[Inclosure 2 in No. 187.], September 29, 1877

[Inclosure 2 in No. 187.]

The undersigned, representative of the house of ——, New York, recently visited this city with a view of trying the experiment as to the possibility of offering with success, to the Mexican commerce, light hardware, fancy goods, and plated ware. The struggle has been a serious one, for the reason that the houses so long established, and continued by the younger members of the firms for so many years, have, therefore, had permanent agents and correspondents in Europe, from whom they have received their goods, and through whom they have given their orders. I have, however, been reasonably successful in persuading buyers here that we can furnish goods of a superior quality, and at such prices as will make it for their interest to purchase of American, manufacturers. I find that a great obstacle met with has been the high duties collected by the Government of Mexico on many articles of manufacture, and also the fact that duties are charged on gross weight, that is, case and packing. The “Free Zone” on the northern frontier is an obstacle to the profitable introduction of goods on which duties must be paid.