San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-07-05
OLD MEXICO.
some Facts About Monterey and the District ~
Observed BY tina American Cosnni.

| MONTEREY, mexico, June Il, 1000,
Mr.. Robert @. Campbell, United
States Consul for this district, in his
report to the government, under date
of June II, speaks of Monterey and
the district as follows:
II beg to transmit here with short
report on such features and CONNER
cial relations of this district as maybe
of interest to the nation I have the
honor to represent: The city of
Monterey, by its geographical position
and its many natural advantages,
should be the principal manufactur-
ing and commercial city of Northern
Mexico. Several far-sighted Ameri-
cans have already taken the initiative.
and their enterprise will, undoubtedly,
pay them handsomely. The Monterey
street railway, now in operation, is a
fair illustration OF what American
capital can accomplish. The company
was organized in New York last year
with a capital paid up stock of $780,
900 and 100000 20 year 8 per cent.
bonds were issued to build and equip
the first five miles of road. Only two
and one-eighth miles, from the depot
of the Mexican National railway to
the center of the city, are now COM
pleted, which, for the past four
months, have earned on an average of
$50 per day, with an expense of $50.
This amount is only on passenger
traffic, while their concession allows
them to carry freight, which latter
when inaugurated will increase their
net profits at least $25 per day. With
only this short line completed the
company will pay their interest on
bonds and also a small dividend on
the stock. When five to eight miles
more are completed it will be a hand
some paying property. This illustra-
ton will also answer for a paper mill,
cotton and wooded mills, fibre factory,
glass factory, gas and water works,
and all the smaller manufactures as
for furniture, wagons and buggies,
brooms, matches, etc., etc. Most of
the raw material i. bere and the high
Mexican tariff affords ample protection
to the manufacturer. A sugar re-
fnery on a large scale would prove a
paying investment. Peloncillo, the
dark Mexican sugar, can be bought
for cents per pound, while the re-
fined sugar, most Of which is brought
over land from the City of Mexico, is
sold (wholesale) at Is cents per pound.
This sugar cannot be called refined,
for it is only clarified, being Of the
same color and quality as our New
Orleans clarified, which sells in the
United States for about 8 or 8 cents:
Sugar from the United States, such
grades as cut loaf and granulated, sell
here for Is cents per pound. The
mercantile interests are represented
by men of nearly all nationalities, the
Germans here, as throughout Mexico,
controlling large trade, and most of
them being engaged in the hardware,
drug and furniture trade are the
heaviest importers. The commission
business is also controlled by the Ger
mans, they representing large export
houses in Europe, as well as in the
United States.
American dry goods are coming
more into demand, and were it not
for the high tariff, they would at an
early day displace the European fab
RIGS. The merchants are very favor
ably disposed to trade with the United
States, and since the completion of
the Mexican National railway to Mon
terey, they can get their goods much
quicker by purchasing in the United
States. The insurance rates are not
so high, and they do not have the
same trouble in remitting money. l
give below the retail prices of few
staple dry goods. A vara Mexican
measure is 8 inches less than the
American yard:
"Shirtings, 1S8 to so cents per vara;
American prints, 16 cents per vara;
American solid colors, 1Sa cents per
vara; linen lawns, (organdies) 25 to
81 cents per vara; percales, 1948 to
81 cents per vara; French calicos,
163 cents per vara. American hosiery
sells well, but frst-class English is
preferred. Goods are sold at reasonr
able profits for cash with to Is pc
cent. added when sold on credit of
one to six months. The principal
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