Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-25
Consul willard Gives Some Interesting
Facts and Figures.

Facts and Figures.
Especial to the RECORD -UNIoS.l
WASHINGTON, October oath. - Consul
Willard sends an interesting report to the
State Department op the Commerce of
Guaymas" Sonora:
"The population of Sonora, according to
The last census" he says, "is placed al $50,
600, one-fonrth of which are Indians (com-
posing the tribes of the Yaqui, Mayo, Opa-
tas and Punas). most of whom live in viii
lagos and cultivate the soil. The foreign
residents are estimated at little over 1000,
of whom fully half are American citizens,
engaged almost exclusively in mining pur-
suits. The number of Chinese has in
creased during the year the whole mum.
Der in the State will not exceed l per cent,
variously employed, but principally in
manufacturing shoes and coarse clothing.
At this port there are two shoe factories,
that employ 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, l am in
formed, with partial success, as they can
be used on outside workings, but not un-
derground. | am satisfied, by the list of
arrivals of Cinnamon at the Captain of the
Ports Office, that none have arrived with
the object of making this district "step-
ping-stone" to enter the United States. The
surplus arrivals over departures are ac-
counted for by the additional workmen
employed at the shoe factories.
Chinese emigration is looked upon by
the people generally with disfavor and
would be manifested in a positive manner
If large number were brought here to
compete, as laborers, withe the natives of
the country. There is a scarcity of laborers
complained of throughout the country
on the rancAos or farms, and at the mines
but whether this want can be remedied
by the importing of Cinnamon, is some
thing that the future will determine
THE war with the Yaqui Indians, who
inhabit the valley of that name sixty miles
from this port, is about terminated, and
efforts will be made the coming year to
colonize the lands of that valley. On the
frontier 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
containing from 100 to $50 oranges. They
are sent by rail to the United States, prin-
cipally to Chicago and Denver. The fruit,
as mentioned in last years report, COM
mences to ripeD in November, and is pur
chased 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 S. (Mexican silver per thou
sand.
Grapes are grown, but no wine or rails
ins are made for export The same can be
said OF olives, lemons and figs that are
grown for home consumption only.
although the soil and climate are favorable
for their cultivation.
During the past year several new min
ing companies have been formed to work
gold and silver mines in the State (organ-
lied in England and the United StaIes),
and investments amounting to over 81 800,
600, have been made. The amount of sill
yer and gold ores exported during the past
year is estimated to 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 con-
cessions have been granted by the State
Government for the establishment of
smelling works in Sonora, with certain
privileges and exemption OF State taxes for
term of years. This was at the time
when duties on lead contained in silver
and gold ores were being discussed in the
United States; but. as this question is con-
sidered in measure settled dead in the
ores OF silver and gold not being dutiable,
when the value of the lead in said ore is
less in value than the gold and silver con-
tanned in them), the interest in the erection
of these smelling and refining works has
subsided, and they have not been con-
structed.
There are no smelling and refining es-
Establishments in Sonora, where ores are
purchased, or where small mine-owneIs
can have their ores worked. This circum-
stance obliges them to either work the ores
themselves or ship them out of the coun-
try for that purpose.
IN o copper mines are worked in Sonora,
owing to the low price of that metal, and
the owners of mines of that class have sus-
pended all work on them. Veins of iron,
antimony, and lead, which exist, remain
undeveloped.
During the wear cinnabar was discovered
about $50 miles from Guaymas, in the di-
rection of Ures, and ore has been found
yielding 30 and so per cent. These de-
pesits are being prospected, and, | am in
formed, have been bonded to an English
company. The owners have, by a crude
process, extracted twenty TASKS of quick
silver from the ore. These deposits of
cinnabar are the first that have been dis
covered or worked in this Consular dis
trict.
The only line of steamers between this
port and the United States (or of any for
eign country is the Pacific Coast Steamship
Come, one steamer, the Newbern, of 677 IA
tons, making monthly voyages from San
Francisco to Guaymas, touching at the in
termediate ports of EnseDada, Magdalena
Bay, San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz Tor the
peninsula of Lower California;, Mazatlan
(State of Sinaloa), and Guaymas (State of
Sonora), both going and returning. This
steamer has no subsidy from the Mexican
Government, but carries the mail free and
the officials of the Government at halfrates
of passage. The sailing vessels are few,
and bring, as rule, cargoes of lumber from
Oregon and California, and their return car
goes are phosphates and gypsum from the
islands of the Gulf of California
The Mexican Government, as an induce
ment for their vessels to engage in foreign
trade, gives 2 per cent. rebate on the
duties of goods brought from foreign ports
under the Mexican flag.
1t is satisfactory to note that there has
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 CONNER
cial facilities Of direct railway connection
has, TO some extent, brought about this
change. To quote from my last years re-
port, what is greatly needed 10 increase
our commercial intercourse with Mexico is
a modification 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 was possible to celebrate
one on the principle of freer and more
generous trade intercourse than now ex-
lists, the results, no doubt, would be mu-
tuslly beneficial to the commercial inter-
ests of both countries"
Cushirg's Boilers.
WASHINGTON, October 24th.-rhe Engi-