File No. 195.1/142
[Enclosure]
The British Consul General at San Francisco
(Ross) to the British
Ambassador (Spring Rice)
British Consulate General,
San Francisco
,
October 10, 1914.
memorandum
S. S. Alexandria
On the 8th instant United States registry was granted to the
ship.
I am informed that the vessel has loaded 4,000 tons of Australian
coal, purchased here from the Rolph Navigation Company at $9 per
ton, a very high price. In addition, the vessel has taken a quantity
of potatoes and other provisions, probably also lubricating oil—of
the last I am not certain.
The cargo is consigned to the Valparaiso Light and Power Company. My
experience in South America led me to believe that this company was
largely German and this surmise has been confirmed by the local
Chilean consul and by a telegram from H. M.’s Consul General in
Valparaiso.
The last named official in his telegram informs me that the following
are to-day’s prices of coal at Valparaiso, viz:
| Australian |
35 s. |
a |
ton |
| Chilean |
26 s. |
“ |
“ |
| American Pocahontas |
32 s. 6d. |
“ |
“ |
He adds that there is no scarcity of coal. The master of a collier,
recently arrived here, who was in Valparaiso in the end of July,
reported there was no market for coal there at that time; all
dealers were overstocked. I asked the master to see the collector of
customs here, which he did. The master of another collier which came
here ten days later gave similar information.
It is stated that the vessel cost the new owners $135,000 and that
freight has already been paid amounting to $65,000.
A bank in Mexico City is said to be financing the new company.
A. Carnegie Ross
