H&fcenfca. 247 



total of Mexico's imports for the year 1896-97 shows a falling-off of 

 $49,843, but, notwithstanding this fact, Mexico's imports from the 

 United States increased $2,448,097. During the year England's ex- 

 ports to Mexico decreased $1,023,315, and her imports from Mexico 

 show a loss of $2,186,622, a combined loss of over 12 per cent, in her 

 commercial relations with the Republic. Imports to Mexico from 

 France fell off $1,110,101, a loss of one-sixth of all France's exports 

 to Mexico. In 1895-96 the United States imported 75.8 per cent, 

 of the total exports from Mexico ; in 1896-97 American exporters fur- 

 nished 53-J per cent, of all that Mexico bought abroad, and, more 

 than this, the United States took 47.67 per cent, of all that was ex- 

 ported from Mexico. These figures sustain the prediction made, that 

 any unsettlement or diminution of Mexico's importations either be- 

 cause of fluctuating silver or the increased production of home manu- 

 factories would affect American exporters less than those of any other 

 country. The statistics given above show that these causes have affected 

 them less than those of all the other countries combined ; in fact, their 

 loss has been the gain of the United States. 



TRADE BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES DURING THE 

 FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 1897. 



The following data, taken from the publications of the Statistical 

 Bureau of the United States Treasury Department, shows the results 

 of the trade with Mexico in the nine months ended September 30, 

 1897, as compared with the similar period ended September 30, 1896. 



Mexican Exports to the United States. In the following items the 

 first group of figures represents the amounts and values exported in 

 the first nine months of this year, and the second those of the similar 

 period in 1896 : 



Coffee, 30,016,967 pounds, worth $4,574,252 gold, against 19,715,264 

 pounds, worth $3,333,385. The much lower price of coffee this year 

 accounts for the disproportionate valuation. 



The people of the United States, besides being Mexico's chief cus- 

 tomers for coffee, are buying more and more of our tobacco, which 

 they now know and appreciate on its merits. The amount exported to 

 the United States was 600,987 pounds, worth in gold $294,536, against 

 IQ^SOS, worth $78,769. 



Mexico exported, in the period under consideration, to the United 

 States, hides and skins to the value of $1,534,306 gold, against $1,055,- 

 299. The quantities, respectively, were 11,764,000 pounds, and 7,102,- 

 465 pounds. No diminution of activity there. 



It is worth noting that oranges were shipped out to the value of 

 $22,444 gold against $19,359. 



