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Central American Commerce and Maritime Activity in the Nineteenth Century: Sources for a Quantitative Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2022

Thomas Schoonover
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The scholar examining nineteenth-century Central American (here defined as including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) foreign relations, particularly foreign trade relations, constantly finds quite positive statements regarding British, French, and United States economic power in Central America. These often allege political domination of the individual nations through foreign economic influences. Invariably such claims are based either upon “common knowledge,” without supportive data, or upon data of a highly selective, unsystematic, or arbitrary nature. Confronted with the choice of accepting or challenging these allegations, the scholar may choose the previous “general wisdom,” “create” his own “wisdom,” or institute as systematic a study of foreign economic trade and navigation ties as existing data sources permit. For the scholar wishing to undertake a detailed study, this essay will describe the location, abundance, reliability, and accuracy of data relative to nineteenth-century Central American trade and navigation as encountered in sources from Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, the United States, Great Britain, France, Hamburg (until 1873), Bremen, the German Empire (beginning about 1880), Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. While the following discussion focuses upon the use of United States and European archives and the statistical and commercial serials for gathering data on Central American trade and maritime activity, obviously many of these same sources, archives, or serials possess identical data for most other Latin American countries or regions.

Type
Special Section: Historical Statistics
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , 1978 , pp. 157 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © 1978 by the University of Texas Press

References

Notes

1. Chester Lloyd Jones, Costa Rica and the Civilization in the Caribbean (Madison: University of Wisconsin [Press], 1935), p. 94; Tomás Soley Gúell, Compendio de Historia Económica y Hacendaria de Costa Rica (San José: Editorial Soley y Valverde, 1940), p. 43; Robert A. Naylor, “The British Role in Central America Prior to the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850,” Hispanic American Historical Review (hereafter HAHR) 40 (1960):361, 363, 367–68; Richard J. Houk, “The Development of Foreign Trade and Communication in Costa Rica to the Construction of the First Railway,” The Americas 10 (Oct. 1953):201–5; Clotilde María Obregon Quesada, “La Primera Administración del Doctor Castro, 1847–1849” (2 vols., tesis de licenciado, Universidad de Costa Rica, 1968) 1:189–90; and Valentín Solarzano F., Evolución Económica de Guatemala, 3rd ed. (Guatemala: Editorial José de Pineda Ibarra, 1970), p. 335; Ralph Lee Woodward, Central America: A Nation Divided (New York: Oxford University Press, 1976), pp. 131–33. One notable exception has been the group of young scholars working in conjunction with the Estudios Sociales Centroamericanos (hereafter ESC) whose work reveals use of statistical data and computer analysis. Specifically on a trade-related problem, see Ciro Flamarion Santana Cardoso, “Historia Económica del café en Centroamérica (Siglo XIX): Estudio Comparativo,” ESC 10 (Jan.-Apr. 1975):9–55. See also the demographic article by Julia Haydee Brenes and J. Alberto Rudea, “La Parroquia de Guadalupe (Costa Rica), 1859–1900,” ESC 5 (May-Aug. 1973):9–20, or, Hector Pérez Brignoli, “Economía y Sociedad en Honduras durante el Siglo XIX,” ESC 6 (Sep.-Dec. 1973):52–82. For a review of current work on demographic studies in Europe, the United States, and Central America, see Ciro Flamarion S. Cardoso, “La Historia demográfica; su penetración en Latinoamérica y en América Central,” ESC 9 (Sep.-Dec. 1974):115–30. For other articles on quantification published by ESC, see numbers 1–17 (1972–77). On economic and quantitative work in nineteenth-century Latin America, see William Paul McGreevey, “Quantitative Research in Latin American History in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries,” in Val R. Lorwin and Jacob M. Price (eds.), The Dimensions of the Past: Materials, Problems, and Opportunities for Quantitative Work in History (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1972), pp. 477–502, and William Paul McGreevey, A Bibliography of Latin American Economic History, 1760–1960 (Berkeley: University of California, Center for Latin American Studies, 1969).

2. The data were originally collected on xeroxed sheets, note cards, or from microfilmed documents, then transferred to data sheets and finally punched cards. The data are now available on tape and later will be deposited with a computer archive and perhaps also incorporated into a computer data bank. The time period encompassed in this study has recently been expanded to include the period from 1820s until 1941 with the full realization that little data is available for the 1820s and 1830s. The author earnestly requests any information or suggestions that might contribute to filling the data gaps. Part of the author's ongoing study will be included in the 1977 Jahrbuch für Geschichte Lateinamerikas (Universität Köln).

3. Central American sources adequately described in the text will ordinarily not be cited again in the footnotes. However, since it is assumed that the European and United States sources are less familiar to Latin Americanists and less easy to locate, they will normally be given a full bibliographical footnote citation. For a description of Central American memorias and the years for which they are extant, see James B. Childs, The Memorias of the Republics of Central America and the Antilles (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932).

4. Felipe Molina, Bosquejo de la República de Costa Rica … (New York: Imprenta de S. W. Benedict, 1851); Moritz Wagner and Carl Scherzer, Die Republik Costa Rica in Central-Amerika (Leipzig: Arnoldsche Buchhandlung, 1856); Joaquín Bernardo Calvo Mora, Apuntamientos Geográficos, Estadísticos é Históricos (San José: Imprenta Nacional, 1887); Departamento Nacional de Estadística de Costa Rica, Resumenes Estadísticas Publicados por órden del Señor Secretario de Estado en el Despacho de Fomento Doctor Don Juan J. Ulloa G. (San José: Tipografía Nacional, 1896); “Datos y Hechos respecto de las rebajas tarifarias aduaneras propuestas por los Estados Unidos a Costa Rica,” Revista del Instituto de Defensa del Café de Costa Rica 2 (1935):431–55; Tomás Soley Guell, Histórica Económica y Hacendaría de Costa Rica, 2 vols. (San José: Sección Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas, 1947); and Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda, 1864 Censo de Población (San José: Dirección General de Estadística y Censos, 1964).

5. Dário Gonzalez, Lecciones de Geografía (San Salvador: n.p., [1877]); David Joaquín Guzman, Apuntamientos sobre la Topografía Física de El Salvador (San Salvador: Tipografía “El Cometa,” 1883); Joseph Laferrière, De Paris à Guatémala: Notes de voyages au Centre-Amérique, 1866–1875 (Paris: Garnier Frères, 1877); and Carlos J. Canessa, Lugar que ocupa El Salvador en la Producción mundial de Café (San Salvador: Imprenta Diario del Salvador, 1929).

6. Ephraim George Squier, Nicaragua: Its People, Scenery, Monuments, Resources, Condition, and Proposed Canal (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1860); Pablo Levy, “Notas Geográficas y Económicas de Nicaragua,” Revista Conservadora del Pensamiento Centroamericano 13 (Nov. 1965); David R. Radell and James J. Parsons, “Realejo: A Forgotten Colonial Port and Shipbuilding Center in Nicaragua,” HAHR 51 (May 1971): 295–312; and Noel Lacayo, “Historia de Nicaragua” (unpublished MS). Noel Lacayo, formerly Director of the Library, Banco Central, Nicaragua, graciously permitted me to extract relevant materials from his manuscript. A very useful, recently published source on early Nicaraguan trade data is Alberto Lanuza Matamoros, “Comercio Exterior de Nicaragua (1821–1875),” ESC 14 (May-Aug. 1976):109–36.

7. Carl Scherzer, Travels in the Free States of Central America: Nicaragua, Honduras, and San Salvador, 2 vols. (London: n.p., 1857); and Ephraim George Squier, Honduras: Descriptive, Historical, and Statistical (London: Truebner & Co., 1870).

8. U.S. Congress, Commercial Relations in the U.S. Congress, Serial Set (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1808-); and Great Britain, Parliament, Abstract of Reports on Trade in Various Countries in the Sessional Papers (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1688-). For additional information on British archival materials of use to Central Americanists, see Dean Kortage, “Centro América en los archivos británicos (siglo XIX),” ESC 1 (Sep.-Dec. 1972):206–10. See also P. Walne (ed.), A Guide to Manuscript Sources for the History of Latin America and the Caribbean in the British Isles (London: Oxford University Press, 1973).

9. For Central American materials in West German archives, see Renate Hauschild-Thiessen and Elfriede Bachmann (compilers), Führer durch die Quellen zur Geschichte Lateinamerikas in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Bremen: Carl Schuenemann Verlag, 1972); Handels-Archiv. Wochenschrift für Handel, Gewerbe und Verkehrsanstalten (Berlin: [various publishers], 1847–55), later published under the titles, Preussisches Handelsarchiv (Berlin: [various publishers], 1856–80), and Deutsches Handelsarchiv (Berlin: [various publishers], 1881-); and Eckkard Friedrich, “Die preussischen Konsularberichte von Guatemala, 1842–1850,” (Diplom-Arbeit, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 1974). The Friedrich study is one of over thirty Diplom-Arbeiten that reproduce Prussian consular reports from Latin America for the years between about 1815 and 1850, drawn from the Deutsches Zentral-Archiv in Merseburg, East Germany, a source normally inaccessible to United States scholars. Latin Americanists wishing to use any Prussian consular reports from Latin America for the years before 1851 should contact Professor Hermann Kellenbenz, Seminar für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 85 Nürnberg, Findelgasse 7, West Germany. For a survey of Latin American materials in East German archives, see “Übersicht über die Quellen zu den lateinamerikanischen Staaten im Deutschen Zentralarchiv Potsdam,” (typescript, dated July 1960), photocopy in the Library, University of California, Berkeley; Irmtraut Schmid, “Der Bestand des Auswärtigen Amts im Deutschen Zentralarchiv Potsdam,” Archivmitteilungen 12 (1962):71–79, 123–32; and Hendrik Dane, Die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen Deutschlands zu Mexiko und Mittelamerika im 19. Jahrhundert, vol. 1, Forschungen zur internationalen Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte (Köln: Boehlau-Verlag, 1971); and Übersicht über Quellen zur Geschichte Lateinamerikas in Archiven der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (Potsdam: Staatliche Archivverwaltung, 1971).

10. On the Spanish archives, see Guía de fuentes para la historia de Ibero-América conservadas en España, 2 vols. (Madrid: Dirección General de Archivos y Bibliotecas, 1966–69); and James W. Cortada, “Spanish Foreign Office Archives,” The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations Newsletter 4 (Sep. 1973): 2–4. On Italian archives before 1861, see Le Scritture della Segreteria di Stato Degli Affari Esteri del Regno de Sardegna, Indici dell' Archivo Storico, vol. 1 (Roma: Tipografía Riservata del Ministero Affari Esteri, 1947); after 1861, see Le Scritture del Ministero Degli Affari Esteri del Regno D'Italia dal 1861 al 1887, Indici dell' Archivo Storico, vol. 6 (Roma: Tipografía Riservata del Ministero Affari Esteri, 1953). On Dutch archives, see Guide to the Sources in the Netherlands for the History of Latin America (The Hague: Government Publishing Office, 1968). On Belgian archives, see L. Liagre and J. Baerten, Guide des sources de l'histoire d'Amérique Latine conservées en Belgique (Brussels: Archives Générales du Royaume, 1967).

11. Alexander Freiherr von Buelow, Auswanderung und Colonization im Interesse des deutschen Handels (Berlin und Posen: E. S. Mittler & Sohn, 1849); and Comité der Berliner Colonisation-Gesellschaft für Central-Amerika, Die deutsche Ansiedelung in Mittel-Amerika (Berlin: Comité der Berliner Colonisation-Gesellschaft für Central-Amerika, 1850).

12. John Baily, Central America … (London: Trelawney Saunders, 1850); Ephraim George Squier, Notes on Central America: Particularly the States of Honduras and San Salvador (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1855); Karl Scherzer, Central Amerika in seiner Bedeutung für den deutschen Handel und die deutsche Industrie (Wien: Carl Gerold & Sohn, 1857); Felix Belly, A Travers l'Amérique Centrale–Le Nicaragua et le Canal Interocéanique (Paris: Libraire de la Suisse Romande, 1867); and Karl von Scherzer, Statistisch-commerzielle Ergebnisse einer Reise um die Erde, unternommen an Bord der österreichischen Fregatte Novara in den Jahren 1857–1859 (Leipzig und Wien: F. A. Brockhaus, 1867).

13. J. E. Wappäus, Handbuch der Geographie und Statistik des ehemaligen spanischen Mittel- und Südamerika nebst den europäischen Besitzungen (Leipzig: Verlag der J. C. Hinrichs'-schen Buchhandlung, 1863–1870); Hubert Bancroft, History of Central America, 3 vols. (San Francisco: The History Co., 1890); Herman Waetjen, Der deutsche Anteil am Wirtschaftsaufbau der Westküste Amerikas (Leipzig: Felix Meiner Verlag, 1942); Dane, Beziehung Deutschlands zu Mittelamerica; and Ralph Lee Woodward, Class Privilege and Economic Development: The Consulado de Comercio of Guatemala, 1793–1871, vol. 48, The James Sprunt Studies in History and Political Science (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1966).

14. United States Congress, Commerce and Navigation (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1821–); and United States, Secretary of the Treasury, Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of the United States [year] (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1878–). See also U.S. Bureau of Statistics, American Commerce: Commerce of South America, Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies, with the share of the United States and other leading nations therein, 1821–1898 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1899), and William Eleroy Curtis, Trade and Transportation between the United States and Latin America (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1890).

15. Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom … (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1854–); Annual Statement of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions … (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1855–); and Tables of the Revenue, Population, Commerce &c of the United Kingdom and Its Dependencies (London: W. Clowes and Sons, 1842). See also Robert Naylor, “British Commercial Relations with Central America, 1821–1851” (Ph.D. dissertation, Tulane University, 1958), pp. 310–71. Other useful data sources are William Page (ed.). Commerce and Industry: Tables of Statistics for the British Empire from 1815, vol. 2 (London: Constable and Company, Ltd., 1919); and B. R. Mitchell and P. Deane, Abstract of British Historical Statistics (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1962).

16. France, Direction générale des douanes, Tableau général du commerce et de la navigation, Année … (Paris: [various publishers], 1821–).

17. Ernst Baasch (ed.), Tabellarische Übersichten des hamburgischen Handels. [Irregular] (Hamburg: [various publishers], 1850–).

18. Bremen, Bremisches Statistisches Amt, Jahrbuch für bremische Statistik, 1900 (Bremen: Kommissionsverlag von G. A. von Halem, 1901). Also Ernst Baasch (ed.), Tabellarische Übersicht des bremischen Handels, which I have not yet located, will undoubtedly be useful.

19. Germany, Kaiserliches Statistisches Amt, Statistisches Jahrbuch für das Deutsche Reich … (Berlin: [various publishers], 1881-); and Germany, Reichsamt des Innern, Auswärtiger Handel des deutschen Zollgebiets nach Herkunfts- und Bestimmungsländern in den Jahren 1880–1896 (Berlin: Verlag von Puttkammer & Mühlbrecht, 1897). For early German trade, see also Gerhard Bondi, Deutschlands Aussenhandel, 1815–1870, vol. 5, Schriften des Instituts für Geschichte, allgemeine und deutsche Geschichte (Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1958) and Bodo von Borries, Deutschlands Aussenhandel 1836 bis 1856, vol. 13, Forschungen zur Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte (Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag, 1970).

20. Spain, Dirección General de Aduanas y Aranceles, Cuadro General del Comercio Esterior de España con sus posesiones Ultramarinas y Potencias Estrangeras, en [year] (Madrid: [various publishers], [1848-]), and later published as Spain, Consejo de la Economía Nacional, Estadística General del Comercio Esterior de España.

21. Italy, Direzione generale delle dogane e delle importe indirette, Movimento Commerciale del Regno d'Italia … (Roma: [various publishers], 1851–).

22. Netherlands, Department van Financien, Statistiek van den Handel en de Scheepvaart van het Koniggrijk der Nederlanden, over het Jaar [year] (‘sGravenhage: [various publishers], 1846–). For a useful one-volume summary of early trade statistics, see Netherlands, Department van Financien, Statistiek van den Handel en de Scheepvaart van het Koniggrijk der Nederlanden. In-, Uit-, en Doorvoer, Handel met de Verschiedende Rijken, Scheepvaart—Scheepsbouw, 1847–1873 (‘sGravenhage: Gebroeders Guenta d'Albani, 1874).

23. Belgium, Ministre des Finances, Tableau Général du Commerce avec les Pays Etrangers, pendant l'année [year] (Brussels: [various publishers], 1836–).

24. A related problem, offering intriguing possibilities for either a doctoral or postdoctoral research project, involves a study of Central American economic policy and finance in order to establish the linkage among expanding export trade, government budget policy, and national economic policy. To what extent were policy and/or financial decisions influenced by export trade interest groups? For example, already in the 1840s, Costa Rica debated the desirability of constructing an all-weather road to the Atlantic coast to facilitate access to the world for its coffee. Yet, only forty years later was the eastern communication route completed and then with a railroad, not a road. During these years, the debate on economic policy focused upon finance and thus upon the income derived from the export trade. Why the delay? What impact did delay have upon Costa Rican long-term economic growth? What interests or classes represented what viewpoints? Any deep analysis of development and modernization in nineteenth-century Central America can be greatly facilitated by a thorough examination, including statistical analysis, of budgets with regard to income sources and expenditures. The budgets of the Central American governments in the nineteenth century were published either in memorias or in the official newspapers.