No. 209.
Mr. Bragdon to Mr. Fish.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge recept of your circular of August 19, inclosing “Report from the Department in relation to the condition of the commercial relations between the United States and Spanish American Republics.”
In reply to your desire that I should communicate any facts that would promote said commercial relations, I beg to suggest that a reduction on the freights per American steamers between New York and Aspinwall would greatly augment the exportations from New York. The very exorbitant freights, as per inclosure No. 1, induce merchants to import goods from Europe. It is likewise to be noticed that English merchants give longer credit than the American ones, consequently there is in favor of Europe longer credits and cheaper freights.
I also beg to call the attention of the Department to the fact that the English line of steamers on this coast, the Pacific Steam navigation Company; do not regularly connect with the American steamers at the Isthmus of Panama; it often being the case that merchandise from New York is kept waiting for weeks on the Isthmus, while the preference is always given to European goods.
The establishment of an American line of steamers on this coast in connection with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company would place the principal commercial transactions in hands of the United States, as the arrival of goods in these ports could be fixed at certain and sure dates.
There is sufficient business on this coast to support at least two lines of steamers well organized.