manufactured product being 348,183,050 yards, valued at $26,907,079. The number of spindles was 632,601, the looms numbering 20,271. Thirty-five printing machines were in operation, and the number of workmen employed was 26,149.

BANANA CULTURE.

[From United States Consul CANADA, Veracruz, Mexico.]

Inquiries are frequently received at this consulate regarding the adaptability of the soil in this section of the country to the cultivation of the banana.

The different varieties of banana will grow anywhere along the coast line and in the interior up to a moderate altitude. The fruit may be found in the markets all the year round. In the immediate vicinity of Veracruz the banana is not, however, cultivated with a view to export. In many sections of the uplands the plants are much utilized for securing shade to the more sensitive coffee plants. In size and quality the fruit from Jamaica and Cuba is much superior to that found in this neighborhood. This may be owing to the peculiar character of soil here, which is, in some instances, almost pure sand; nevertheless the plant seems to thrive in it, for it grows in the sandy strip along the coast-even in the "patios" of the houses in the city of Veracruzwithout any special effort on the part of anyone.

Farther to the south and in the interior the soil is of a different nature, clay predominating in many sections. This soil should prove to be excellent for cultivating the banana. In many sections on the isthmus of Tehuantepec the soil is of this nature, but with the existing transportation facilities to the coast these sections can not be considered as available. The State of Tabasco, to the south of Veracruz, should, however, be an ideal spot for the cultivation of the fruit on a large scale. The climate, the soil, the proximity to the coast, and the presence of a magnificent river system are all important factors not to be underestimated in the selection of lands for a plantation.

The question of transportation from the plantation to the vessel is also a matter of the utmost importance to the prospective investor, and should receive his closest attention. Excessive cost of transportation is an effectual bar to success. The plantation should be located, if possible, on the coast or, in default of a suitable location on the coast, on or near the banks of a river accessible to small ocean-going steamers to facilitate loading and to obviate the necessity of much handling of the fruit. The lack of the first will add to the cost of production, and the latter is detrimental in the highest degree, as the bunches of bananas must be handled with the greatest care to prevent the fruit from being bruised. The interior of the State of Veracruz has much in its favor for the planting of the banana, but the cost of transportation to the

coast by means of established lines of railroads (unless special rates should be given with the assurance that there would be no unnecessary delay on the road) would make this means of conveyance prohibitive to the planter.

In commencing a plantation the young plants are set out at certain intervals of time, to insure production at regular intervals throughout the year. The fruit is cut before it ripens, and cutting is begun only several days before the arrival of the steamer to be loaded with the fruit. A small steamer usually carries about 15,000 bunches and is loaded in one day. The vessel often arrives early in the morning, enters at the custom-house, loads, and is cleared for its destination the same day. A close calculation as to the time necessary to insure arrival at the port of destination is made before the fruit is cut, as it is very essential that the cargo should arrive before the fruit becomes ripe, which must not occur until the bunches are in the hands of the retail dealers. If, on account of premature cutting, delay in arrival of steamer or in the loading of the vessel, or any other reason, the fruit should ripen too soon, the entire shipment would probably prove a loss to the shipper or exporter.

The vessels engaged in this trade are specially arranged for this purpose. The ship must have perfect ventilation in all parts and at all times, and the hatches are frequently left open during the entire voyage, even in bad weather. Fruit steamers for northern ports are provided with steam-heating apparatus to insure a suitable and uniform temperature at all times.

Aside from the question of quality of soil, an abundant rainfall is one of the most important factors in the culture of the banana, and as all favorable conditions are present in the State of Tabasco doubtless this territory will in the near future furnish a large part of the supply for the United States and perhaps for Europe as well, because of its geographical position and its superior facilities for rapid transportation. As the plant does not seem to be troubled by pests of any kind, the only real danger of losing a crop is occasioned by a gale or strong winds, but in this respect Cuba and Jamaica are similarly affected.

The press recently made mention of a new enterprise about to be inaugurated in the State of Tabasco, where it is proposed to erect a plant for the manufacture of various products from the banana. It is proposed to erect an evaporator for drying the fruit at San Juan Bautista, and from this dried fruit to produce banana flour, banana coffee, and other food products. These are to be put on the market in the United States and perhaps in other countries. It is doubtful if the Mexican people, who know the food value of the banana and the platano, and have the finest coffee growing at their doors, could be convinced of the superiority of any manufactured substitute for either.

NEW RAILROAD CONCESSION.

Col. JOSEPH H. HAMPSON, of the City of Mexico, has obtained a concession from the Mexican Government to build and operate a railroad from Rancho de Guarda, in the Federal district, to Canada de Nepanepa, in the State of Morelos, Mexico. The terms of the concession require that the survey for the proposed line of road shall be commenced immediately and that the final location shall be submitted to the National Department of Communications as soon as completed. The government agrees not to give any other concession for a parallel line of road within a distance of 15 miles on either side of this road within the next ten years. The road must be completed within three years. Mr. HAMPSON is a wealthy railroad contractor. He built the Mexico, Cuernavaca and Pacific Railroad and operated it for a number of years.

AMERICAN TRADE IN COAHUILA.

[From United States Vice-Consul BONNET, Ciudad Porfirio Diaz, Mexico.]

The balance of trade between this consular district and the United States is largely in favor of the latter, the exports thereto being limited to a few articles, chiefly istle, the fiber of the lechugia, which abounds in this district and is used for making ropes, sacks, etc. Hides and goatskins are also largely exported to the United States, and, recently, pecans, wheat, and bran.

There are two cotton factories in this district equipped with the most modern machinery. Although the products are entirely consumed in the home market, they interfere somewhat with the imports of American cottons.

The coal measures of this district (Coahuila) are being extensively developed. They are the only extensive coal mines in Mexico. The minimum daily output is 3,000 tons of coal and 1,500 tons of coke.

The license tax on commercial travelers varies from time to time, and differs in each municipality, ranging from $3.75 to $50, according to the size of the town and the time for which the license is taken out. American methods of packing goods are satisfactory, but when destined for the mountain district, away from the railroads, packages should not weigh more than from 150 to 300 pounds, the latter being a pack-mule load.

Mexico is making big strides in the manufacture of goods for home. consumption, such as shoes, cotton and woolen goods, and dynamite. None of these are exported, as they bring better prices at home and are inferior to the goods manufactured in the United States. Nearly all the better class of Mexicans wear American shoes and clothing.

The imports into the district, beyond the Free Zone, from the United

States, are chiefly lumber, agricultural and mining machinery, railroad materials, and coal from the mines at Eagle Pass, Tex.

American houses should send experienced men into Mexico to look the situation over and learn what kind and style of goods are wanted. These men should speak Spanish, and familiarize themselves with the needs of the country, as, although the better class of Mexicans are adopting the American styles, there are still some very nice distinetions in dress that must be seen to be understood.

Another important thing is that in the American counting house at home there should be one man who can correspond with Mexican customers in their own language, as the Mexican merchant does not as a general rule speak or care to speak English.

PROTECTION FOR MEXICAN PRODUCERS.

[From United States Consul LEROY, Durango, Mexico.]

The Government of Mexico, by customs imposts or by consumption taxes, and sometimes by both, within the past year has extended quite heavy protection (freight rates also being taken into consideration) to the new steel works at Monterey, and has given a virtual monopoly to the large new dynamite and explosives factory in the State of Durango. It had previously extended protection to the fruit-canning industry at Guadalajara, the cotton factories throughout the Republic, and the soap factories in the principal cotton-growing district. The following is from the October 27 issue of the "Mexican Herald," a newspaper whose information is often semiofficial:

"It is rumored the Government is considering aiding the sugar manufacturers and planters of Mexico by giving them practically a monopoly of the alcohol market in the Republic. It is proposed, it is asserted, to accomplish this by increasing the present tax on alcohol made from corn and products other than molasses, the increase being great enough, it is said, to be prohibitive of manufacture.

"The benefit that will result to the sugar manufacturers from such a move on the part of the Government will be immense. It means higher prices of alcohol, and sugar mills equipped with modern outfits. can afford to purchase cane from the small planters at prices that will prevent the manufacture of crude sugar or piloncillo.

"The increased value of alcohol as a by-product will allow refined sugar to be placed on the market at a much lower price than under present conditions."

AMENDED CUSTOM-HOUSE ORDINANCES.

(Continued.)

ART. 366. He will be considered as the consignee in this capital who was designated as such by the consignee at the port of entry at the

time when the latter asked the local custom-house for permission to forward the goods for clearance at the import custom-house of Mexico City.

If the goods are introduced through a maritime custom-house the consignee in Mexico will present to the custom-house of importation the petition for clearance, and if the goods are introduced through one of the frontier custom-houses, the consignee will present only a request for clearance, properly stamped, stating that he accepts the consignment. The comparison of the requests, the clearance of the goods, and the collection of duties will be effected by the import custom-house of Mexico, according to the formalities provided by these ordinances for goods entered through the maritime or frontier custom-houses, as the be.

case may

The receipts arising from duties on the goods in question will be considered by the import custom-house of Mexico as a source of revenue appertaining to itself, and it will apply them to the several branches of the service. Fines imposed as a consequence of the comparison of documents or the clearance of goods will go to the employees who may have performed the various operations.

The consignees in Mexico City will ask the custom-house of importation to allow the clearance of the goods within the periods of time mentioned in Article 152, and will be subject to the other obligations and penalties provided by the same article. The periods of time will begin to run from the day of the arrival of the goods at said customhouse, and if at the expiration of said periods the petitions for clearance shall not have been presented to the custom-house it will communicate the fact to the consignee of the goods at the port of entry, in order that he may act as he sees fit.

Goods not withdrawn from the warehouses or grounds of the custom-house in the periods of time allowed by Article 152 will be subject to vigilance dues, as provided by Article 153.

The consignees of goods at the ports of entry may revoke an appointment made by them of a consignee in Mexico when they requested permission to forward the goods, and may confer the appointment on some other person, provided that the substitution takes place before the import custom-house has been requested to allow the clearance of the goods

The rules relative to change of consignee will not be applicable in the case of goods that are consigned to offices of the Federal Government, nor will the dues for vigilance be charged, whatever may be the time that the goods may remain in the custom-house warehouses or grounds.

ART. 367. Consignees residing in the interior of the country must, in the case of merchandise not billed directly through to its destination, appoint a consignee at the port of entry when requesting that it