The morning call., 1892-04-19
AN OBJECT LESSON.

Statistics in the March number of the
Consular Reports regarding the foreign
trade of Acapulco are worth noting. Aca-
pulco is the best Mexican seaport on the
Pacific. and there ought in the ordinary
course OF things to be regular and active
maritime intercourse between it and San
Francisco. 1t is 1900 miles south OF this
port, and is 200 miles from the City of
Mexico, from which it is separated by the
fertile State OF Guerrero. The Pacific Mail
steamers touch there going and coming be-
tween San Francisco and Panama. Al the
close Of the last and the beginning OF the
present century there was an active trade
between Acapulco and Manila, and on the
arrival OF the annual galleon from the
Philippine Islands great fair was held at
Acapulco, which merchants attended, not
only from all parts of Mexico, but likewise
from Central America and the Pacific coast
of South America. 1t was a place OF con-
siderable trade and wealth. From various
causes that trade has decayed, until now its
proportions are small.
Last year, il seems, it amounted to about
Sl45,GG0, SS4, 491 of which were exports and
S60.651 imports. The two largest items OF
export were fresh fruit, OF which Acapulco
sent So. 597 to San Francisco, and baled
hides, of which it sent SIS, 767 to New York.
II the boot and shoe industry of this city
had been as prosperous as it promised TO be
six or eight years ago these hides could have
been used here and need not have gone
round the Horn or TO the isthmus The inl-
ports OF Acapulco are very miscellaneous
indeed, comprising nearly every article i'm
gnable-groceries, hardware, dry goods
arms and ammunition, drugs, lumber. ma
chinery. potatoes and wheat, paper, sewing
machines, wine and merchandise generally.
The population of the place is small-only
5000-aDd there is no railroad into the in
terror. so that the articles imported may be
assumed to be for local consumption only,
but il Acapulco was distributing point for
foreign merchandise hundred years ago it
might be made such now. The State of
Guerrero produces cocoa, cochineal, indigo,
wool. coffee. rubber, mahogany and other
woods 1t has ample means TO pay for o
largely increased importation of foreign
goods if they could be laid down at price
which tempted consumers.
The navigation of Acapulco in 1891
amounted 10 90 steamers which cleared and
50 steamers which entered at the port. OF
these, ~ steamers cleared for San Fran
cisco. and 81 entered from this port. No
steamers arrived from Europe. Fifty-two
entered from Panama. and forty-eight
cleared fer that port; these, like the steam
ers TO and from San Francisco, chiefly be-
longed to the Pacific Mail fleet.
This is just place with which we could
build up profitable trade if our steam in
tercourse with 1t were fostered. and sched-
ule of freight rates were adopted which
looked to future as well as immediate
profits. tits by building up such foreign
ports, consuming their surplus produce, and
supplying them with the products of indus
try of which we have a surplus, that San
Francisco can be checked in its present
downward course. With proper enterprise
and energy, half dozen such customers
might be reused to activity, ana each one of
them would carry grist to our mill. The
State OF Guerrero has varied resources;
admirable mesaS and valleys, ia which all
the tropical fruits can be grown, and mines
Of which the value has never been thor
oughly tested. Just now the mesas cOnfine
themselves to growing food for seanty
population. and three-fourths OF the mines
are idle, because there is no outlet from the
interior, the roads being little better than
bride paths. But if the people of the State
could feel sure OF market for their prod
uce at Acapulco, they would mend their
roads, and by and by they would build a
A6liataAs OfCI hi.ANn kilS COHcE, anu GuCDa,
and fruit and ore and drugs and rubber
would find their way to the coast. and the
hardware and groceries aud dry goods OF
the United States would find their way into
the interior.
But these exchanges will only be feasible
when the transportation agencies through
which they are effected content themselves
with reasonable charges for carriage. At
present, the Pacific Mail steamers calculate
to charge all the produce is worth, less a
small sum for the bare support Of the pro-
dUcer, and of course the latter is not tempted
to increase his acreage, or to extend bust
ness which is conducted for the benefit of
others. We shall not turn our advantages
to account until lines of steamers are laid
on between San Francisco and such ports as
Acapulco, which are managed on business
principles and do not rely on subsidies from
railroads for their maintenance