Commercial Relations of the United States with Foreign Countries

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.