364 Mexico: Fomento 
Legajo 9. 1850-1852. 
Various petitions by citizens of the United States for lands in Mexico. 
(From this point the petitions of citizens of the United States for con- 
cessions of land in Mexico are the chief items of interest. They extend 
to legajo 58, afio 1862. Since the period covered up to this point is that 
of chief interest for the relations between the United States and Mexico, 
detailed notes were not made beyond 1850.) 
GEOGRAFIA Y ESTADISTICA. 
(Geography and Statistics. 1851-1892. 16 legajos.) 
The records of this ramo are of interest primarily for their scientific value. 
They relate chiefly to statistical, geographical, astronomical, meteorological, 
and cartographical matters, such as the appointment of special expert com- 
missions for work in the fields designated, their instructions and reports, the 
reports of the regular experts of the department, correspondence with the 
Sociedad de Geografia y Estadistica, etc. One of the principal functions of 
the department is to secure data for the compilation of the general map of the 
Republic, on which subject there are extensive reports. With respect to the 
history of the United States the documents relating to the work of the various 
boundary commissions (see legajo 2) should be of interest. Ethnologists will 
be interested in the correspondence, especially that in legajo 2, relative to 
surviving native languages in the Republic. These data were apparently 
utilized by Orozco y Berra. Legajo 5 contains correspondence which shows 
that in 1862 the archive of the ex-Contaduria de Propias was delivered to the 
Sociedad de Geografia y Estadistica. 
OTHER RAMOS. 
Besides the foregoing sections, which are those of principal interest for our 
purposes, there are numerous others which can be given general mention here. 
At the time when the investigation was made those accessible were: 
Agricultura (Agriculture). 1853-1860. 8 legajos. 
Archivo. 1842-1856. 28 cajas. In bundles, to the present. 
(Interior administration of the archive.) 
Comercio (Commerce). 1841-1867. About 30 legajos. 
(Matricula—registration—of merchants and reports on this subject of 
commerce. ) 
Comision Geografica Exploradora. 1892. 6 legajos. 
Contratos (Contracts) of railroads and other corporations. Printed. 
Decretos (Decrees). Many bundles. 
(Decrees of the Secretariat of Fomento and of all the other secretariats. ) 
Diversos (Miscellaneous). All recent dates. Numerous legajos. 
Exposiciones (Expositions). All of recent dates. 
(Correspondence relative to exhibits at various expositions in different 
parts of the world.) 
Extinguida Orden de Guadalupe. 1 legajo. 
Mineria (Department of Mines). Correspondence. 1852 to date. Many 
legajos. 
SECCION DE CARTOGRAFIA. 
(SECTION OF CARTOGRAPHY. ) 
In the Seccién de Cartografia of the Secretaria de Fomento there are 
numerous rare old maps, both printed and manuscript. They are kept in flat 
