i 9 6 



Statistical IRotes on Aexico. 



in silver, they have to buy gold at current prices to pay their gold 

 obligations, and the depreciation of silver causes them a very great 

 loss, but notwithstanding that serious drawback, the increase in their 

 business and earnings has been such as to place them in a position to 

 meet their gold obligations. 



I give below a statement of the traffic and receipts of the three 

 principal railways in Mexico, namely : the Mexican Central, Mexican 

 National, and Mexican International, which I have obtained directly 

 from the respective companies. I also give similar statements from 

 the other roads, which I have taken from statements published by the 

 Anuario Estadistico de la Republica Mexicana of 1895. 



Mexican Central. The Mexican Central is the largest road so far 

 built in Mexico. The whole of the main line was opened for traffic 

 in 1884, and all figures for traffic previous to July i, 1884, were 

 thrown into Construction Accounts. The annexed statement of freights 

 and earnings of this road begins therefore in 1885, and shows a decided 

 increase every year. I also append a statement of the traffic and 

 earnings of this road and its branch from Tula to Pachuca, from 1881 

 to 1895, taken from the Anuario Estadistico de la Republica Mexicana of 

 1895, which has been compiled from data furnished by the company 

 to the Mexican Government. (See first table on page 197.) 



EARNINGS OF THE MEXICAN CENTRAL RAILWAY FROM 1885 TO 1896. 



MEXICAN CURRENCY. 



Mexican National. The Mexican National obtained its first con- 

 cession from the Mexican Government in 1877, but it was amended 

 from time to time thereafter, until all the amended grants were grouped 

 in the concession approved July 5, 1886, under which the road is now 

 operated. The old companies did not print any reports, and there is 

 no data running back further than the time when the bondholders took 

 possession of the property at the foreclosure sale, which occurred in 

 the City of Mexico on May 23, 1887. I give a statement of the traffic 



