The times., 1898-12-29
MEXICANS FAVOR AMERICA.
The Demand for Agricultural Ma
chinery Increases Rapidly.


The Demand for Agricultural Ma
chinery increases Rapidly.
The State Department has received a re-
port from Consul Charles w. Kendrick at
Ciudad Juarez, regarding the market for
American agricultural machinery in Mex
leo.
He says:
american agricultural implements are
imported into Mexico. at least along the
border. without competition from abroad.
Our manufacturers have clear field and
market to themselves. In addition TO
this advantage, the demand for United
States agricultural machinery Is steadily
increasing. In the first place. imp ements
for tilling the soil are better in the United
States than those made in any other COM
try. Our manufacturers have the advan-
tage Of quick transportation and moderate
freight rates. and all agricultural imple-
ments shipped into Mexico are entered free
of duty at the custom houses.
President Diaz has lcng considered the
development OF agriculture the most i'm
portant OF the national industries AL
ready capital is invested in various states
of Mexico in the cultivation of large tracts
of land. and syndicates are being organ
lied TO scientifically cultivate products n
digenous to the country. This means the
employment OF modern methods and IN ID
ern agricultural machinery.
THE American plow and cuitivaior
came with the railroads. and the use of
these implements is being gradually ex-
tended among the small fzrners and yay
from the lines OF communication. AS the
agricultural implements OF the United
States are substituted for the antiquated
instruments heretofore employed. their us ,
and value is appreciated. and every Amer
lean plow is an object lesson indicating
the possibilities of larger returns for a
acres.
Agricultural development means much
to Mexico. as it has meant so much to the
United States. This fact is realized in
| Mexico. and the result is a liberal treat
ment OF American agricultural machinery
! indeed, its free admission to the Repub-
| lie.
THE American manufacturers should
not conclude that because the implements
are purchased in the United States it is
unnecessary to canvass Mexico with the
| hope OF increasing the demand. The sales
OF our manufacturers might be extensively
| increased by dispatching to the agricul-
| tural districts intelligent representatives.
| who understand the habits and customs OF
| their prospective patrons and the Spanish
| language. In the northern section of Mex
| leo. and especially in my consular district
| agriculture is limited TO the valleys where
| irrigation is possible. But here the returns
are excellent, experience proving that irri-
CATION brings better results than are real
| ized in the zones where the supply OF mois-
ture is left to the yagaries of the season.
| The Mormons, who are colonizing the
northern and western sections of the Stats
OF Chihuahua. follow agriculture almost
! exclusively. They use American plows
binders and reapers, and other necessar!
implements.
For the fiscal wear ended June 80. 1896
$50 eco worth of agricultural machinery
was imported at the custom house in thi:
city. The fiscal year ended June 80. 1897
showed importations amounting to nearly
$4,000. There will be q material increase
over this amount at the end OF the presen
year. The principal articles imported ar
rakes. mowers. harrows. cultivators plows
shovels and hoes. Hay tedders are seldom
used. as the dry atmosphere and perpetua
sunshine. at least in this section, cure ha.
very quickly after it is cut.
Manufacturers of firearms and cutlery
in the United States make special expor
prices to purchasers in Mexico in orde
to compete with European manufacturer
of these objects. ! am informed by i'm
pcrters that the manufacturers OF agrieul
tural implements do not make a specia
export price, but that they would secur'
more business If such 4 consideration wer,
offered. The high rate of exchange ant
long distance should inspire American
manufacturers to figure more closely OF
implements intended for the Mexican mar
ket. The demand will always increase II
a section where modern implements hav,
been once introduced