Statement showing the commerce between Mexico and the United States, &c.—Continued. IMPORTS FROM MEXICO-Continued. The increase in the exports of British goods to Mexico during the year 1880 as compared with the preceding year was principally in the following articles: Cotton manufactures, $970,000; iron, and manufactures of, $878,000; linen goods, machinery, and mill-work, woolens, &c. A glance at the very full statement of the exports from the United States to Mexico during the years ending June 30, 1880 and 1881, shows a healthy increase in almost every manufactured article, specifically in the following manufactures: Iron and steel manufactures show an increase of $1,267,000; cotton manufactures, $186,000; beer and ale, books, carriages and railroad cars, drugs and medicines, fancy articles, glassware, gunpowder, paper and stationery, printing presses, sewingmachines, household furniture, and other wood manufactures, &c. Basing an estimate on the exports of Great Britain, France, and the United States, viz, $23,381,000, and allowing $2,000,000 for the exports from Germany, which is a very liberal allowance, the total exports from all countries to Mexico during the year 1880 must have amounted to about $30,000,000, of which the United States supplied nearly $3,200,000, more than one-third. In reviewing the foreign commerce of Mexico for the year 1880, it is noteworthy that the increase in the consumption of imports thereto is particularly emphatic in iron and steel, and manufactures thereof, in connection with railways and mines, the increase in this class of manufactures from the United States and England being about $2,200,000, while in a great degree the increase in the general trade of the country may be attributed to the wants created by the development of the railroad and mining interests of the country. As these industries are developed they will necessarily create other industries, the whole resulting in increased wants, which must be supplied to a great extent from abroad, even while enriching the country by enlarging its exporting power; it is not too much to assume, under normally favorable circumstances, that the imports of Mexico in the next five years will be double their present proportions. It then becomes a question of much importance as to what extent the United States will partake in this trade. Taking into account the community of political and conterminal feeling which should cement the American people of both republics, as well as the further fact that the capital and best intellect of the United States are at the service of Mexico for the development of its natural resources, as well as for the building up of its manufactures, it is not too much to assert that one-half the whole trade of that country should be with this republic. Of course, as corollary to this assertion, we must supply Mexican wants with manufactures at least equally as good, and at as low rates, as can be supplied and given by Europe; we must accom modate ourselves to the tastes and habits of the people, give as favorable terms as can be given by others, and in all respects complying with the very best principles of international trade, as if we had to contend against geographical, political, and national prejudices. In addition to the foregoing advantages, which we undoubtedly possess in our trade relations with Mexico, we have a large and able consular corps, the majority of whom are active and efficient in all that concerns the interests of American trade in that country, as the many instructive reports therefrom which have been published in the last few years fully attest. Placed as these gentlemen are in the very centers of Mexican trade, understanding the wants and the peculiarities of the markets, I can render no greater service to our importers and exporters engaged in this trade than to refer them to their communications as published in the monthly numbers of Consular Reports. FOREIGN COMMERCE OF CENTRAL AMERICA. In the absence of all other statistical returns of recent date concerning the foreign trade of Central America, the following approximation thereto has been reached through the official returns of England, France, and the United States, and through interesting reports from British consuls for the States of Costa Rica and Guatemala. : Statement showing the estimated value of the foreign commerce of Central America, 1880–281. |