ico City, D. F.; Felipe Mazarrasa, jr., general manager, Mexico City, D. F. Ferro-Carril Urbano de Cordoba; capital stock, $24,500 in Mexican currency; Adalberto Casa, intendente, Cordoba, V. C. Empresa del Ferro-Carril Urbano de Veracruz. This property has recently been acquired by an English syndicate. The organization is not completed. It is understood the capital is to be $250,ooo. I am unable to give the name of the corresponding official of the new company, but a letter addressed to "Empresa nueva del Ferro-Carril Urbano de Veracruz" would reach the proper person. Mr. Fletcher Toomer, Mexico City, D. F., was connected with the transfer to the syndicate. Empresa Urbana de Orizaba; an individual enterprise owned and managed by Angel Jimenez, Orizaba, V. C. Ferro-Carril Urbano de Alvarado; a private enterprise owned and operated by Vives Hermanos, Alvarado, V. C. Ferro-Carril Urbano de Tuxpan; a private enterprise, of small magnitude; address, "Empresa del Ferro-Carril Urbano, Tuxpan, V. C." The above roads are at present operated by mule power. There is in no case a bonded debt. None of the roads issue printed annual reports, and give private reports only to those financially interested. The Orizaba enterprise is understood to be profitable to its owner, Mr. Angel Jimenez. The Veracruz road, when reconstructed, is expected to be a wellequipped, modern electric railway, furnishing ample transit facilities for Veracruz. In their management, the roads are conservative, and even the least profitable are supposed to be on a paying basis. These roads have hitherto obtained their equipment and supplies chiefly from the United States. With the exception of the Veracruz road, now in English hands, there are no new street-railway enterprises, nor are any extensive improvements announced by existing lines. WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE IN TAMPICO. Tampico, on the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Panuco River, is comparatively a new city. It is now a deep-water port, and vessels drawing 24 feet steam up to the wharves. It is a railroad center, being a terminus of the Mexican Central Railroad and of the Monterey and Gulf Railroad. A bill has been approved by the State legislature for construction of waterworks, drainage, and street paving. An estimate of the value of the work to be done is about $800,000 silver. The payment for the proposed improvements will be guaranteed by the State. Translation of the advertisement for bids reads: The city council of Tampico, being authorized by the legislature of the State, in a bill passed on the 29th of June last, to solicit bids for the construction of waterworks to furnish 8,000 liters of potable water per minute for the individual and public use of the city, as also for a complete system of sewerage, including in this last the paving of the streets on the Macadam plan or any other good system, did, in open session to-day, resolve to invite all persons, companies, or enterprises in the Republic or out of the Republic, considered able to execute one or both of the proposed improvements, to present to this council their propositions under sealed cover on or before the 15th of February, 1900, leaving each bidder to formulate the propositions by contract at a fixed price, or as stipulated by the concession, the conditions to be expressed clearly in the proposition, and whether for one or both of the improvements. The following are the conditions to be noted: First. The water must be taken from the Tamesi River at a distance of about 20 kilometers (12.42 miles) from the city, and may be brought by gravitation in vitrified pipe to a point approximately some 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) from the starting point, and an equal distance from the city. The water must be filtered before reaching the city. Second. At the intermediate point, denominated Tancol, the machinery and necessary pumps can be located to raise the water to the height of Fort Liberty, which is an elevation of about 39 meters (128 feet) and distant some 9 kilometers from Tancol and approximately 1 kilometer (0.623 mile) from the city, which elevation will be sufficient to distribute the water in subterranean pipes throughout the city by gravitation. Third. At Fort Liberty, an ample reservoir of masonry must be constructed to hold sufficient water so that the supply of the city may not suffer interruption for any cause. Fourth. The network of tubing necessary for the distribution of the water throughout the city will approximate a length of from 9,000 to 11,000 meters (27,861 to 36,089 feet). Fifth. The party or parties whose plans and estimates are approved must guarantee the fulfillment of the stipulations by a deposit of $5,000, which will be held by the State treasurer. Sixth. The contract or contracts awarded must be made before a notary public, having been first approved by the State legislature, all the expenses for such documents being borne by the contractor or contractors. Seventh. All information that interested parties may need will be furnished by the city clerk. Eighth. All propositions must be presented to the mayor of the city on or before the 15th of February next, accompanied by the plans and necessary details. Ninth. If a proposition is made to the city council by an individual, company, or enterprise residing outside of the city, some one domiciled in the city and with sufficient power to contract must act as a representative of such person or organization. NEILL E. PRESSLY, Vice-Consul. TAMPICO, August 12, 1899. MATCHES IN MEXICO. In reply to a resident of New York,* Vice-Consul Pagés writes from Veracruz, September 20, 1899: The cost of efficient labor in manufactories is: Male, 50 cents to $1 per diem; female, 25 to 50 cents. In match factories, practically all the labor is task work. Women are employed outside the factory to give shape to the boxes. The usual workday is: In the higher altitudes, 6 a. m. to noon and 1 to 6 p. m.; in the hot districts, from 6 to 10 a. m. and 11 a. m. to 5.30 p. m. Wood is the most economical fuel for stationary engines. It is worth about $7 (Mexican)† per cord. Coal is worth about $5 gold per gross ton on board ship Veracruz. Prices of matches are: Description. No. 4, wood, single heads, safety. The principal factory in this State-Mendizabal & Co.-which has branch factories in other parts of the Republic, is operated by French machinery, except the motor, which is from the United. States. It employs about eighty men and boys. The women work at home. Most Mexican match factories are operated by machinery more or less elaborate. Wax matches have almost entirely superseded the wooden matches formerly used in this country. The latter are still made in limited quantities and are preferred by some; but this preference is confined to the hot country and may be due, in part, to traditional prejudice. It is said that wooden matches are better for the hot country, as the wax is liable to melt and become sticky. The wax taper is less bulky, generally has two striking ends, emits no disagreeable odor, and is made waterproof. It is doubtful if a wooden * To whom advance copy of the report has been sent. +$3.36 gold; taking the valuation by the United States Director of the Mint, July 1, 1899, $1 Mexican=48.1 cents. No. 231-4. 566 DEMAND FOR BOILERS, ENGINES, ETC., IN GUADELoupe. 'match could be made to supplant the wax, unless a manifestly superior article were produced at a lower price. There are no matches imported. White-pine wood comes from the United States and paraffin wax is furnished by the Mexican connection of the Standard Oil Company. Boxes with rubber strings are now imported from Italy. The consumption of matches put up in this form is very limited-about 100 gross per annum for the Veracruz factory. The number of people who purchase matches is relatively large. A very heavy percentage of the male sex smokes, the consumption of cigarettes being enormous. DEMAND FOR BOILERS, ENGINES, ETC., IN GUADELOUPE. I have been asked to procure information regarding steam boilers, engines, accessories, etc., for the largest machine shop here. This shop is connected with the steamboat line of the island. The manager particularly desires information regarding portable steam boilers, mounted on wheels; marine engines for small steamers; marine boilers; steam and safety valves; lubricators; steam and vacuum gauges; ordinary steam pumps; ordinary pumps; steam fire engines, small; centrifugal pumps; horsepower rigs, with and without shafting or other gear for transmitting power. In every case illustrated catalogues, in French if possible, are desired and the following information: Weights, net and boxed or packed for shipment; dimensions; price f. o. b. New York City. Exterior elegance and beauty of appearance are not so much desired as solidity, efficacy, and cheapness. The discriminating duties against our machinery are very great, and have heretofore totally discouraged the importation of such articles, but last spring the experiment of bringing two small portable boilers and some other articles from the United States was made. The manager referred to thus expresses himself: When they came, we were much disappointed. They looked rough and ugly, and we are accustomed to receive from France similar goods that are very beautiful and graceful to look at. But when we came to examine the interior, we were most pleasantly surprised-perfect adjustment, exquisite fittings, the minimum of friction and lost motion and maximum of efficiency and solidity. Your machines are incomparably better than our own in these respects, and much cheaper. If it were not for the enormous tariff, we would use no others; but, in spite of this, we want to see if we can not buy from you. If your manufacturers will help us, we can do it. Let them give us cheap, solid, honest work, with no expense for mere outside appearance, putting the finish only where it is needed; packing the goods as lightly as is consistent with strength and safety in transportation; and quoting us bottom prices free on board in New York City (for we can not consider your inland freights, etc.). I believe that we will find the advantages of efficiency and durability sufficient to warrant our purchasing all such goods from the United States. Of particular interest are the horsepower rigs, an apparatus by which horses traveling in a circle drive a shaft through which power can be supplied to small machinery, pumps, etc., on sugar estates. If we can get our information and carry on our correspondence in French, it would be a very great advantage. I have quoted him at length, as he covers the ground completely. The people he represents are of the very best financial standing. I shall be pleased to receive catalogues, price and discount lists. from manufacturers of the various articles above enumerated, and will do all in my power to foster the introduction of our machinery here. To succeed, however, honest workmanship, good materials, absence of useless and expensive adornment, and low prices are imperative. These people are slow to change, and if our goods can once get a foothold here, we can hold the trade for all time. LOUIS H. AYMÉ, GUADELOUPE, September 22, 1899. Consul. OPENINGS FOR CAPITAL IN PARAGUAY. It is incomprehensible to me why American capitalists overlook a country so full of promising opportunities for the sure investment of capital as Paraguay. I am more convinced than ever, since my recent trip through the Republic, that Paraguay is a most favorable country for the operation of American capital. I will name some new opportunities for investment: (1) Bids will be open in six or eight months for the construction of a new city market. The old market will be torn down, and in its place will be erected a fine city hall. Capitalists could execute this. work and take as a guaranty the rents from the new market. The rents will amount to $50,000 or $75,000 gold a year; the old market gives about $25,000 gold per year rent, and it is by far too small, covering only half a block, while the new one will cover a whole block. (2) A new city hall will soon be constructed, the present one being in the lower floor of Congress Hall. Other public works, such as the docks, levees, city bridges, etc., will offer opportunities for profitable investment. (3) A large pawn shop is needed in this city. There is not a pawn shop in Asuncion, although the people do a great deal of borrowing wherever money can be raised on their properties, upon |