The young man's chances in South and Central America

Foreword

BY DIRECTOR GENERAL BARRETT OF THE PAN-AMERICAN UNION

It is a pleasure to comply with the request of the author that I should write a “Foreword” for “The Young Man’s Chances in South and Central America.” Ever since I first became interested in Latin America as a result of being appointed one of the United States delegates to the Second Pan-American Conference held in Mexico City in 1901, 1 have been a firm believer in the future of our sister American Republics and a sincere admirer of their peoples and institutions. My first impressions have been confirmed in later experiences as United States Minister to the Argentine Republic, to Panama, and to Colombia, and now as the executive officer of the Pan-American Union. These personal references are made simply to convince the reader of this book that my opinion of it is not that of a superficial observer. After looking carefully through the proof sheets, I am frank to state that I have found the subject matter not only interesting and instructive but full of valuable information to all persons who are watching the development of Latin America.

The Pan-American Union, as the international organization of all the American republics, devoted to the development of good understanding, friendship, peace and commerce among all of them, is glad to encourage the publication of books of this character,

FOREWORD even though its own budget does not permit it to print them under its own auspices; and I congratulate the Southern Commercial Congress and its Managing Director, Dr. Clarence J. Owens, on cooperating with the author in making this book available to the general public.

Mr. Reid has held for several years a responsible position on the staff of the Pan-American Union, and has enjoyed a remarkable experience, not only in traveling all over Latin America, but in official connections with Latin-American governments and peoples, which ably equips him to prepare a work of this kind.

John Barrett.

Pan-American Union Washington, D. C.

Prefatory Note

BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHERN COM- MERCIAL CONGRESS

The activities of the Southern Commercial Congress lie along several well-defined lines. The Congress promotes and encourages agricultural, commercial, industrial, and economic development by studying and publishing modern methods and improvements. Its several commissions sent to European countries and to Latin America have already been productive of valuable results.

In the field of foreign trade the practical work of the Congress has been, first, in the line of education, by endeavoring to have the geography of the Western Hemisphere taught in our schools and re-studied by our business leaders; to divert the many students of Latin America, who leave their countries to enjoy the educational advantages of Europe, to the colleges and universities of the United States; to use legitimately the press of this country and of Latin America, the many government publications, official magazines and other journals in educational propaganda, bringing about a better understanding between the peoples of the two great continents; and to have Spanish in particular but also Portuguese and French studied in our schools. To this end the Congress has not only used all the means at its command, but has disseminated its appeal through the United States Bureau of Education.

PREFATORY NOTE

With the announcement to the world of the opening of the Panama Canal there are to come adjustments in transportation that may fluctuate and be unsteady for a period, but must ultimately become established along lines of genuine economic advantage. The South is in a position, on the simple basis of transportation, understood by all business men, to cut distances in half by way of the Panama Canal, with many of the great ports of the East and the West. I am not one of those who expect magic advantage to come immediately to the Southern States, but I have the conviction that the physical advantages in coast line and navigable streams, together with the proximity of Latin America, insures the extension and use of our Gulf and South Atlantic ports, the building up of our cities, and the general prosperity of our people. The Gulf ports that during the centuries have been, in a sense, in a pocket of the great sea, are now upon a highway of world commerce.

It is, therefore, with a high degree of satisfaction that the Southern Commercial Congress places this little volume before young men of America; not that it may lure them from home, but on the contrary, that the young man may be apprised of the demand for such services that he can render; of the opportunities that lie in international exchange of commodities, and of the part he may play, whether within the homeland or on foreign soil. In our development the young man takes a leading role, and the slogan of the Southern Commercial Congress becomes especially appropriate, “A Greater Nation Through a Greater South.” Clarence J. Owens.

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

Those of us who have long been associated with international development are aware of the vast number of young men who are constantly seeking information about positions and opportunities in that field of enterprise. There is a dearth of matter on the subject in connected form.

We Americans read more, travel farther, and trade more extensively with the peoples of the world than ever in our history. The ambitious young man’s area of opportunity expands to keep pace with the strides of commerce; and the object of this little volume is to call to his attention some of the new and wonderful fields of labor that are opening to the enterprising world; where, as in the days of our own “westward ho,” the young man is ever to be found in the forefront. What are his prospects of success? May they not be measured in some degree at least by the accomplishments of the “ advance guard?” Let us reason together in the pages of this book, which is not a guide ; but rather, it is hoped, a means of awakening deeper study of possibilities as well as pitfalls.

The grasping of Latin-American opportunities does not necessarily imply permanent residence away from one’s country. To follow electrical engineering in Chile, for instance, one should reside near his zone of employment; the selling of North American goods in Latin-American countries presupposes periodical travels throughout those Republics; while the importer of the

AUTHOR S PREFACE latter’s products may live in any section of the United States.

Grateful acknowledgment is hereby tendered to the Pan-American Union for material furnished, and to the numerous persons as well as to the various periodicals which the author has taken the liberty of quoting. Names of the gentlemen and of the journals in question are given in connection with the quotation; and it is believed that this data will materially strengthen the work, while the appendix, containing names of many corporations engaged in international enterprise, will put one in close touch with actual work.

W. A. R.

Washington, D. C.,

NORTH AMERICA— SOUTH AMERICA

Cutting asunder the American continents — finding the long-sought route to India — promises to revolutionize commercial and industrial conditions. All the world looks and marvels at our success at Panama; the changing arteries of commerce become international questions. North American capital and brains and muscle, aided by faithful and even heroic laborers from sixty-eight countries or forty nations, have builded the greatest engineering work the world has known. We have divided the continents in order to become more closely united.

In the Western Hemisphere, Saxon and Latin have not known each other well. Visits have ever been inconvenient or difficult to make; distances are great and travel facilities have been few. Today, both of these obstacles are being removed by faster ships and shorter routes; indeed, our very thoughts are exchanged through the air. A better understanding is fast approaching; interest is quickened; more intimate acquaintance brings a knowledge of each other’s requirements.

The South American forests, plains and mountains are teeming with man’s necessities. On the other hand, North American factories are busy but in many lines an overproduction is causing concern. Fair exchange then is the natural solution of these problems of supply and demand.