228 SELLING LATIN AMERICA 
duction is best adapted to your special line is a 
matter for you alone to determine. 
Assuming that your capital and commodity 
warrants you in establishing a branch house 
in each individual country or in a group of 
countries, which is by far the best plan of con 
ducting your business, the question of prime 
importance is that you should be located in or 
near the leading seaport in order that you may 
be close to shipping as well as to be able to 
superintend personally the discharge of goods 
and their clearance through the slow moving 
native custom houses. Great care should be 
taken to be on the leading line of railway, or 
near as many different lines as possible in 
order to facilitate the forwarding of goods to 
their destination and to the interior. These 
are vital factors and should be carefully 
weighed in determining your location. If 
your business is one requiring the carrying of 
a large and varied stock, it will be rather diffi 
cult to get proper warehousing accommoda 
tions especially in the metropolis or port and