Page:Mexico as it was and as it is.djvu/399

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
318
MEXICO.

I have been unable to obtain any of the official documents of 1841 and 1842, (in consequence of the disturbed condition of the country,) with the exception of the Custom House returns, for the former year.

Custom-House Tonnage Duty. Net proceeds after deducting
costs of collections.
East Coast. Vera Cruz, $31,032 $3,374,528
Tampico, 7,363 1,019,046
Matamoras, 3,525 279,627
West Coast. Mazatlan, 6,245 397,213
Guaymas, 2,002 46,189
Monterey, 810 85,962
Acapulco, 573 7,193
San Blas, 2,719 190,270
$55,259 $5,399,948


It will be perceived that the Custom Houses of Tabasco, Campeché, Sisal, Isla de Carmen, and Bacalar, are not included in the preceding statement, in consequence of the separation of the first (during the period,) from her allegiance to the Republic, and on account of the rebelious condition of the rest. At the date of the statement, reports from Goatzacoalco, Alvarado, Tuxpan, Huatulco, Manzanillo, La Paz, Pueblo Viejo, Altata, Loreto, San Diego, San Francisco, Soto la Marina, and from the frontier posts of Paso del Norte, Comitan, Tonalá, Santa Fé de N. Mexico, y Presidio del Norte, had not been yet received at the Treasury Office in the Capital. The costs of the collection of this revenue amounted to $52,886, and the salaries of officers to $295,404.

I regret that I was unable to obtain any very accurate date of the Santa Fé Trade, which, under judicious management, might no doubt be very advantageously conducted for the interest of both countries. In the present distracted state, however, of Texas and the Northern Provinces of Mexico, little is to be hoped, until better feelings and better regulations are firmly established. Santa Fé, and Chihuahua divide the trade; the latter, since the year 1831. The subjoined rough estimate has been given me of the value of our trade at both places since that period:

Years. Total at cost. Taken to Chihuahua. Men. Wages.
1831 $250,00  $40,000  320  130 
1832 150,099  45,000  150  80 
1833 145,000  50,000  140  75 
1834 160,000  68,000  160  80 
1835 135,000  55,000  140  70 
1836 122,000  55,000  120  60 
1837 150,000  75,000  150  86 
1838 90,000  50,000  100  59 
1839 260,000  150,000  250  135 
1840 50,000  10,000  60  30 
1841 100,000  50,000  150  80 
1842 200,000  60,000  200  120