now concentrated in advancing their business interests, and not as in former years seeking for public preferment at the cost of revolution and bloodshed.

Real estate and mines have increased in value all over the State, and a healthy vitality is apparent in the industrial pursuits of the people which did not exist prior to the commencement and completion of the railroad.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Several improvements of a marked character have taken place in this port since my last annual report, and prominent among which is the construction of a street railroad. The city authorities have entirely remodeled the unsightly plaza, and now it is considered an ornament to the city.

The railroad company are grading property at Punta Arenas, a short distance from the city, to build a large 80-room hotel, and which it is expected will be finished in the month of May next, at a cost of $100,000.

It is hoped that during the coming year fresh water will be introduced into this port, under the concession granted by the State government some years ago.

There is a strong tendency to improvement in all branches of building, and it is expected the coming year will show marked and decided progress in this respect.

MINING INTERESTS.

The mining interests of the State remain more or less the same as mentioned in my last year's report. There are many valuable mines of gold, silver, copper, iron, and lead throughout this consular district.

The great wealth of Sonora can be said to exist in her mineral deposits, and particularly in the northwestern portion bordering on Arizona and in the Sierra Madre adjoining the State of Chihuahua, which is unfortunately at this time overrun with Apache Indians.

Among the prominent mines that are being worked can be mentioned the following: Of gold, Santa Helena, Los Mulatos, and Las Prietas. Of silver, La Trinidad, Las Barancas, Las Bronces, Zubiate, San Augustine, Santa Feliceta, San Juan, Alamada and Trito, and the Quintera; the latter two of Alamos. All of the foregoing mines have steam machinery. Two-thirds of these are owned by foreign companies (one being an English company and the rest American).

Among the prominent copper mines are those of Nacasari, La Cananea, Promontorio, San Antonio, and Potrero.

The principal coal mines that are developed are those at the Bronces and the Barrancas, being anthracite of a good quality. There are other coal fields in the State, but as yet undeveloped, some of which have been contracted for by an American company with the State government, which may lead to their development in the near future.

Placer mines of gold are found in nearly every district of the State, but are worked to a very limited extent, owing to the scarcity of running water so necessary to the successful working of all placer gold mines.

AGRICULTURE.

The crops have not been as abundant as the previous year, owing to the scarcity of rains and their late advent. As no rain fell in June or July, most of the corn crop partly failed. It is estimated that the de

ficit will reach 10 per cent. on last year's crop. In general, other crops outside of cereals, the returns show that they are on an average of last year's report.

Flour continues in the hands of the monopoly, but a considerable quantity is now brought from Magdalena, in the north of Sonora, which point has quite an extensive wheat-growing country around it.

The demand for American agricultural implements is still increasing, and they form an item in the imports from the United States.

The public prints of the State are still agitating the opening up of the rich lands of the Yagui and Mayo Rivers, but nothing of importance has been as yet accomplished. These lands, once opened to colonization, will add materially to the product of Sonora.

SANITARY.

I regret to state that the sanitary condition of this consular district has been very seriously impaired by the advent of a malignant type of fever, which the board of health here have pronounced yellow fever, and which commenced in the month of August and ended in October last. Sanitary measures are being used with a view to prevent its recurrence the coming year, by which means it is hoped that the former healthy condition of this port will be re-established.

The percentage of deaths during the fever epidemic among the resident natives and foreigners did not exceed 5 per cent. of the total number who were taken sick with the fever.

There is no history or tradition of a fever of this kind visiting this consular district, and the opinion is general that it will not return.

POPULATION.

The population of this consular district is about the same as last year, estimated at 120,000, of which it is estimated 1,500 are foreigners, and of these latter 800 are United States citizens, mostly engaged in mining, and some as traders. The Germans are entirely in mercantile pursuits. The French, Italians, and those of other nationalities, are engaged as miners, traders, and agriculturists.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

From the 1st of October the Mexican Government has introduced the decimal system in currency, to go into effect on the 1st of January, 1884. All 61 cents (medios), 123 cents (reales), and copper coin are retired from circulation and replaced by 5 cent and 10 cent pieces of silver, and 1 cent, 2 cent, and 5 cent nickel coins.

During the past year there has been uninterrupted political peace throughout this consular district, and from present appearances and indications there is no ground for expecting any political disturbances. Sonora has entered upon, it is hoped, an area of permanent peace and progress.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Guaymas, December 31, 1883.

A. WILLARD,

Consul.

A.-Statement showing the imports at Guaymas, Mexico, for the year ending December 3, 1883.

B.-Statement showing the exports from Guaymas, Mexico, for the year ending December 31,

NOTE.-The amount of exports by land, by the Sonora Railroad and wagons, I am not able to pro cure from the frontier custom-houses on the Arizona and Sonora frontier, as stated fully in my report

C.-Statement showing the navigation at the port of Guaymas, Mexico, for the year ending

Report by Consular Agent Langner on the commerce and industries of Tehuantepec for the year 1883.

I have the honor to submit herewith annual reports for this year, which although commencing very promising to become a good one as to commercial transactions, began to decline in June at a proportionate advance to the monetary scarcity prevailing on this isthmus these last four months.

Interoceanic railroad works started at the end of last year with great enthusiasm and materials in abundance. In a few months the track was brought up to Zuleta, a cattle ranch, about 5 kilometers distant from Salina Cruz. This was the most difficult part of the road between the port and Tehuantepec, the ground forming a constant interchange of valley and hills, so that curves and bridges were wanted. From Zuleta to Santa Cruz, a suburbial quarter of Tehuantepec, other 14 kilometers got finished in April. A provisional bridge crossed the river which intersects this town, and the 5th of May the locomotive first came into the market square of Tehuantepec.

Since that time other 14 to 16 kilometers rails have been laid between Tehuantepec and Comitancillo, throughout a level country.

The construction is in many parts not very solid, but only can be called provisional; money was to hand at the beginning, but since last May a considerable lack could be noted, increasing every month.

Commerce opened very active in the first period, owing to the increased demand of articles of every kind. But this state of things did not last long. At the end of October the cholera-morbus dropped in, decimating the population in less than three weeks, paralyzing business entirely.

In May a general shortness of money commenced to appear, which is still prevailing.

Imports augmented considerably on account of the railroad enterprise, amounting in the value of the materials landed to about a quarter of a million. Of these only rails came from England; the rest, including ties, lumber, and machinery, has been purchased in the United States. Particulars are shown in statements A, B, C. The importation of general merchandise, however, did not increase in proportion.

The exports show a decrease in three articles: indigo, coffee, and brazil-wood. Indigo has been sent all to Mexico City, as the last crop did not even produce 20 per cent. of that gathered in regular times, where prices rose to $1.75 for good class, thus leaving no chance to exporters.

Coffee has been sold to the interior, in consequence of the prohition to move packages of any kind during and after the cholera disease. Brazil-wood has got extremely scarce along this coast, and nobody thinks of cutting in view of the abated prices of this wood.

Navigation shows, as per statement D, a general increase, which must be accredited to an increase of European; steam navigation is about the same as customary.

Mines are quite abandoned. The only mine which has been in exploitation does not even defray the expenses, but will probably leave a loss.

UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY,

Tehuantepec, November 12, 1883.

A. LANGNER,
Consular Agent.

Statement showing the imports at Salina Cruz for the year ending September 30, 1883.