I,AND QUESTION AND PROPOSAIyS OF THE AGRICUIvTURAL COMMISSION H3 



Besides metals, Mexico possesses important beds of combustible 

 minerals. In the State of Puebla numerous coal mines are worked. 

 In Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Hidalgo and Oaxaca there are ex- 

 tensive beds of coal and Hgnite. The principal coal region is to the north 

 east, partly in the State of Coahuila, partly in that of TamauUpas, with an 

 area of 28,000 square kilometres. 



The working of the petroleum fields had scarcely commenced when 

 it assumed great importance. Petroleum is found in the states bordering 

 the Gulf and in the south. 



Various societies work the petroleum deposits on a greater or lesser scale. 

 Chief among these are the Compania Mexicana El Agutla and another which 

 may be considered as the agent of the famous " Standard Oil Company ". 



4. Industries. — The commercial policy of Spain, and the frequent 

 conflicts and revolutions could not but be unfavourable to the develop- 

 ment of manufactures and those existing are of recent date. Of the most 

 successful, the first place may be accorded to textile industry, which has 

 become very important, especially of late years. In 1911, there were 

 145 factories in various parts of the country, employing 32,147 hands and 

 manufacturing 36,000,000 kgs. of cotton. The fabrics produced are of a 

 cheap quality much used by the natives, and are chiefly counterpanes 

 and printed calicos. The total production in 1911 was 15,090,669 pieces 

 of cloth and 2,706,973 kgs. of cotton. 



In the same year there were 351 tobacco factories and 1,543 distilleries 

 of different classes. Woollen and silk manufactures are also being de- 

 veloped. Ma'nufacture from metals has made but little progress considering 

 the mineral wealth of the country. 



5. Commerce. — We know that Spain, desirous to reserve all the 

 commercial profits of her over sea possessions to herself, absolutely forbade 

 them to trade with other nations. But at the close of the XVIII*** cent- 

 ury, all obstacles to foreign trade were removed by a decree of Charles III. 

 Yet the commercial Hfe of New Spain did not commence before 1877, 

 when intestine contests and foreign intervention had entirel}'- ceased, 

 and peace permitted the natural development of the marvellous resources 

 of the country. 



To give the reader an idea of the growth of Mexican commerce, we 

 subjoin a table giving figures for the financial years 1901-02, 1906-7 and 

 1911-12 ; 



1901-02 1906-07 igii-ia 



Importation (pesos) .... 151,280,482 232,229,578 182,662,311 

 Exportation (pesos) .... 171,776,449 248,018,010 297,989,129 



323,056,931 480,247,588 480,651,440 



