The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-25
COMMERCE OF GUAYMAS.
Interesting Report 10 the State Department
From the United States Consul.

From the United States Consul.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.-Consul Willard
sends an interesting report TO the State De-
partment on the Commerce of Guaymas"
(Sonora).
The population, according to the last
census. of this consular district (Sonora) is
placed at 10000 ene-fourth of which are
Indians Composing the tribes Of the Yaqui,
Mayo, Opatus and Punas), most Of whom
live in villages and cultivate the soil. The
foreign residents are estimated at little over
20O0, of whom fully half are American citl-
zens, engaged almost exclusively in mining
pursuits. The number Of Chinese has in
creased during the year; the whole number
in the State will not exceed per cent, yari-
ously employed, but principally in manufac-
turing shoes and coarse clothing. At this
port there are two shoe factories that en-
ploy over 100 Cinnamon; none as yet have
been brought here as field laborerS or as
workmen in mines.
The experiment Of importing Chinese to
work in the mines is being tried in the ad-
joining State of Sinaloa, and, am Informed,
with partial success, as they can be used on
outside workings, but not underground. l
am satisfied by the list of arrivals of China
men at the Captain of the Ports Office that
none have arrived with the object of max
ing this district steppi Dg-stone to enter the
United States The surplus arrivals over
departures are accounted for by the addl-
tional W0rkmen employed at the shoe lac
tories.
Chinese emigration is looked upon by the
people generally with disfavOr, and would
be manifested in positive manner If large
number were brought here 10 compete as
laborerS with the natives of the country.
There is scarcity Of laborers complained
OF throughout the country-on the ranches
or farms and at the mineS-but whether this
want can be remedied by the importing of
Cinnamon is something that the future will
determine.
The war wit: the Yaqui Indians, who in
habit the valley of that name sixty miles
from this port, is about terminated, and ef-
forts will be made the coming year to colo
pize the lands of that valley. On the from
tier of the district and Arizona United
States there exists good understanding
with the authorities on both sides of the
boundary line, no questions OF an interna-
tional character existing.
The orange crop this year Is in excess OF
last years crop. and the number of boxes
exported approXimates 10000 each box con-
tanning from 100 to $50 oranges. They are
sent by rail to the United States, principally
W SUlCdsh anu DeUNtI. IUt lIuIl, as iltU-
TONED III my last years report, commences
to rpen in November, and is purchased on
the tree by fruit-dealers in the United States
through their agents sent here, who pick,
pack and ship them. The price this year for
oranges thus sold varied from Sc to IS Mex
ican silver per 1000.
Grapes are grown, but no wine or raiSns
are made for export. The same can be said
of olives, lemons and figs that are grown for
home consumpti0n only, although the soil
and climate are favorable for their cultiva-
tion.
MINES AND MINING INTERESTS.
During the past year several new mining
companies have been formed TO work gold
and silver mines in the State organized in
England and the United States), and invest
| ments, amounting to over S1,500,000, have
been made. The amount of silver and gold
ores exported during the past year is est-
mated 10 be over 5000 tons, the greater part
of which was shipped by rail to smelling
/ and refining works In the United States.
| During the year TWO concessions have been
granted by the State Government for the es-
| tdDlISDment OF Sneitlng works III Sonora,
| with certain privileges and exemption of
| State taxes for a term of years. This was at
| the time when duties on lead contained i'll
silver and sold ores were being discussed in
| the United States; but, as this question Is
| considered IN a measure settled dead III the
| ores of silver aud gold not being du:iabe
| wien the value of the lead in said ore is less
| in value than the gold and silver contained
| in then), the interest in the erection of these
smelling and refining works has subsided
| and they have not been constructed.
There are no smelling and refining eStab-
| lishments in Sonora where ores are pur-
| chased, or where small mine-owners can
| have their ores worked. This circumstance
obliges them to either work the ores them
| selves or ship them out OF the country for
| that purpose.
No copper mines are worked in Sonora,
| owing to the low price of that metal, and
owners of mines of that class have sus-
pended all work on them. Veins of iron,
antimony and lead, which exist, remain un-
developed.
During the year cinnabar was discovered
about $50 miles from Guaymas, in the dis
trict of Ures, and ore has been found yield
ing 80 and 80 per cent These deposits are
being prospected, and, am informed, have
been bonded to an English company. Tue
owners have, by crude process, extracted
twenty TASKS of quicksilver from the ore.
These deposits of cinnabar are the first that
have been discovered or worked in this con-
sular district.
STEAMERS AND SAILING VESSELS.
The only line of steamers between this
port and the United States (or of any foreign
country is the Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany, one steamer, Newbern (of 677.74 tons),
making monthly voyages from San Fran
cisco 10 Guaymas, touching at the inter-
mediate ports of Ensenenda, Magdalena
| Bay. San jose del Cabo. and La Paz (or the
| peninsula of Lower California;, Mazatlan
| (State of Snaloa), and GuaymaS (State of
| Sonora, both going and returning. This
steamer has no subsidy from the Mexican
| Government, but carries the mails
| free and officials of the Govern
ment at half-rates of passage. The
sailing vessels engaged are few, and bring,
| as rule, cargoes OF lumber from Oregon
and California, and their return cargoes are
| phosphates and gypsum from the isl ands of
the Gulf OF California.
The Mexican Government, as an induce
| ment for their vessels to engage in foreign
| trade, gives a 2 per cent rebate on the duties
| of goods brought from foreign pests under
| the Mexican flag.
| been no decrease in the trade with the
| United States. The imports of the United
| States exceed those OF all other nations, and
! now take the place OF those occupied by
| Europe fifteen years ago. The commercial
| facilities OF direct railway connection have
| to some extent brought about this change
| To quote from my last years report, what
| is greatly needed TO increase our CONNER
| cial intercourse with Mexico is a modfca-
ton of the many formalities that hamper
the importation of foreign goods under the
Mexican Custom-house regulations now in
force. We have no treaty OF commerce
and navigation" with Mexico. and if it were
possible TO celebrate one on the principle Of
a freer and more generous trade intercourse
than now exists the results, no doubt, would
be mutually beneficial to the commercial in
terests Of both countries.
~
Governor Mobiles Condition
New YORK, Oct. 24-It is reported that