of cheapening the burdensomely heavy cost of transportation all through the coast section as it now stands. So there is every reason to believe that with the beginning of the extensive operations of the Deitrick concession along the Coco River, the entire coast will see the opening of a new era of prosperity and the dawn of new commercial possibilities in which every resident of eastern Nicaragua should have a share. A. L. M. GOTTSCHALK, Consul. SAN JUAN DEL NORTE, NICARAGUA, August 27, 1903. PRODUCTION OF GOLD AND SILVER IN MEXICO. The Boletin de Estadistica Fiscal for the fiscal year 1901-2, just issued by the Mexican Treasury Department, gives the following statement of Mexico's gold and silver production during the twentyfive fiscal years from 1877-78 to 1901-2, inclusive: The value of the gold is calculated at the rate of $675.416 per kilogram and of the silver at $40.915 per kilogram. The increase of the gold production was very slow until the year 1894–95, when it received an impulse which raised it from $1,244,621 in 1893-94 to $4,744,542, an increase of $3,499,921 in the twelve months, and to $9,932,676 in 1901-2, an increase of $8,688,055 in eight years. The silver production increased from $24,836,903 in 1877-78 to $72,530,983 in 1901-2, an effective increase of $47,694,075 in the twenty-five years. The inevitable inference from these facts is that the depreciation of silver in foreign markets has not prevented the increase in the silver production in Mexico, and has been an impulse to the gold production. REGULATIONS CONCERNING FOREIGN COMMERCIAL AGENTS.* (From United States Consul Monaghan, Chemnitz, Germany.) AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. Foreign commercial agents, who have in their possession trade licenses issued by the proper authorities of Austria-Hungary, enjoy freedom from taxation. Such agents may carry samples with them, but no salable goods. Samples are free of duty if reexported within a stipulated time and if their identity is satisfactory. In the solicitation of orders for goods, the following regulations. of February 25, 1902, are in force: The proprietor of a business, or his lawful agent, may solicit orders for only such goods as are common to his trade, and only from such business men as deal in those specific goods. For the solicitation of orders for goods not regularly handled, a special written license enumerating the goods in question is required. In special cases, out of respect for peculiar considerations, the Minister of Commerce is empowered to avoid the effect of the law and permit the solicitation of orders for irregular goods. In accordance with the administrative ordinances of the Austrian Minister of Commerce of September 4, 1902, orders may be solicited for the following commodities outside of the locality in which the proprietor or agent does his regular business without subjection to the aforenamed restrictions: 1. Heavy machinery, motors, and parts of same. 2. Building material, including stones and other artificial building material, cork, and paving material. 3. Technical supplies, and apparatus for heating, lighting, and waterworks, both public and private. 4. Wooden lattices and blinds. 5. Sewing machines, typewriters, and bicycles. Sample cases are transported upon the railroads of AustriaHungary under preferential tariffs, which rates can, however, only be enjoyed under certain conditions and through the observance of prescribed formalities. The rates vary. In some instances they are * Based upon "Export-Handbuch," vol. 1, by Dr. August Etienne. 2 hellers (0.4 cent) per 10 kilograms (22 pounds) per 1 kilometer (0.6214 mile), and in others 25 kilograms (55 pounds) are free, with a small charge for excess. In order to enjoy the benefit of the reduced rates agents must apply to specified authorities located only in certain cities for the issuance of identification cards and licenses on which appear the name of the traveling agent and the firm which he represents, the number and contents of the cases carried with him, the seal and signature of the issuing authority, and the signature of the agent. The trade license is issued for the period of one calendar year only, and hence expires on the 31st of December of each year. The identification card must, in addition to the seal and signatures of the issuing authorities and the signature of the agent, contain a photograph of the agent in size resembling an ordinary visiting card. A record is kept of all the licenses and cards issued, and all regulations pertaining to the same are stringently enforced. These papers must be continuously carried on the person of the agent, as the probabilities are that they will be needed again and again. In case of loss, a new license is issued free of cost if proper evidence is at hand that a previous license had really been issued. Every change of person must be reported by the firm and the license and identification card made out to the new representative. The railroad authorities reserve to themselves the right to inspect the sample cases carried by agents, even though properly issued identification cards and licenses are presented. In case any salable goods are contained in the same, the entire cases are subject to the regular freight and transportation rates, the preferential rates falling away. Salable goods, as well as the personal effects of the agent, must be specially declared and are supplied with special checks. Sample cases must, if their owner wants to enjoy the benefit of the lower transportation rates, be supplied with the name of the firm under whose direction the journey is undertaken, which name must be placed upon each individual case in a durable and lasting manner. The attachment of a visiting card, or the writing of the firm's name upon a random piece of paper, is insufficient, even though the same be firmly attached. The printing or painting of the firm's name is considered as the surest observance of the regulation. Cases which lack such identification are excluded from the benefit of the reduced rates. It has also been held that cases which are supplied with removable slides of wood or metal, or other durable material containing a lasting record of the firm's name, are acceptable; but in case such labels can be closed care must be taken to have the lids open during journey, so that the firm's name is easily discernible. The commercial agent is required to accompany his cases on the No 279-03-9 same train and call for them at the depot within half an hour after the arrival of the samples. In case of his failure to do so, he is required to pay the difference between the reduced rates and the regular rates. Not the agent, but the firm, is liable for a violation of the railroad regulations concerning the transportation of sample A common penalty for a violation is the rejection of the privilege of preferential rates in the future. cases. In Hungary entry of samples can be made free of duty, with the exception of all combustibles and tobacco. Goods are also free of duty if their weight is less than 25 grams or the duty upon the same is less than 2 kreutzers (0.4 cent). This is construed to mean that all the individual packages of the same kind of goods entered at one and the same time do not exceed the weight of 25 grams or the duty of 0.4 cent. This regulation is also in force to cover goods sent into Hungary through the post. FRANCE. Traveling agents who carry no goods for sale, but only samples, enjoy freedom from all taxes in France. A proper business indentification card issued by the competent authorities of the agent's country is sufficient. He is, however, limited in his activity to business transactions with those firms which deal in his specific goods. The samples entered are exempt from duty if reexported within one year from date of entry. The regular duty must, however, be deposited with the custom-house officials or proper bonds given for the amount. If the goods upon entry already bear the stamp of the customs authorities of the agent's country, a second attachment of identity signed by the French authorities is unnecessary. Traveling agents who carry goods for sale are classified with peddlers or hawkers in France; no special trade license is required, and they cease to be traveling agents in the eyes of French commercial law. As peddlers they must, however, apply for a trade license, which is made out anew at the seat of government in every Department visited by the agent. The business tax in such a case varies in a somewhat peculiar way, according to the method of the transportation of the goods. As a rule, the tax is about 8 francs ($1.55) per year. Aside from this a fee of about the same amount may be exacted by the local authorities who issue the trade license. A renewal of this latter fee is not required on the removal of the agent to some other part of the country, although the license must be produced to the local authorities of each community entered by the agent. Samples sent into the country or any other dutiable articles transported into France through the mails are either delivered to the addressee upon payment of the duty or are held by the postal authorities pending the payment of the duty by the sender. GREECE. Traveling agents who properly identify themselves by business passports are exempt from taxation. Dutiable samples must be declared to the customs officials, whereupon they are supplied with. Government seals and distinguishing labels. The duty on the same. must be paid or proper security given therefor. The duty is refunded or the surety relieved if within three months the samples are reexported. The three months' limit may in certain cases be extended to a full year. Such extension can, however, only be granted by the customs authorities of the place where entry was made. For this reason, as well as for other considerations, it is reported that experience has shown an extension of the time limit to be associated with many inconveniences and formalities which make it advisable for traveling agents to so arrange their tours as to complete their work within the time prescribed. Samples which after regular entry are transported to some other city than that in which entry was made are not subject to any further tariff formalities, but must be accompanied by a "declaration de transport" issued by a competent customs official at the original port of entry. This declaration covers the transportation of the samples to any part of Greece. GREAT BRITAIN. Commercial agents who travel in the British Isles are exempt from all taxes and special trade licenses or concessions, except in case of those commodities for the sale of which special public license. is requisite. In the latter case foreign agents are subject to the regular trade regulations governing the sale of excise commodities, which have been established as follows: Patent medicines (¿. e., medicines not prescribed by a regular doctor)......... I. 22 Silverware (as determined by the proportion of gold and silver contained therein)..................................... I. 28 ....$11. 19 to 27.98 In distinction from most other countries, samples and salable goods may be carried and business done with same by commercial agents without special authorization, passport, or certificate. in case of those commodities for the sale of which special trade licenses are necessary, the production of such licenses upon request |