Part 24 (2/2)

The harbors of the Labrador coast and of Cape Breton Island are superior to those of the British Islands, situated in about the same lat.i.tude; why do the latter have a commerce far greater than that of the former?

Compare the industries of the eastern, middle, and western regions of Canada with the corresponding regions of the United States.

FOR COLLATERAL REFERENCE

Statesman's Year-Book.

Statistical Year-Book of Canada (official government publication, Ottawa).

CHAPTER XXII

MEXICO--CENTRAL AMERICA--WEST INDIES

Mexico and the Central American states occupy the narrow, southerly part of North America. Structurally they consist of a plateau about a mile high, bordered on each side by a low coast-plain. The table-land, or _tierra templada_, has about the same climate as southern California; the low coast-plains, or _tierra caliente_, are tropical.

=Mexico.=--The United States of Mexico is the most important part of this group. The people are of mixed Spanish and Indian blood, but there are many families of pure Castilian descent. The latter, in general, are the landed proprietors; the former const.i.tute the tradesmen, herders, and peons. There is also a large unproductive cla.s.s, mainly of Indians, who are living in a savage state. In general the manners and customs are those of Spain.

The agricultural pursuits are in a backward condition, partly for the want of good system and an educated people, but mainly for lack of the capital and engineering skill to construct the irrigating ca.n.a.ls that are needed to make the land productive. Maize, rice, sugar (cane and panocha), and wheat are grown for home consumption.

The agricultural products which connect Mexico with the rest of the world are sisal-hemp (henequin), coffee, logwood, and fruit. Sisal-hemp is grown in the state of Yucatan, and has become one of its chief financial resources. Oaxaca coffee is usually sold as a ”Mocha” berry.

The logwood goes mainly to British textile makers; and the fruit, chiefly oranges and bananas, finds a market in the large cities of the United States, to which large consignments of vanilla and tropical woods are also sent. Cattle are grown on more than twenty thousand ranches, and the greater part are sent alive to the markets of the United States.

The native long-horn stock is giving place to improved breeds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MEXICO]

Gold and silver are the products that have made Mexico famous, and the mines have produced a total of more than three billion dollars' worth of precious metal. The native methods of mining have always been primitive, and low-grade ores have been neglected. In recent years American and European capital has been invested in low-grade mines, and the bullion production has been about doubled in value; it is now about one hundred million dollars yearly. Iron ore is abundant, and good coal exists.

The manufactures, at present of little importance, are growing rapidly.

The cotton-mills consume the home product and fill their deficiency from the Texas crop. All the finer textiles, however, are imported. Most of the commodities are supplied by the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, the first-named having about half the trade. Most of the hardware and machinery is purchased in the United States.

Railway systems, with American terminal points at El Paso, San Antonio, and New Orleans, extend from the most productive parts of the country.

One of the most important railways crosses the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and, in order to encourage commerce, the harbors at Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz have been deepened and improved. This interoceanic route is destined to become a very important factor in commerce. It shortens the route between European ports and San Francis...o...b.. six thousand miles, and between New York and San Francis...o...b.. twelve hundred miles.[57]

_Mexico_, the capital, is the financial and commercial centre. _Vera Cruz_ and _Tampico_ are connected with the capital by railway, but both have very poor port facilities. Steams.h.i.+p lines connect the former with New York, New Orleans, Havana, and French ports. It is the chief port of the country. _Matamoros_ on the American frontier has a considerable cattle-trade. The crop of sisal-hemp is s.h.i.+pped mainly from _Progresso_ and _Merida_. _Acapulco_, _Manzanillo_, and _Mazatlan_ for want of railway connections have but little trade. The first-named is one of the best harbors in the world. _Guadalajara_ has important textile and pottery manufactures.

=The Central American States.=--The physical features and climate of these states resemble those of Mexico. The Spanish-speaking people live in the table-lands, where the climate is healthful. The coast-plain of the Atlantic is forest-covered and practically uninhabited save by Indians. Guatemala is the most important state. A railway from _Puerto Barrios_, its Atlantic port, through its capital, _Guatemala_, to its Pacific port, _San Jose_, is nearly completed. British Honduras is a British territory acquired mainly for the mahogany product, which is s.h.i.+pped from _Belize_. Honduras has great resources in mines, cultivable lands, and forests, but these are undeveloped. Salvador is the smallest but most progressive state.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROUTE OF PROPOSED NICARAGUA Ca.n.a.l.]

Nicaragua is politically of importance on account of the possibilities of an interoceanic ca.n.a.l. A treaty for this ca.n.a.l, involving both Nicaragua and Great Britain, has already been signed by the powers interested. Many engineers regard the Nicaragua as preferable to that of the Panama ca.n.a.l. The shorter distance between New York and the Pacific ports of the United States, a saving of about four hundred miles, is in its favor. The longer distance of transit and the dangers of navigating Lake Nicaragua are against it. Costa Rica is favorably situated for commerce, but its resources are not developed. A railway from _Puerto Limon_ is nearly completed to _Puenta Arenas_, an excellent harbor on the Pacific side.

Coffee, hides, mahogany, and fruit are the only products of importance that connect these states with the rest of the world. About half the trade goes to the United States. The Germans and English supply a considerable part of the textiles and manufactured articles. The coffee of Costa Rica is a very superior product. Much of the mahogany and forest products goes to Great Britain. Fruit-steamers call at the Atlantic ports for bananas, which are sold in New Orleans and the Atlantic cities.

=The West Indies.=--The climate and productions of these islands are tropical in character. Sugar, fruit, coffee, tobacco, and cacao are the leading products. From the stand-point of the planter, the sugar industry has been a history of misfortunes. The abolition of slavery ruined the industry in many of the islands belonging to Great Britain.

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