Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/320

 280 MEXICO. The retail price in the States is fixed at eleven reals per pound of wrought tobacco. The profits of the Supreme Government are sufficiently evident from the preceding statement, as it sells for eight and eleven reals per pound, tobacco (wrought, or unwrought) which it purchases for three. Those of the States, which establish a segar manufactory {fabrica de tahacos) upon their own account, (purchasing tobacco in leaf of the Supreme Go- vernment at eight reals the pound,) will appear by the fol- lowing table of the difference between the retail price of the box of Puros, (made up in the usual shape,) and the expense of the labour and materials employed upon it. A case of Puros de a 5 Contains 4000 papeles (little bundles Dollars, of paper segars,) which, at half a real each, make _ - - _ 250 It requires 163 lbs. 80Z. 15 ads. 32grs. of tobacco, en rama, which, at 8 reals per lb. is - 163 4 5 7 oct.'^ A ream, six quires {manos,) and 16 two-thirds sheets of paper, which, at 8 )>207 4 9 6 dollars the ream, is - - -10540 I Labour and share of general expenses 33 2 11 7 J Profit - - - 42 3 2 2oc/. Upon the larger cases, (cajones,) containing 4800, and 6000 papeles, the profits are calculated, respectively, at fifty-five dollars six reals, and seventy-seven dollars one real ; so that, wherever the population is dense enough to ensure a suffi- cient consumption, the States derive great advantage from the establishment of a fabrica of their own, which, after the first few months, generally forms a very important item in their revenue. The opposers of monopolies in general have not failed to animadvert upon the injudicious policy of retaining that of tobacco in Mexico, ai?^ seem to think that the country would derive more advantage from the free cultivation and ex- portation of the plant. I confess that I am not myself of