Let us glance for a moment at the purchasing power of these republics. Argentina, although not so populous as the immense republic of Brazil, easily stands at the head of the list. During the year 1909 the total foreign trade of the Argentine Republic was valued at $700,106,623, of which $302,756,095 was imports. This was an average of almost $108.00 for each man, woman and child in the nation, and an importation of more than $46.00 per capita. Thus this one republic, with a population of less than seven million, imports almost as much as China with more than fifty times the population. In the last decade the imports of Argentina have increased one hundred and fifty-four per cent., an increase exceeded only by Canada. She now ranks thirteenth in total imports and sixth in per capita imports. Those nations, such as England and Holland, which exceed in per capita imports, are large importers of raw materials and not manufactured goods, as is the case with Argentina. Furthermore, the population of Argentina is increasing rapidly, both by natural increase and immigration. There are no idle men in the country, as every able bodied man seems to be able to secure employment. Wages are about as high as in the United States, and the cost of living higher. The people spend their money freely, and the importing houses do an immense business which is increasing each year. Brazil will one day be one of the great powers of the world, for she contains within her borders the greatest amount of undeveloped, fertile land in the world. The United States, exclusive of Alaska and the island possessions, could be set inside the territorial limits of Brazil, and leave a state as large as Texas on the outside. The Brazilian government estimates the population at a little more than twenty million, but it would probably be better to place the number at eighteen million. Brazil has fostered some lines of industry, especially the manufacture of cotton goods, where water power is an invaluable asset, but most of the goods are imported. The purchasing power of the people is not as great as in Argentina, because there are several millions of negroes and Indians included in the population. The total imports for the year 1909 were $179,690,125. This would be at the rate of ten dollars per capita, or ten times that of China. In other words, the imports of Brazil, with her eighteen million population, is equal to that of half the Chinese Empire. If the coffee situation improves there will be a great increase in Brazilian imports, for many improvements are withheld in the coffee regions at the present time on that account.