The herald., 1897-09-09
TRADE WITH MEXICO
Strong Probability of It in the Near
Future

Negotiations between the Mexican
steamship line known as the Lower Cali
fornia Development company, of Eu-
senada, and the merchants of Los Ange-
les have so far progressed that it may
be said that regular steamship line
between all the ports of Mexico and
those of Southern California will be
realized in the near future.
Frederic M. Lee, who represents the
steamship company met on his last
trip the transportation committee of
the Merchants and Manufacturers as
sociation and several of the merchants
when the proposition was thoroughly
discussed. Mr.. Lee stated at that meet
ing that next month one of the heavy
stockholders of the company will come
to Los Angeles to make permanent and
definite arrangements. The rest of the
principal directors of the company are
living in London.
There are at present in course of con-
struction two iron steamships, one of
which will be finished in October. This
steamship will be here ready for traffic
early in January of '9S. The steamship
company is very willing to give Southern
California direct communication with
Mexico twice or even four times a mont h
If business relations warrant it. Mr..
Lee promised that freight rates could
be established sufficiently low to en-
able the merchants of Southern Cali
fornia to compete with those Of San
Francisco, who have for years held the
Mexican trade in their hanG,s.
While it was impossible for the mer-
chants here to state, even approximate
ly the amount of freight that could be
depended upon from here, it was shown
that with 500 miles in their favor the
merchandise could be laid down in all
parts Of Mexico cheaper than was pos
sible with goods from San Francisco,
provided the steamship company made
low enough rates. A number of the i'm
porters in the city gave Mr.. Lee large
orders for coffee, rice, bananas, dates,
cocoanuts and other Mexican products.
Mr.. Lee offered free transportation to
any twelve representatives of mercan-
tile houses in this city for one trip down
the coast and return to enable them to
look over the field and see what busi-
ness relations could be established.
In accordance with that invitation
Secretary Zeehandelaar sent to forty
two of the local business houses letter
stating Mr.. Lees proposition, and halt
dozen replies have already been re-
ceived from houses who will send repre-
sentat tives down. The steamer will cal
at all ports as far south as San Benito
which is the lowest point on the Mexi-
can coast, and will remain long enough
at each port to give the representatives
on board time to see the merchants in
those places, and they may go into the
interior as far as the City of Mexico.
The ports visited will include Ensen-
ada, San Quintin, San Jose del Gallo
Mazatlan, San Bias, Acapulco, Puentc
Angel, Saliya Crue and San Benito
The round trip from San Pedro to San
Benito and return will take six weeks
all of which time the representatives
will be the guests of the steamship COM
pany.
If such a steamer line were, estab-
lished it would enable merchants here
to supply the eastern markets with
coffee, rice and fruits; whereas the To-
cal market has been supplied hereto
fore with coffee from New Orleans and
New York, if this arrangement goes into
effect the Los Angeles merchants can
supply the home market from Mexico al
cheaper rates, supply the eastern mar
kets as well, ship local products tc
Mexico in exchange for their trade and
open up large new field heretofore
held by San Francisco.