The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-16
DAILY CRESCENT
Mexico has not Developed her Resources.


Surely no person can read over the following
account of the resources possessed by Mexico a
the commencement of the present century-an
know that she has made no advance upon them
without feeling convinced that SO lethargic PEG
pie is unworthy so rich a country.-We extrac
from Hunts Magazine:
At the commencement OF the present century
the great traveller and savan, Baron Humboldt
devoted several years to Mexico, then almost
terra iicognita to Europe, and submitted his Ella
borate and celebrated report to the KING OF SPAN
and the civilized world
He presents Mexico as the most valuable colony
of Spain; almost impregnable to foreign zoe
and superior in wealth and 10 the tniteo
STATES OF America.
Invasion from abroad appeared to him to be ou
of the question: DaSt mtiderRess, lnpdssipie u
armies. was interposed between The Northern pro
vipees and the nited States. The only seaport
accessible to large ships on the eilii OF Mexico
was Vera Cruz and the impregnable fortress o.
San Juan de Ulua frowned defiance on any fleet
however powerful. $50
AT the period in question, the population of Mex
leo surpassed that OF our new republic of tile
North in 1902, Humboldt estimates the popua
lion of Mexico, on the best data Of the Govern
ment, as 6,S00000 BY census in 1903, the pop
ulation of the United States was 100000, Or more
than 100000 less.
III lOUo, HUMBOLDT advocates Tie poiicy O1 open
ing new communications with the coast OF Mexico
and suggests that the fertile soil Of her inland val
leys, surprising that of all other lands will enable
her to supply the Bay of Mexico, and West India
Islands, with flour, beef, and other productions.
andat rates below the prices of the United States
He advers also to the sperm fishery of the Pacific,
The fur trade OF the Northwest coast and the
commerce with China and the Sandwich Islands
and points out the unrivalled advantages which
Mexico enjoys for the prosecution OF each.
In 1903, the revenue Of Mexico exceeded S20,-
100000 The revenue Of our Union then but
$lI,0O0.000. In 1903, the mines of the United
States produced neither coal, iron, gold, silver or
Lead of any appreciable value; but the average
of the gold and silver of Mexico, in that Single
year, exceeded 27000,O00.
At this period, the star of Mexico was In the
ascendant. The severe restrictions OF Spain upon
her commerce, which had restrained her inter-
course with Europe for two centuries to a single
port in Spain. and usually to fleet III
three years. had been modified and her commerce
had begun to expand
Her coinage had increased from 81 ,604 S45 in
1865, to 1927, 49,, 1888 in 1903; and her revenue
from Sc, al ,9Sl in 1865 to $40, 100000 in 1903.
Nor was this all for the exuberance of Mexico
flowed into the weaker and inferior colonies Of
Spain, and supplied their deficiencies.
Mexico, in 1903, after defraying the annual ex-
penscs of her enthusiastically. 800 900, which
included the cost of her army of 10000 Spanish
troops, and after RENTING to Spain a surplus of
Sc, 000 900 in spece-exhibits the singular specta-
Gle of distant colony sustaining the other colo
MES of Spain, by the annual remittance to each
of the following sums: