flmmigration. 



125 



same, and up to 1888 it had distributed in that manner 67,368 hectares 

 among 2936 titles, and from 1889 to 1892 180,169 hectares among 

 4560 titles. In accordance with the provisions of our public land 

 laws we sold to private parties, who pre-empted the lands for purchase, 

 which we call "denuncio," 3,635,388 hectares among 1504 titles, and 

 from 1889 to 1892 1,353,137 hectares among 1218 titles. From July i, 

 1891, to August 18, 1896, 9,677,689 hectares of land were surveyed, of 

 which 6,504,912 hectares belong to the government, and the balance, 

 3, I 7 2 j777 hectares, belong to private companies. 



Every year the Department of Fomento publishes under authority 

 of law a price-list of public lands, which have different prices in each 

 state and are sometimes divided into three classes ; the first, second, 

 and third having each a different price. The following is the official 

 price of public lands fixed by the Department of Fomento for the 

 fiscal year 1895-1896 : 



In the statistical part of this paper I shall insert some data about 

 the sales of public lands by the Mexican government from 1867 to 1895, 

 and a statement of the titles issued from the years 1877 to 1895. 



IMMIGRATION. 



It has always been the aim of the Mexican government from the 

 time of the independence of the country, to encourage the immigration 

 of foreigners, because Mexico being so large and the population so 

 scanty, it was considered a necessity to promote the development of 

 the country, to increase the population by inducing the settlement of 

 foreigners, and different laws have been issued for that purpose. 



Since the restoration of the Republic new laws have been sanctioned 

 to encourage colonization, which allow colonists and the companies 

 bringing them free importation of their personal goods and such articles 



