentine Republic during the first six months of the calendar years 1902 and 1903: The total imports of the Argentine Republic during the first six months of 1902 amounted to $51,243,230* and the total exports for the same period $105,203,781. The total imports during the first six months of 1903 amounted to $61,902,153 and the total exports for the same period $128,819,682. The increase of imports during the first six months of 1903, amounting to $10,658,923, together with the increase of exports, amounting to $23,615,901, show a total increase in foreign trade during the first six months of 1903 over the same period of 1902 of $34,274,824. The increase in imports was largely from the following countries: The principal items of imports for the two periods were: * Values are in Argentine gold; $1=96.5 cents in United States currency. The increase in exports was largely to the following countries: There was a decrease in the exports to the following countries, which showed an increase in imports for the same period: The principal articles of export for the two periods mentioned were live stock, wool, hides, etc., manufactured articles from animal products, agricultural products, wheat and corn, vegetable refuse, and wood and products therefrom. Hides were the principal export to the United States. TELEGRAPH SYSTEM IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. (From United States Chargé d'Affaires Ames, Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic.) The open-circuit system of telegraph is used in the Argentine Republic and the messages are received written on tapes, in conformity with the requirements of the telegraph law, for convenience in revision. The majority of operators receive by ear, but they must let the tape run for purposes of record. For the first telegraph lines constructed in the country iron poles were used, made by Siemens Brothers in England. Since then the hard woods of the country (quebracho colorado, urunday, as well as some palms) have been used for poles. The wires rest on porcelain nonconductors set on wooden crossarms, which are fastened to the poles with iron clamps. The manufacturers from whom instruments and line materials are purchased are: Siemens Brothers, of London, and Felten & Guillaume, of Germany (wire). The amount annually expended for the maintenance of the national telegraph system is $78,000 national currency (about $33,500 United States currency). New lines are projected to the extent of 9,200 kilometers (5,717 miles). The extent of the telegraph system operated by the Government is now 21,885 kilometers (13,600 miles) and the number of offices in operation 515. The extent of the telegraph lines belonging to railroads and to individuals under Government control is 27,003 kilometers (16,780 miles) and the number of offices in operation 996. EDWARD WINSLOW AMES, Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim. BUENOS AYRES, ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, August 6, 1903. CARRYING TRADE IN BRAZILIAN COMMERCE. (From United States Consul Kenneday, Para, Brazil.) In Manaos, as well as in Iquitos, trade with the United States is showing enormous and rapidly increasing growth. American goods are always preferred, even at a slightly increased cost. Every steamer that goes up the river carries a big cargo for those cities from which it is distributed to intermediate and far-distant points. This is a very important trade for the United States and lacks only good and reasonably cheap transportation facilities to become one of the most important factors in our commerce with South America. United States exporters send to Para and other South American ports every year and every week and every day in the year a vast amount of produce, natural and manufactured. Unfortunately, however, nearly all this produce is transported to its destination in ships owned by British instead of American companies. The profits in this line of business are very large and should no longer be overlooked. American capitalists ought to push forward and get the bulk of the foreign transport trade. We produce all these things in the United States; we carry them to the coast on American railways and we put them on board ship at docks owned by American companies; but there, at present, our profits derived from handling these exclusively American products stop. PARA, BRAZIL, September 9, 1903. K. K. KENNEDAY, Consul. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF BRITISH GUIANA FOR 1903. (From United States Consul Moulton, Demerara, British Guiana.) From official records and other available sources of information, sufficient data has been secured regarding the industrial and commercial activity of this country for the year ended March 31, 1903, and the four months succeeding to adduce the following conclusions: There was a slight increase in the output of the soil, mines, and forests, consisting of sugar, gold and diamonds, balata, and timber, over that of the preceding year. These products, which constitute the chief articles of export, were mostly distributed as follows, compared with 1902: The local market for raw sugar opened in October, 1902, at $1.75 per cwt. (112 pounds), which it is claimed was less than cost of production. However, prices advanced gradually until December, when sales realized $2.25. With few exceptions shippers closed out most of their stock at a profit. It was distributed as follows, compared From January 1 last to July 31, including the May and June grinding, there were approximately 69,398 tons to be disposed of. Prices gradually eased off to $1.80 by the middle of July, advancing It thus appears that the Dominion of Canada, during the period under consideration, very substantially increased her importations of raw sugar from this country, and markedly so during the last four months. The reasons are clear and the fact is of considerable importance. Canada heretofore has imported sugar largely from Germany, but owing to a dispute with that country a tariff duty was arranged discriminating against the German product. A preferential tariff rate of 33% per cent favoring British colonial products already existed in the Dominion. Quotations during the past six months were abnormally low in New York, where from time immemorial the Demerara product has been chiefly marketed. Under these conditions Canadian importers sought what they required from Demerara and other British colonies in the West Indies, with the result of largely diverting, at least, Demerara shipments from their accustomed channels, as shown in the above statistics. Local exporters were thus able to realize from one-sixteenth to one-eighth of a cent more per pound for their sugar than could be obtained in New York, and steamers plying regularly between the United States and this port have for several weeks past discharged their usual inward cargo and cleared out empty, while subsidized Canadian steamers and tramp vessels captured largely the tonnage. IMPORTS. The value of importations from all sources, considered as a whole, slightly exceeded those of last year. Local conditions have undergone no apparent improvement and moderate increases in valuation are immaterial. They are often due to the ordinary vicissitudes of trade and prices current. The value of imports from the United States was $2,172,856, against $1,943, 806 the previous year. Not since 1894 have our exports to the colony amounted to so much. There were increased quantities of the following articles imported: Lumber, petroleum and other oils, staves and headings, |