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Show 132 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY store-keepers who flocked to the city at this time. There was an ‘“inspection,’’ but this was seldom carried on with rigid adherence to rules or regulations; for an ‘‘actuated sympathy’? for the traders and merchants and a ‘“‘specific desire’’ to promote business caused the government officials to open a few of such parcels only as would exhibit the least discrepancy with the manifest. The derechos de arancel —impost duties — of Mexico were extremely oppressive, averaging about one hundred per cent upon the cost “‘back in the States.’’ On cotton goods this was partic- ularly the case. According to the arancel of 1837, and it was still heavier before that time, all plain-wove cottons, whether white or printed, paid twelve and a half cents duty per vara besides the derecho de consumo (consumption duty) which brought the total up to at least fifteen." The selling price of goods was about double $1 The receipts of the custom house, as reported to the Mexican govertment, according to Prieto, Kentas, 204, doe. 3, the sums in parentheses being from the government memorias, and differing somewhat, were: 1825,8 months, $2,053 (12 months, $3,595); 1826, 10 months, $10,391; 1826-7, $8,607; 1827-8, $5,938; 1828-9, $27,008; ($27,907); 1829-30, $12,691; 1830-1, $10,581 ($31,882); 1831-2, $31,314; 1833-4, $29,297; 1836-7, $21,219; 1841, $1,195; 1842, $27,921; 1843 ($81,000). : Gregg says: ‘‘An ‘arrangement’—a compromise — is expected, in which the officers are sure at least to provide for themselves. In some ports, 4 custom has been said to prevail of dividing the legal duties into three equal parts; one for the officers, a second for the merchants, the other for the government. For a few years, Governor Armijo of Santa Fé, established & tariff of his own, entirely arbitrary, exacting five hundred dollars for each wagon load, whether large or small, of fine or coarse goods! Of course this was very advantageous to such traders as had large wagons and costly asgortments, while it was no less onerous to those with smaller vehicles or coarse, As might have been anticipated, the traders soon took to conheavy goods. veying their merchandize only in the largest wagons, drawn by ten or twelve mules, caused and the omitting governor the to coarser return to and an more ad weighty valorem articles system, of though trade. | This still without regard to the arancel general of the nation. How much of these duties found their way into the public treasury, I will not venture to assert.’’ The custom-house was only nominally at Taos, the goods being actualy entered at Santa F6. The business of 1844 was estimated at $750,000, = the year andrumors that constant curing were there one following there was a big loss of animals 4 of war with Mexico. b In 1841, the returning caravan from Santa Fé was accompanied by an ody of native New Mexicans who brought with them $80,000 with which ' a goods, and returning in the spring of 1842 the caravan consisted ° Th, gons, 800 mules, Nees 1 real (sil onza and $150,000 in merchandise. : weights, and coins of the Santa Fé Trail period alee (gold) equals 16 dollars, 1 peso (silver) equals 1 ie as 1 quartilo© (optus 12 1-2 real (copper) (silver) equals 14 oan ei equals 61-9-16 cents, 1-21 tlaco 3 1-8cents, (copper) equals 1 onza (8 ochavos) equals 1 ounce, 1 marco (8 onzas) equals 1-2 pound, 1h Prominent - Narbona, Navaj6. 4, Indian Chiets 29. Asa Havi, Comanche. Agustin Vigil, Jicarilla 3. Scabby Apache Bull, Arapaho. |