“Coffee culture gave a new impulse and importance to Costa Rica. At the close of the first half of the Nineteenth Century commerce was carried on with the north through Matina and Sarapiqui, and through Caldera on the Pacific. “The greater facilities available on the Pacific coast, however, especially when a line of steamers connecting with the Panama Railroad opened a new way to the Atlantic, turned the course of business to Puntarenas, a new port which soon became the sole commercial route. “This state of things, unnecessarily adding to the expense of importations, continued for years. When the Port of Limon was opened to commerce the competition of two routes and the new facilities of a railroad and a wagon road to the Atlantic greatly promoted traffic and contributed to the general wealth.” In 1848 seventy vessels entered Puntarenas, having a registration of 7180 tons. In 1884 this number had increased to 113, having 137,368 tons registration, and in the same year there entered Port Limon 121 vessels of 126,875 aggregate tonnage. In 1894 there entered 158 vessels with 155,869 tons at Puntarenas, and 294 vessels with 348,355 tons at Port Limon. The freight in 1858 on coffee to Panama by steamer alone was five-eighths of a cent per pound. In 1870 the West India and Pacific Company’s steamers received as freights from Puntarenas to Liverpool, £5 10s. 0d. per ton; from Puntarenas to London, £6 2s. 6d. per ton. In 1888 freights from Puntarenas to European ports were £4 per ton, and from Port Limon £2. To-day the freight rates are cheaper still. The present tariff is in many ways inequitable. It is based on no principle, and, with the exception of some later laws especially enacted, it does not correspond with the economic condition and commerce of the country. Yet on a great number of articles the tariff is less than in Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay. The custom-duties are collected on gross weight, and generally amount to from twenty to twenty-five per cent. on the valuation of imports. They are paid one-half down and one-half within three months’ time. All goods for Costa Rica have to come accompanied by corresponding consular invoices. The principal importations are silk, wool, linen, cotton, machinery, implements and tools for agriculture and other industries, furniture, glassware, tinware, hardware and haberdashery, ornaments, articles of luxury, mercury and perfumery, beer, wines, liquors, soap, coffee-sacks, flour, sugar, shoes, saddles, harnesses, butter, etc. Table of Exports and Imports of Costa Rica Since 1884. Exportations. Importations.