Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1148

 792

MEXICO

Years

Silver

Gold

Copper

Total

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

1888-89

26,031,252

334,972

129,844

26,496,068

1889-90

24,323,728

243,298

134,632

24,701,658

1890-91

24,237,449

308,083

218,869

24,764,402

1891-92

25,526,717

291,940

156,694

25,975,351

1892-93

27,169,876

361,672

87,055

27,618,604

1893-94

30,185,591

553,978

—

30,739,569

1894-95

27,628,981

545,237

32,957

28,207,175

1895-96

22,634,788

565,786

36,525

23,237,099

1896-97

19,296,009

453,474

32,250

19,781,733

1897-98

21,427,057

459,219

31,600

21,917,876

There are 17 banks in Mexico, the most important being the Banco de Londres, with a paid up capital of 10,000,000 dollars, and reserve of 500,000 dollars ; the Banco Nacional with a capital of 20,000,000 dollars (3,000,000 dollars paid up) ; the Banco Hipotecario, with a paid up capital of 5,000,000 dollars.

Concessions have been granted to a number of new banks in several of the States for the purpose of advancing loans for agricultural and mining purposes.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The silver peso or dollar of 100 centavos is of the nominal value of 45., actual value variable (average 22|(1 to 23(5?. ).

The 10-peso gold piece weighs 16 '920 grammes, '875 fine, and thus con- tains 14*795 grammes of fine gold.

The silver peso weighs 27*073 grammes, '9028 fine, and thus contains 24*440 grammes of fine silver.

The standard of value is silver. There is no paper currency except ordinary bank notes.

The weights and measures of the metric system were introduced in 1884 and their use is now enforced by law, though the old Spanish measures are still occasionally referred to. The old weights and measures were : —

Weight. 1 libra = 0*46 kilogramme = 1*014 lb. avoirdupois.

1 arroba = 25 libras = 25*357 lbs. avoirdupois.

For gold and silver. 1 marco = ^ libra = 4,608 granos. 1 ochava = 6 tomines. 1 tomin = 12 granos. 20 granos = 1 French gramme.

Length. 1 vara = 0*837 metre = 2 ft. 8^^ English in.

1 legua comun — 6,666| varas.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. Or Mexico in Gkkat Britain.

Envoy and Minister. — Don Manuel do Yturbe.

First Secretary. — Cayetano Romero.

Second Secretary. — L. T. Rivas.

AttacM. — V. G. Farias.

Consul in London. — Adolfo Bulle,