Gold and silver are the products that have made Mexico famous, and the mines have produced a total of more than three billion dollars' worth of precious metal. The native methods of mining have always been primitive, and low-grade ores have been neglected. In recent years American and European capital has been invested in low-grade mines, and the bullion production has been about doubled in value; it is now about one hundred million dollars yearly. Iron ore is abundant, and good coal exists. The manufactures, at present of little importance, are growing rapidly. The cotton-mills consume the home product and fill their deficiency from the Texas crop. All the finer textiles, however, are imported. Most of the commodities are supplied by the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, the first-named having about half the trade. Most of the hardware and machinery is purchased in the United States. Railway systems, with American terminal points at El Paso, San Antonio, and New Orleans, extend from the most productive parts of the country. One of the most important railways crosses the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and, in order to encourage commerce, the harbors at Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz have been deepened and improved. This interoceanic route is destined to become a very important factor in commerce. It shortens the route between European ports and San Francisco by six thousand miles, and between New York and San Francisco by twelve hundred miles.[57] _Mexico_, the capital, is the financial and commercial centre. _Vera Cruz_ and _Tampico_ are connected with the capital by railway, but both have very poor port facilities. Steamship lines connect the former with New York, New Orleans, Havana, and French ports. It is the chief port of the country. _Matamoros_ on the American frontier has a considerable cattle-trade. The crop of sisal-hemp is shipped mainly from _Progresso_ and _Merida_. _Acapulco_, _Manzanillo_, and _Mazatlan_ for want of railway connections have but little trade. The first-named is one of the best harbors in the world. _Guadalajara_ has important textile and pottery manufactures. =The Central American States.=--The physical features and climate of these states resemble those of Mexico. The Spanish-speaking people live in the table-lands, where the climate is healthful. The coast-plain of the Atlantic is forest-covered and practically uninhabited save by Indians. Guatemala is the most important state. A railway from _Puerto Barrios_, its Atlantic port, through its capital, _Guatemala_, to its Pacific port, _San Jose_, is nearly completed. British Honduras is a British territory acquired mainly for the mahogany product, which is shipped from _Belize_. Honduras has great resources in mines, cultivable lands, and forests, but these are undeveloped. Salvador is the smallest but most progressive state. [Illustration: ROUTE OF PROPOSED NICARAGUA CANAL.]