The herald., 1897-03-11
FOR TRADE WITH MEXICO
A Cargo OF Merchandise, Lum.
Der and Hay
SAN PEDRO TO ENCINITAS
Prospects for Regular Traffic With the
West Coast
The Enterprise OF 1r. Merkens Of Encinitas,
Los Angeles Merchants ani the
Terminal Railway

Following closely upon the good news
that Los Angeles is to have harbor
where the ships of all nations may un-
load foreign goods at our doors and re-
load with the products of Southern
California, comes the pleasing fact that
the first step toward interna tional COM
merce from that port has already been
taken.
For the first time in many years an
export shipment of merchandise and
ranch products has been made from
Los Angeles through the port of San
Pedro for Mexico. A vessel loaded with
about fifty tons of merchandise. thirty
five tons OF hay and grain and fifty tons
of lumber cleared from our seaport at
San Pedro for Enclntas Mexico.
Several months ago the Merchants
and Manufacturers association of Los
Angeles brought up the matter of se-
curing a steamer line between the port
of this city and the west coast of Mex
leo. AT one time it appeared that some
of our prominent merchants would es-
tablish representatives in Mexico and
inaugurate an interchange of trade and
business relations with that country,
but owing to the financial situation and
other difficulties intervening, the mat
ter was abandoned soon after the first
of the year.
Some correspondence as afterwards
had with various points in Mexico
which finally resulted in a representa-
tive OF the business intenests of Enci-
Eitas, Mr.. Merkens, a member of the
state council and president Of the cham
Der OF commerce of Encinitas coming
to Los Angeles for the purpose of inter-
viewing merchants In certain lines Of
business.
Through the courtesy and enterprise of
few OF our merchants and the efforts
of General Manager s. B. Hynesi and his
general freight agent, w. j. Cox, of the
Terminal Railway company, Mr.. Mer-
kens very shortly purchased about fifty
tons of merchandise and thirty five tons
of hay and grain in this city and some
fifty tons weight of lumber at San Pc
dro. This was loaded last Saturday
upon a small vessel which Mr.. Merkens
had chartered at Encinitas ard cleared
with her cargo from the Terminal wharf
at San Pedro last evening on her return
trip. On account of the very satisfac-
tory treatment received from the mer-
chants of Los Angeles and the Terminal
company, Mr. Merkens expectA to re-
turn to Los Angeles for another cargo in
about six weeks.
The Terminal Railway company has
at various times in the past tried to
persuade various steamer lines doing
business with Mexico to CIll at San Pc
dro, but the guarantees required were
more than the road felt justified in CIV
ing. They are therefore pleased at the
successful venture Of Mr.. Merkens. If
the merchants, manufacturers and pro-
ducers of Los Angeles will properly en-
courage the gentleman from Encinitas
in his commercial etserprise, it will un-
doubtedly lead to the Inauguration of a
regular line or induce the present steam
ships doing business with Mexico to
make regular calls at San Pedro.
Much credit 10 due the Los Angeles
merchants and Terminal officials who
have made successful the initiatory
movement for trade relations with the
western coast of Mexico, which may ul-
timately result greatly to mutual ad-
vantage flf