The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-19

naltS ana aDSulsueS Ior Waut Oh ROFeTuMeul
aid, and while the International, of Texas,
leading to the Rio Grande, has been embar-
raised for want of or delay in the legislation
of that State, Mexico has given substantial
evidence of its desire to aid every feasible
railroad project looking toward connection
with the United States, or having tendency
| to develop commercial relations with US. At
the last session OF its Congress a concession
was granted to the International Railroad
Company, of Texas, represented by Hon. Ed
ward L. Plumb, to construct a railroad from
| its junction with the Rio Grande to the city
of Leon, a distance through Mexico of be-
tween six and seven hundred miles, where it
will connect with the trunk system OF rail-
roads of that country, and the government
agrees to pay as a subsidy to the company
Sl5, 2SS per mile, with large additional pre-
MUM if the road is completed before the
time fixed in the concession as we'll as ex-
empts the road from taxation, and admits all
its materials free of duty.
The Congress, at the same session, granted
concession to Mr.. d. b. Blair and others,
of California, to construct railroad from
Guaymas, in the State of Sonora, to the Uni
ted States boundary, leading in the direction
of Tucson the capital of Arizona Territory.
To aid this project the government proposes
the magnificent donation of alternate sections
of thirty five square miles of public lands of
that State per ineal mile of road, with ex-
emption from taxation and other privileges
similar to the former. 1t has also, for the
fourth time, extended the Tehuantepec Rail-
road concession to an American company, to
construct railroad across that lsthmus,
granting it subsidy of $4,000, OJO with spe-
cal privileges as to precious woods, exsmp-
tons, etc and this for the purpose OF open
ing up to New York and all the seaboard and
gulf cities an additional connection with our
Pacific States, with China, and the islands OF
the ocean.
All these concessions are to American COM
panies, and I trust that this liberal legislation
will be made available by American capital
lists, and that even in this time of commercial
prostration and stagnation in railroad enter
prise, all possible encouragement will be ex-
tended to those initiatives and offers by NJ K
leo to give to us the benefits of her yet unde-
veloped riches
What have said is perhaps enough on this
point, and sufficient to satisfy you that very
little if any encouragement and aid has been
extended by our own government to secure
the trade of Mexico, and that the government
of that country, although exhausted by more
than half century OF revolutions, struggling
with poverty, and staggering under large
domestic aud foreign debt, is really afording
: The only government aid which the trade be.
tween the two countries is receiving.
1t NAV be inappropriate for me to indicate
at this time what our government should and
can do in this direction; but it may be safe
to affirm that it can do as much as the gov
eminent of Mexico, and in a similar manner.
The same pecuuiafy aid as that given by Mex
!, leo, by way of mail subsidy, would secure
to New Orleans or Galveston weekly line OF
steamers to Vera Cruz direct, or to the lead
ing guilt ports of Mexico, and to San Francisco
, a semi monthly line to the Mexican ports OF
the Pacific in place of the present monthly
line This multiplication of certain, direct
, and rapid communication will OF itself do
much to develop our commercial relations, as
it is one of the necessary conditions prece-
, dent to it.
g. A third reason why our commerce with
I Mexico is so Insignificant is because so little
mercantile, company and individual effort has
been put forth to obtain it.
a After all, the most favorable action of the
government can only aid and facilitate indi-
3 vidual effort. 1t is not the proper function
of the government to engage in commerce.
The enterprise of American merchants and
, capitalists must possess the trade OF our
. Inelghborng nation, if We ever enjoy it. AS
vet little has been done in this direction.
Ia this respect Hamburg is teaching New
Orleans and New York a lesson in Mexico
and South America by which they may we'll
Y profit.
= am aware of the fact that l am addressing
. myself to the commercial circles OF New Or
a leans and through them to those of the other
q cities of the Uuion, at time OF great bust
ness depression, when enterprise Is partially
!. paralyzed, and capital is very cautious about
e investments. But One of the certain steps to-
q ward revival of cur dropping industries al
Y home is to open up! profitable and large mar
kets for our products and fabrics abroad
4 Mexico to-day occupies the position OF the
a nearest outpost Of two Continents of CONNER
y cial operations The same means which will
. give to US the control of its trade will In {
a great measure enable us to possess that
r Central and South America
j. The products for expectation OF Mexico,
# and in great degree of these other coun
a tries, are such as do not compete with oul
manufacturing and agricultural interests
e In fact, Mexico is capable OF producing II
Il unlimited quantities, and of qualities unsur
e passed on the globe, three articles or classe
: of products for which the United States ar
> now sending abroad more than $15O, 200, OOO
"a to wit sugar, coffee and tropical fruits
10 Could this enormous and rapidly increasin!
,r demand be turned from the slave labor pro
"a ducing countries of Cuba and Brazil to GU
=. sister republic, it would lead to large recip
! rocal consumption OF many of our manutac
N lures, and of our raw products also, AM
,e would have powerful effect, both politics
and commercial.
az While the high rate of the tariffs of tn
two countries stands as great obstacle IN tn
20 way of an extensive commerce, especially Ii
~ our manufactured articles and some of on
i. products; yet the Mexican free list " open
70 to us some avenues of trade, which have to
te limited extent been improved, but of whic
I still greater advantage may be taken Allo
fo articles
N free list: Agricultural implements and ma
1r chinery of all kinds, plants and Seeds books
We printing materials and ink; corn, corn mea
II oats and nay machinery and engines of a
be kinds OF industry, lorg and liberal lis
a. mining materials, machinery, powder, etc
n railway materials, locomotives, cars. ETC.; We
n. sells of all kinds aud materials therefor; woo
~ and lumber for construction, etc.
ed have already referred to the grants an
a. subsidies given to American companies by Il
r. Mexican Government for the construction