THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



379 



great rapidity from year to year, if the 

 demand for the article should be supplied. 

 These eight or ten millions of dollars of 

 value in guano, do not represent less than 

 from twenty to twenty-five millions of dol- 

 lars in grain, cotton and tobacco. For it 

 is believed to be a fair estimate, that on an 

 average, one dollar expended in guano, 

 gives in the three great staple crops above 

 referred to, from two dollars and a half to 

 three dollars in the succeeding crop. That 

 is from 150 to 200 per cent, upon the amount 

 invested. We have, then, this extraordi- 

 nary result. The Peruvian government 

 through an exclusive agency, established 

 among us, is controlling the productiveness 

 of our country to the amount of twenty or 

 twenty-five millions of dollars per annum. 

 And it is not only probable, but nearly 

 certain, if some substitute should not be 

 found for guano, that this sum will very 

 soon be enlarged to fifty millions. It must 

 also be recollected, that this production is 

 for the most part in bread stuffs, which, of 

 all products, are the most important to 

 every people. 



The commercial marine also feels the 

 influence of the monopoly in the transpor- 

 tation of this article. It is stated on good 

 authority, that $4,000,000 will be paid out 

 in freights during the present year. It is 

 probable, that this amount is to some ex- 

 tent exaggerated; but it is certainly very 

 large. The vast amount of tonnage en- 

 gaged in this trade, is employed directly 

 by the Peruvian government, or by this 

 company, or by another of a similar kind — 

 it is immaterial, so far as our interests are 

 concerned, in which of these modes; as in 

 either, a powerful and concentrated influ- 

 ence of a foreign government is brought 

 to bear on this department of our industry. 

 Whether it has been exerted thus far ca- 

 priciously or unjustly, this committee can- 

 not say. 



Other governments establish monopolies 

 within their own territories; but this is the 

 first example so far as it is known to this 

 committee, of a monopoly chartered and 

 located within the boundaries of another 

 power. Is it not in violation of those cour- 

 tesies, and those friendly relations which 

 usually control the conduct of one nation 

 towards another? Is it not inconsistent 

 with the sovereignly of our government? 

 Can it be proper thus to permit an impe- 

 rium in imperio to be placed among us, 

 wielding so vast an influence over the re- 

 source, the industry and the productive- 

 ness of our country? The hostility, the 



caprice, or the indifference of a mere trad- 

 ing company, may affect the interests of 

 our citizens to the amount of many mil- 

 lions of dollars, and may bring embarrass- 

 ment and distress on thousands, and even 

 millions of our population. At this very 

 time, a large portion of the agricultural 

 interest of the Middle States, to say no- 

 thing of other sections, is suffering from 

 the neglect of this company to have a sup- 

 ply of guano in the country in time for the 

 wheat crop. 



This is a Peruvian company, irresponsi- 

 ble to us, regardless of our interests, list- 

 less and almost indifferent, it would seem 

 to their own. They belong to a race des- 

 titute of the industry and enterprise that 

 are common among the people of this 

 country. The mode in which this trade 

 is carried on, is a fit example of their en- 

 ergy and their capacity to conduct large 

 industrial operations. 



With guano sufficient for the world, with 

 a supply already formed of one hundred 

 and fifteen millions of tons, according to 

 their estimates, they, last year, excavated 

 and furnished to the markets of the wide 

 earth, 200,000 tons. If 500,000 tons were 

 removed every year, it would require up- 

 wards of two centnries and a third to ex- 

 tract the supply. The bounties of Heaven 

 bestowed on these people, through the birds 

 of the air, in the little isles of the sea, bor- 

 dering their coast, are more valuable than 

 the gold mines of California, if they would 

 use them. Yet, with an obstinacy like 

 that of the dog in the manger, they will 

 not use them themselves, nor will they 

 permit others to use them. Yet they have 

 nothing to do to avail themselves of these 

 treasures, but to shovel the guano from 

 their islands elevated above the level of 

 the sea into the vessels which come along 

 side to receive it. They employ ships and 

 permit them to lie idle for weeks without 

 commencing to load them. The same 

 ships arrive at Baltimore, and with thou- 

 sands of farmers and their commission 

 merchants crowding the office of the Pe- 

 ruvian agent and eagerly demanding gua- 

 no, these ships lie at the wharves for weeks 

 unloaded. With the demand not half sup- 

 plied, they refuse to permit the captains of 

 our vessels to load themselves, but force 

 them to wait their turn. Thus is this trade 

 embarrassed and obstructed at the begin- 

 ning and the end, by the incompetent and 

 indolent managers who control it. 



The Peruvian government itself is not 

 benefited by this monopoly, which is esta- 



