The Critic and record., 1891-04-17
LANDS To THE SOUTH.
THE FALLING Or IN IMPORTATIONs
IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
Hard Times Makes the Argentines Live
Economically and Drink Beer Instead
Of Wine--shipping Entering Argen.
tine Ports--points About Mexico and
Honduras.
a comparison of the imports Of the
Argentine Republic for 1890 with those of
1850 shows that the agricultural develop
mCnt Of that country has been very much
retarded by the financial troubles, as the
number of animals for breeding purposes
imported in 1890 numbered only 2,02O
against If .GlO in 1889. The importation
of wire fences has fallen from $1,000 to
10000 tons The Argontines imported
100000 gallons less of wine I'm 1890 than
in 1850, but there was corresponding in
crease of 20 per cent. in the amount of
beer imported. That shows that during
the hard times poople took the cheaper
beverages.
The imports OF iron and steel decreased
from 1900 tons IN 1889 TO 1000 tons in
1890, the number Of plows from 30 500 to
28,6OO, the number Of sewing.machines
from $4,000 TO 1900 The importation of
lumber declined so per cent, which indi.
Gates great falling of IN building, and
the importation of coal declined % per
cent. The total falling Off in 1890 was
s2l ,O3iiGOl in the imports and SO ll0,0u
in the exports. The principal exports
were wool, hides, wheat and other bread.
stults, cured meats and frozen carcasses of
beef and mutton The imports include
all forms Of manufactured goods.
Followingis the number of the steamers
entering the harbOrs of the Argentine
Republic during the last year and the
nations under whose flag they sailed
British 5,3O2, German $50 French Ill
American 49, Spanish 800, Italian 800,
Norwegian 81, Dutch 16l, Russian 80,
Swedish I03, Danish 1877, Austrian III,
Japanese l5s, Belgian 90, Brazilian l20,
Greek GS, Portuguese II. Total number
of vessel, 0,63S.
The total tonnage of these steamers was,
gross, 1885, 700; net, S,2S6,6l7. OF this
England's share was, gross, S,Ol3, ,S72; net,
5lOG,5Sl. The United States, gross, 533.
333; net, 375,05
A curious discovery has been made on
CCdros Island, Mexico, in the form of
bed OF white sand, extending along the
top of the mountain. It is believed to be
the remains of an ancient quartz ledge,
pulyerized by intense heat, and IL is said
10 be as fine as though 1t had been run
through battery of stamps. II varies
from three to eight feet in thickness and
is asserted to be rich in gold.
In April, 1856, the Government of
Mexico granted o concession To Messrs.
Huller u Co. for the establishment of
line Of steamers which, starting from the
port of Santiago, Cal, should touch at the
various ports Of the Gulf of California to
The Pacific coast and continue 10 San Jose,
Guatemala. This contract was subse-
qucntly transferred to the Mexican Col
onization Company, Hartford, Conn. but
the ConCossionarics having failed to COM
ply with the stipulations of the contract,
II has been declared forfeited. The Mexi-
can Government has, however, granted
similar concession to q company organ
lied in Portland, Me.
The Mexican Government has appointed
Don leandTo Fernandez, the DELEGATE
from that republic TO the intercontinental
railway conference, as special commits
sioner to visit Chicago and select site in
the Worlds Fair grounds in Jackson
Park for the location of the Mexican
buildings, WHICH will be very extensive
and ornate.
A private letter received by the bureau
of the American Republics from promi-
nent citizen of Honduras says:
ut seems at last as if the great barrier
to commerco-lack of transportation-is
about to be overcome. English engineers
| are now ut Puerto Cortez, busy with the
| pTeliminaries for the work of ex-
| tending the railroad which now exists
| from the port San Pedro thirty-nine
miles to Portresillos, thirty-one miles
| further, or seventy miles from the coast.
| This will form the first part of the Inter
| Oceanic Railroad, 2l0 miles from the Car
| ibbean Sea to the Pacific.
The capital for this work has been pro-
vided by an English syndicate, and as
| soon as IL is completed IL is their intention
| to appeal to the public for capital to finish
| il to the Bay of Fonseca, thus furnishing
perfect and beautiful overland route,
| with q magnificent natural harbor at each
end. a French company has also Just
| obtained a concession to build railroad
| from San Lorenzo, on the Bay of Fonseca,
| to this capital, and their representative
| here tells me IL is their intention to pro-
| ceed with the work Immediately. These
roads will be the entering wedge that will
| break up the isolation of this beautiful
country and make it accessible to the
forces of capital and enterprise, all that
Is required to make it blossom rs the
| rose.'"
| The Government of Honduras has
| granted to Messrs. II. w. Perry and Il. NJ.
lmboden, both citizens of the United
States, concession of land covering the
entire region known as Mosquito, the
| payment for which is to be made in the
construction of expensive public works,
including an army road from Teguci-
| galpa TO the coast Of the Caribbean Sea,
more than 300 miles in length; another a
canal to connect the Caratasca Lagoon
with the Guayapa River. This canal is to
be twenty miles in length, with uniform
width of twelve yards and depth Of five
feet, and will afford facilities for trans
portation that have long been needed. In
addition to these works Messrs Perry and
lmboden agree to erect 100 miles of tele-
| graph line, establishing communication
by wire between the Mosquito region and
the interior of the country. Active meas
ures will at once be taken 10 induce inn
migrants TO settle upon the lands of the
concession and liberal inducements are
| offered