MEXICO. 



515 



for the fifty-fifth fiscal year, commencing July 1, 1879, 

 and ending June 30, 1880, shall be composed of the 

 following items : . . . 



ART. XIV. Of the proceeds of the new imposts 

 hereby established as follows, and which shall be col- 

 lected on and after July 1st of the present year, and 

 the articles manufactured in factories or shops whose 

 capital does not exceed $500, are excepted. 



A. Three cents for each gross kilogramme of cotton 

 woven goods, smooth and brown, manufactured in na- 

 tional territory under the denomination of domestics 

 (manias) or otherwise. 



B. Four cents for each gross kilogramme of smooth 

 cotton goods, white or colored, manufactured in na- 

 tional territory. 



C. Two cents for each gross kilogramme of cotton 

 thread of whatever class or factory, manufactured in 

 national territory. 



D. One cent for each gross kilogramme of yarn of 

 all classes, and of cotton, manufactured in national ter- 

 ritory. 



E. Two cents for each square metre of carpet, rug, 

 counterpane, and other analogous woven, woolen 

 goods, or wool and cotton or of other materials with a 

 mixture of any other, manufactured in national terri- 

 tory. 



F. One cent for each square metre of baize, nubias, 

 and other analogous woolen goods, or wool and cot- 

 ton, manufactured in national territory. 



G. One cent for each gross kilogramme of woolen 

 thread, white or colored, manufactured in national 

 territory. 



H. Duties of importation on the foreign goods simi- 

 lar to the national goods taxed in the clauses A, B, C, 

 D, E. F, G, adding to the duties which the former 

 now have fixed by the existing tariff, a sum equivalent 

 to that established by this law on each one of the latter. 



The value of the total annual production of 

 the home-made cotton and woolen fabrics is 

 estimated at $20,000,000, and the yield of the 

 tax thereon at $500,000 ; hence the rate of the 

 impost is about two and a half per cent. It 

 will be observed from the tenor of the fore- 

 going decree that, in order to prevent this new 

 tax from operating favorably upon the impor- 

 tation of foreign goods, the same rate of taxa- 

 tion is also levied upon all similar articles im- 

 ported through the custom-houses, so that the 

 foreign goods, whose duties are above stated, 

 are to be burdened in addition with the same 

 tax as that levied on domestic fabrics. This 

 measure provoked determined opposition on 

 the part, not only of the manufacturers, but 

 also of the trade-unions and protectionists gen- 

 erally, and " nothing but the urgent necessities 

 of a Government with an exhausted Treasury 

 could have secured the passage of the law." 



The state of things to be inferred by the 

 following extract from the President's mes- 

 sage to Congress at the opening of the fall 

 session, September 16, 1880, is one of singular 

 prosperity for Mexico : 



The legal and peaceful renovation of the public 

 powers, at all times an event of great political impor- 

 tance, has rarely had a significance so clear and oppor- 

 tune as to-day. Our relations with the friendly 

 powers continue with the same reciprocal and benevo- 

 lent cordiality, and are carefully maintained by the 

 worthy representatives of those powers and by the 

 agents of Mexico abroad. The Government of the 

 United States of America appointed a new Minister 

 plenipotentiary, who, having been received in the 

 month of April, of the present year, is now in the ex- 

 ercise of the functions of his high investiture. The 



representative of Guatemala, being accredited to the 

 Government of Mexico as Minister of the Republics of 

 Salvador and Honduras, has been received in this 

 character, which will contribute to' strengthening the 

 ties which unite us to the states of Central America. 

 The Argentine Confederation has appointed a consul 

 in Mexico. The Government of his Majesty the 

 King of Spain has invited that of Mexico to take part 

 in an international conference for adopting measures 

 to prevent conflicts of jurisdiction in cases of mari- 

 time disasters. This invitation has been accepted, 

 with the promise to appoint, at the proper time, a rep- 

 resentative to attend the conference. The negotia- 

 tions for the reestablishment of relations between 

 Mexico and France have resulted to the satisfaction 

 of both countries.* The general elections have been 

 held without any serious disturbance of public order. 

 The telegraphic network has continued to be extend- 

 ed over the vast surface of our territory, and the lines 

 belonging to the States and private companies com- 

 prise a total of 9,375 miles. The estimate in force 

 assigns $620,000 for roads and bridges and drain- 

 age of the valley of Mexico and works in the ports. 

 With reference to the progress of railways, it is pleas- 

 ant for me to state that in the State of Morclos work 

 is continued with great activity in the direction of 

 Cuautla, the road to Ozumba, forty-four miles, being 

 already constructed and in operation. In the State 

 of Hidalgo, ten miles have been terminated ; on the 

 line from Merida t to Peto. five ; on that from Vera 

 Cruz to Alvarado, four ; and on that from Puebla to 

 Izucar de Matamoras, eight. The railroad company 

 of the district has increased the number of miles hi 

 operation to fifty-five. The railroad from C clay a to 

 Leon has become the property of the Central .Rail- 

 way Company, with an extension of thirty-eight 

 miles recently completed. On the San Martin Tex- 

 melucan Railway, which is being constructed on ac- 

 count of the Government, an extension of sixteen 

 miles is prepared for the superstructure, and rails 

 for that distance have been ordered. In Tehuan- 

 tepec, three miles are ready to receive the rails, and 

 three more will soon be completed. Work on the 

 Central Railway is prosecuted with activity. The 

 Executive has granted various railway concessions to 

 the States of Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Chihuahua, Mi- 

 choacan, Sinaloa, Oaxaca, Puebla, Vera Cruz, Tlax- 

 cala, Hidalgo, and Yucatan, and has been authorized 

 to reform the contracts made with foreign companies 

 for the construction of international and interoceanic 

 railways and to make new contracts, subjecting them 

 to the law giving the authorization. In the exercise 

 of those rights, the Executive has made contracts with 

 several companies. To one has been given the line 

 starting from this capital and passing by the cities 

 of Quere"taro, Leon, Zacatecas. and Chihuahua, and 

 terminating on the frontier of the north, and besides, 

 another line which will go to the Pacific, passing by 

 Guadalajara. To another company has been granted 

 a concession for a line to the Pacific, passing by To- 

 luca, Morelia, and Zamora, it being stipulated that 

 from a convenient point on this line another will 

 branch to the frontier of the north, touching the cities 

 of San Luis, Saltillo, and Monterey. The Mexican 

 Cable Company, of New York, reports having made a 

 contract for making and laying the cable, with a com- 

 pany in London, which engages to lay it during the 

 month of January, 1881. from a point in the State of 

 Texas to Vera Cruz, with a connection at the mouth 

 of the Panuco. The Executive, as on former occa- 

 sions, is now prepared to pay the fifth installment of 

 the debt which is due in January next to the United 

 States Government, and will place the amount before 

 the time in that country in order to fulfill this national 



* Baron Boissy d'Angley was appointed Minister Plenipo- 

 tentiary to Mexico, October 15, 1880. 



t For already existing railways, see " Annual Cyclopsedia" 

 for 1S73 and following years. Four lines are being built in 

 Yucatan ; that from Merida to Progreso (twenty-five miles) 

 was to be terminated by the end of 1880. 



