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Show LATIN AMERICA. The First Report of the Operation of the liureuti of Ameriran Hepuhllcs. AVasiiinoton, Dec. 17. President Harrison Har-rison today sent to tho scnato a letter from the secretary of slate enclosing a copy of the tirst annual report of Director Curtis of tiio bureau of American republics. It says the immense number of applications that have been received for information about tho North American countries give ample evidence of ail awakened luterest in the commerce and conditions of the neighboring countries that is encouraging to those endeavoring en-deavoring to promote the social aud com-mercial com-mercial relations between the American republics. re-publics. The report refers to the rapidly increasing export trade to the Central and South American Ameri-can republics and says many of the United States manufacturers who never attempted toscil inerchundiso in the southern coutinent arc now sending agents into those markets to introduce their goods. The merchants of Mevico and Central and South America who heretofore purchased in Rurope, exclusively, are now coming to the I'nited States and invariably in-variably discover that they can find here, nearly every article they need, of better quality and at no greater cost. The recent-ly recent-ly negotiated reciprocity arrangements, it is said, also offered them opportunities that are beginning to bj understood and appreciated. appre-ciated. The report refers to the. work undertaken by the bureau of interesting the government and peoplo ot Latin-America In tho World's fair. The invitation extended to them to participate has been cordially accepted ac-cepted by every republic aud colony and appropriations made to pay the expenses of representation that exceed in the aggregate $.',(KK1,(KKI more than has been provided for the same purpose by tho stales of the. United Slates, with tho state of Illinois excepted. Thecompanies operating lines of steamships between the United States nnd Latin-America have joined heartily in tho enterprise and made generous concessions. The bureau has been enabled to prepare for tho exhibition exhibi-tion at Chicago an historic collection Illustrating Illus-trating the discovery, conquest and settlement settle-ment of tho Latin-American states and of the subsequent periods. The report contains much information of interest. Among other things, it is proposed to prepare for the exposition a commercial exhibit illustrating the various classes of merchandise best adapted to tho wants and most acceptable to the tastes of the consumers iu Mexico, Central aud South America and the West Indies. This exhibit, it is proposed at the close of the exposition to be. permanently established cither iu Washington or N'ew York. |