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Shipping and Communications

The mercantile marine of Mexico in 1890 of vessels over 100 tons comprised 16 steamers of 6,952 tons gross tonnage, and 16 sailing vessels of 3,302 tons net tonnage. The shipping includes also many small vessels engaged in the coasting trade. In 1889, at the port of Vera Cruz, there entered 577 vessels of 417,721 tons (66 of 79,019 tons British), and cleared 577 of 410,099 tons (65 of 77,784 tons British). In 1889-90, 1,488 vessels entered and 1,439 vessels cleared at the various ports of Mexico.

In 1891 there were 6,266 miles of railway, 360 miles of which were constructed in the first nine months of last year. The capital invested by English companies was £14,601,380, and by American companies 245,126,249 U. S. dollars. In 1889 there were 12,977,952 passengers, paying 2,090,505 pesos; and 875,894 tons of goods were conveyed at a charge of 4,822,690 pesos.

The total length of telegraph lines in 1891 was 27,861 English miles, of which 14,841 miles belonged to the Federal Government, the remainder belonging, in equal parts, to the States, companies, and the railways. There were in all 767 offices. The telephone had a network of 4,174 miles.

In 1891 there were 1,492 post-offices. The post, inland and international carried in 1890 125,000,000 letters, newspapers, etc. The receipts were $1,097,435.