No. 39.
Mr. Sutter to Mr. Hunter.
Acapulco, October 1, 1877. (Received January 5, 1878.)
Sir:
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Anxious to comply with the recommendations made to consular officers by the Department in the circular of July 13, 1877, I would state that, in my opinion, with efforts made with patience and prudence in the right direction, the United States might soon be enabled to compete successfully with Europe (Manchester) in the production of cotton, linen, and woolen manufactures suitable for the west coast of Mexico, the more so as of late interest on capital and wages of operatives in the United States have been reduced very nearly to the rates of England.
One of the greatest difficulties in the way of American merchants is without any doubt the long-established relations between the commission-houses in Europe and the importers on this coast. In many cases the establishment here is only a branch of the house in Europe. The result of these close relations naturally is that a great many articles which might be imported advantageously from the United States are brought from Europe, and nearly all the exports find their way to European markets.
Rates of interest charged in accounts between European houses and the merchants of this coast are regulated by the rate of the Bank of England.
I also must state here that the merchants on this coast complain of high commissions in New York, and of high rates of freight from and to New York. For instance, whilst freight from New York out is $60 per ton, it is but £7 from England.
Brown domestics are manufacture plentifully for home consumption in the country from cotton cultivated on this coast, and the high protective import duty of 9 cents per square meter renders the importation of the foreign article impossible.
It may safely be asserted that the business done annually between Manchester and the ports of the west coast of Mexico amounts to $4,000,000.
Among the staple cotton goods brought to this coast from Manchester fancy prints occupy the first place, being of more consumption than any other article, and deserve to be described as minutely as possible, as well as the manner how they are made up and packed.
The importer selects from patterns furnished to him from Europe such as may suit the particular taste of the inhabitants of a certain district, [Page 122] having obtained from the Manchester printer the privilege of having printed the minimum of ten pieces of each pattern; thus, if needed, he can obtain small lots of ten bales, of fifty pieces of assorted patterns each, and suit all his customers. The printing cloth used for these prints is 14 by 15 threads in one-fourth of one inch square, 28 to 29 inches wide when printed, well “swissed” (starched and mangled), as this operation is called at Manchester, made up in pieces of 24 yards; the colors are fast; cost-price of piece at Manchester 7s. 2d. to 7s. 6d., approximately, according to price of printing of pattern, exclusive of commissions, expenses of packing, etc., etc.; import duties on prints per square meter, say 14 cents; sell per piece at $5.25 to $5.50. As these goods have to be transported on mules to the interior of the country, exposed on the road to all sorts of accidents, they must be packed very carefully, viz: Each bale of fifty pieces has inner wrapper of brown or bleached cotton of 9 yards, inner paper, inner wrapper of Hessians (hemp packing cloth), tarpaulin, and at last outer cover of Hessians. Such a bale is then compressed and bound with iron hoops, weighs from 180 to 190 pounds, and is better suited for transportation over rough roads than a case.
I have had the opportunity of examining patterns of American prints sent to a house at Acapulco by a large New York house, said to be of ready sale in the West Indies, Central, and South America. Although they are of a superior quality (15 by 16 threads for one-fourth of one inch square), they are not so well “swissed” or finished as the Manchester article, and for this reason, as well as on account of their unaccustomed width of 25 inches, would not sell readily on this coast.
A better quality of prints is imported under the name of French imitation prints (percales); that is to say, select French patterns with French finish, made up in pieces of 44 meters. Printing cloth used for these prints is 15 by 15, or 15 by 16 threads in one-fourth of one inch square (like the American prints mentioned), 29 inches wide, cost at Manchester of piece of 44ards, 18 francs. In every case each bale of prints is accompanied by its corresponding sample-book.
Bleached cotton sheeting and shirting in several qualities and widths are the articles which rank second amongst the imports on the west coast of Mexico.
Import duties on the same are 9 cents per square meter. The article is generally made up in pieces of 40 yards. Special attention is paid to a very good and compact finish. The most salable and cheapest quality is of twenty-three threads in five millimeters square, with a width of 28–29 inches, costing, at Manchester, per piece of 40yards, about 7 francs. This quality, 23 threads, 24 inches wide, sells, per Mexican vara, at 11 cents; 27–28inches wide, sells, per Mexican vara, at 13 cents; 29–30 inches wide, sells, per Mexican vara, at 14 cents; 32 inches wide, sells, per Mexican vara, at 15 cents; 35–36 inches wide, sells, per Mexican vara, at 16 cents, Better qualities, up to thirty threads in five millimeters square, with calico or linen finish, are also in demand and imported largely. Ordinary qualities are brought long-fold, the better qualities sometimes book-fold.
Among other articles in demand are printed jaconets, white ground. The quality generally bought for this market is known at Manchester as 12°°° (13°°°, 14°°°, &c., mean better qualities than 12°°°), costing per piece of 24 yards, 28 inches wide, 6s. 8d. The import duties on the same are 16 cents per meter square. They sell at $5 to $5.25; they are packed in bales like prints.
Printed jaconet handkerchiefs are likewise of much consumption. [Page 123] In quality, as per sample herewith, 28 inches by 25 inches, they cost, at Manchester, according to colors, from 1s. 8d. to 2s., and are made up in trusses of 300 dozen—import duties thereon, $1.06 per dozen—sell generally at $1.62 to $1.75 per dozen.
Together with these principal staple articles, a great variety of cotton fabrics of minor importance, required for an assortment suitable for the trade, are imported; but only in small quantities compared with the consumption of prints and bleached goods.
Linen goods occupy but a secondary position in the trade of this coast. Import duties on the same are 16 cents per square meter up to thirty threads in five millimeters square, and 22 cents per square meter for all above thirty. Some of the most current are the following:
Platillas and Silesias: from 27 to 34 threads in five millimetres square, 26 inches to 28 inches, and 35 inches to 36 inches wide, in pieces of 17½ and 35 yards. Silesias of 27 threads, as above stated, with a width of 35 inches, cost at Manchester about 8¾d. per yard.
Creas, quality 21 to 29 threads in five millimetres square, from 26 to 29 inches wide; in pieces of 32 or 64 yards, cost price at Manchester of crea, 21 threads, 28–29 inches wide, 6½d. per yard.
Bretañas, quality 33 to 40 threads in five millimetres square, 35 to 36 inches in width, made up in small fancy pieces of 7 yards, book-fold; cost price at Manchester of quality of 33 threads, 35 to 36 inches wide, 11½d. per yard.
These articles are supposed to be of pure linen.
For woolen manufactures there is but little demand. Blankets of all kinds, as well as the ordinary qualities of cassimere and broadcloth, are made in this country with high protective import duties. A little of several fabrics of woolen and cotton, or pure woolen for ladies’ dresses mostly, like merino, and alpaca, &c., is imported, and likewise a small quantity of the better qualities of light cassimere and broadcloth. All these goods are sold to customers with 6, 8, and even 10 months’ credit, or 1 per cent. discount per month if paid for before due.
It is to be hoped that the Mexican Government may soon abolish the ruinous export duty of 5 per cent. on silver coin, which is the only thing received in payment.
As far as other articles of American manufacture, like flour, lumber, California produce, machinery, arms and ammunitions, candles, ship-chandlery, drugs; iron, hard, glass and earthen ware; furniture, edged-tools, coal-oil, groceries, stationery, wines, liquors, &c., &c., are concerned, I would only remark that the commercial relations between San Francisco and the west coast are growing more important every year.
I am, &c.,