Salvador of the Twentieth Century

by Percy F. Martin

Moreover, this young man is an expert mechanic, and most skilful in effecting repairs and alterations to machinery and plant installations. It is not at all difficult to understand how such an individual makes headway with the kind-hearted and hospitable Salvadorean estate owners, and how he succeeds, not alone in obtaining orders from them for their coffee and other machinery, but in introducing German manufactures of other kinds; for your German traveller is always open for business, and, indeed, appears to live for very little else. Thus, it would seem, unless some "move" is made by British manufacturers of coffee and rice machinery in this part of the world, at no distant date the trade will be snatched from them; and that once done, nothing will probably succeed in bringing it back again. Lost ground of this character is seldom recovered, and it may be hoped that those manufacturers who are mostly concerned will take the hint here conveyed, and set out to put their neglected houses in order. The coffee industry of Salvador is the most important of all its exports, and its pursuit is the mainstay of the country. In 1910 the value was $5,130,404, out of a total export trade of $7,294,602.

Among the British goods which I have more particularly noticed to be well displayed in the retail stores are chemical preparations and drugs. The Salvadoreans, like most Latin-Americans, are large users of all kinds of patent medicines; and although a great many of these come from the United States, those of British manufacture are not at all poorly represented. Such articles as Eno's Fruit Salt, Apollinaris and Apenta Water, Pears' Soap, Odol, and many of the better-known vegetable pills, are to be found here—except Cockle's, which are a very difficult drug to obtain, although in my opinion one of the most efficacious. The chemists' shops are full of all kinds of other drugs and patent medicines, and apparently the proprietors conduct a remarkably good trade.

Relative to the trade of pharmacy, a new law is proposed which will regulate the practice of this trade, and which will create a Faculty of Pharmacy and Natural Sciences, to which all chemists and druggists, whether native or foreign, operating in the country, must belong. In default of membership in this faculty, a special licence will have to be taken out for pharmaceutical practice.

Drugs, medicines, and perfumery to the value of $82,676 were imported in 1910.

In regard to British wines and spirits, these are hardly ever seen except in the houses of the few British residents who may have imported a small supply for their own use. The total value of victuals, wines and spirits, however, is not inconsiderable, amounting in 1909 to about 12,748,249 kilos, representing a value of £179,431, which, however, contrasts with 15,689,307 kilos, or a value of £211,819, for the previous year. The wheat, rice, cereals and breakfast foods, which are not as well known here as in other parts of Latin-America, come from the United States, which also send here by far the greater part of the lard, tallow, dairy produce, sweetmeats, and dried and smoked meat and fish. The United Kingdom shares in the salt trade, but this is only small.

I am of opinion that a better trade could be done by exporters of British beers and liquors, which would be purchased here to a more considerable extent. The number of cafés and restaurants is increasing, and the tendency of the inhabitants, especially in good times, is to dine from home. Although beer is brewed, it is more the beverage of the workers than of the well-to-do.

In regard to the tobacco and liquor trades carried on in Salvador, a record of the progress and management is maintained by means of the regulations which have been introduced covering the operation of cigar and cigarette factories and of breweries and bottling establishments in the Republic. This control has been in vogue since June of 1909. Proprietors of these establishments are required to furnish to the proper authorities a sworn statement as to the capacities of their plants, the number of the operatives employed, etc. The analyses previously ordered for wines and liquors is also extended to beers, both manufactured and imported.

In regard to the duties on wines and canned goods, imported liquors pay a duty of 50 cents; heavy and white wines, 25 cents; and old table wines, 5 cents—per quart bottle. Canned goods pay 10 cents per kilo (=2,204,622 pounds). These duties are in addition to Customs charges.

What effect will the completion and opening of the Panama Canal have upon Salvador and other Central American countries? I have often been asked this question, and perhaps this is as good a place as any in which to answer it. That capital from North America will flow more abundantly into Central America after the completion of the great waterway is a practical certainty; but I do not consider that there will be any such considerable augmentation, nor that the difference will be so prodigious, in regard to results, as some critics imagine. For many years to come the United States, with its great area and its many undeveloped resources, will need more capital—much more, indeed, than it can conveniently find among its own people; that is to say, it will have to borrow from Europe in addition to saving all that it can on its own account. The old world has nowadays fewer opportunities for industrial and commercial expansion; money is comparatively cheap, and all new countries on the other side of the Atlantic offer the inducement of higher interest.