358 



PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



cents) per milreis. All the rates are charged per kilogram (2.2046 

 pounds). 



MAIL AND TELEGRAPH. 



Mail facilities are weekly and sometimes oftener. Transit to 

 Europe occupies seventeen to eighteen days; to the United States 

 direct, approximately three weeks. Santos and Sao Paulo are in 

 direct cable connection with the United States and with Europe. 



CONTROL OF TRADE. 



No statistics as to imports are available. The bulk is sent by 

 Germany to German firms. England, Germany, and France send 

 travelers here regularly every year, and have established banks and 

 steamship lines of their own nationality, in all of which respects the 

 United States is deficient. Nearly all the foreign import houses here 

 are German, branch establishments of firms organized at home. In 

 this manner, a well-nigh indestructible trade lien is secured. There 

 is not a single American import house established in this district, and 

 American goods placed here have to contend, and will have to con- 

 tend as long as the present state of affairs continues, against unwill- 

 ing purchasers and intermediaries, as well as against more liberal 

 credit terms. They succeed only when superior products are offered 

 at lower prices. The opening for American paper and paper articles 

 I do not hesitate to pronounce very auspicious. To improve this 

 opportunity, manufacturers should send salesmen here and be pre- 

 pared to grant reasonable credits to reliable houses. To exact cash 

 with orders or on delivery of the bill of lading would be a serious 

 obstacle to trade, but surrender of documents against acceptance of 

 a thirty or sixty day sight draft would be considered fair terms by 

 local buyers. 



