LETTER XXXI.
THE REVENUE AND RESOURCES OF MEXICO. ARMY. NAVY. PRODUCE OF
MINES. TOTAL GOINAGE. THE CHURCH, ITS WEALTH AND INFLUENCE.
The income of the Mexican Government is derived from revenues on foreign commerce, imposts on internal trade, imposts on pulqué, export duty on the precious metals, lotteries, post-office, stamped paper, taxes, tobacco, powder, salt-works, and several other sources of trifling importance.
In 1840, these revenues are stated in the Report of the Minister of the Treasury as follows:
| Nett proceeds after deducting expenses of collection | ||
| Imposts on Foreign Commerce, | $7,115,849 | |
| "Interior" | 4,306,585 | |
| "On property, income, &c. | 466,061 | |
| Exchanges, &c. | 307,427 | |
| Creditos activós, | 3,309 | |
| Balances of accounts, | 355 | |
| Enteros de productos liquidos, | 452,146 | |
| Extraordinary subsidy, | 103 | |
| Arbitrio estraordinario, | 78,177 | |
| Capitacion, | 483 | |
| Donations, | 13,662 | |
| $12,744,157 | ||
In 1839, the revenues amounted to $11,215,848. The income from the post-office department, (which is not included in the statement for 1840,) was $178,738, in 1839. In 1840, the lotteries produced the gross sum of $215,487—but as the expenses connected with their management, amounted to $158,485, it left a balance of but $56,952, for the Government. The "sealed paper" or stamp tax, produced $110,868, but as this impost has been nearly doubled during 1842, the revenue must at present be proportionally greater.
