Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-13
OFFICE C0LoNIZATION.
SAs JUAS DE LBrERAS, MgxIco.

|
OFFICE COLONIZATION,
Sks JUAN DE LBTERAN MExICO,
| February 7tb. 1866.
| Ny DEAR SIR: / have received your let
ter, enquiring like many Others about Mex
leo, with the view of making it their home
You know its geographical features, and the
fame of its mineral wealth. Its soil il of un
surpassed fertility, and its climate, after you
begin 10 ascend the table lands, is as delight
ful and healthy as the heart of man can de
sire.
The Emperor is ruling wisely and mildly
/ Their Maiesties are beloved by the Imperi-
alists and respected by all. They move as
freely among the people as the President OF
! the United States ever did in days of yore
The Empire is continually gaining ground.
Enterprise is abroad-many works of in
| tenal improvement are already under way,
and about to be commenced. Capital is
leaving its hiding places, and the columns
| Of the newspaper press are daily, and for
months have been filled with the names OF
Liberals, who, looking upon the Empire as
a SUCCESS, and their cause as a failure, have
laid down their arms and are giving in their
adhesion. Property and life are daily be-
! coming more secure. As an illustration the
| doors Of the house in which ] live are with
out locks; nor do / ever take care even to
shut any Of them before | go to bed True
there is a pOrtero below, but the building is
an old convent inhabited and frequented by
hundreds of people who are not barred from
! each other by any fastenings. The impress
sions abroad about Mexico are very errone-
us. With regard to the inquiries in behalf
of our friends who desire to come to this
lovely land, have TO say:
They can find desirable locations in any
climate they please, and suitable for the cul-
tivation of any staple they prefer, or the
raising of any kind of stock.
As TO the most profitable branch Of agri
cultural industry that varies with the local
ity the variation depending as well upon
the convenience and circumstances of the
market as upon geographical conditions.
Owing TO the want of roads, navigable rivers,
and canals, internal transportatin is tedious
and expensive, and expectation difficult.
Hence in one part of the Empire, the specta-
Gle has not been unfrequently presented, Of
breadstufs at famine prices, while in a
neighborlng Department they were vast
ing for want Of consumers. The most
desirable location therefore for immigrants
who are "well to do" land this is the
class that must lead the way) are on what
may be called the intertropical belt of Mex
leo, within which Cordova and Jalapa are
situated. This is a sort of steppe or slope
which rises from the low lands Of the coast
TO the various climates, which are TO be
found in all intertropical latitudes, at the
height of from 1000 TO 1000 feet above the
sea. Within this range the climates are
those ofperpetual summer-they are healthy
and delightful.
These steppes encircle the Empire on the
east, south, and west They overlook the
valley of the Coatzacoalcos and the Gulf of
of Mexico ON one side, and the Pacific
Ocean on the other, and abound in garden
spots as beautiful as Eden itself, and as sin
ful too. Cordova and Jalapa are such
places-they are in sight of the sea- The
farmer there, and at many other places, may
reap from the same field two or three crops
annually, with an increase of three or four
hundred fold upon the seed sown.
In the course Of the present year a rail-
way is to be completed from each of these
points to Vera Cruz, which will bring them
fairly within the domains of foreign COM
merce. Corn, cotton, coffee, sugar and to-
bacco all do well here, but as a rule, | con-
slider coffee, cotton, and tobacco the most
profitable staples of cultivation, because
they can best bear transportation and stand
competition in foreign markets. Formerly,
and before the country began TO be tossed
and vexed by revolution lands in the neigh
borhood of these two cities were valued at
from S75 to 500 per acre.
Many of these splendid Haciendas, some
Of them large enough 10 accommodate with
elegant farms ten times fifty families, were
broken up during the revolutions, and their
owners compelled 10 seek safety elsewhere.
They have fallen into ruin and decay
through absenteeism, and now that order is
restored, the Empire gaining ground and
internal improvements encouraged bv the
wise policy Of the Emperor, these lands are
coming into demand.
But present owners find themselves too |
poor to repair and bring them under culti- |
vation again. They are for sale, and NAV |
be bought at from 81 TO So per acre.
These abandoned Haciendas land they |
are 10 be found in all parts of the Empire) |
arethe placesfor your thrifty American farm. |
ers TO establish themselves. Let them, there |
fore, send out their head men toselecta place |
for the whole settlement TO be followed |
Immediately by their young men 10 SOW. |
build and repair, and make ready for the |
old men, the women, and the children. and |
others to follow by the time the lands are
ready.
They will find il, at first best to establish |
themselves in villages as well for mutual |
convenience, as for protection against the |
bands Of lawless marauders who are ever
ready TO pounee upon the helpless farmer. |
Immigrants should bring with them such |
mechanics as are required to satisfy their |
own wants and necessities.
Tell those who come, 70 count upon all |
the assistance, every facility, and the best
information that it is in my power TO afford, |
or within the province Of this office TO give. |
In the Northern departments the vine |
flourishes well and the wine is excellent.
On the slopes next the sea cochineal and |
indigo are cultivated, drugs, gums, and
spices collected.
The most profitable stock raising. are
mules, horses and goats There is room for
profitable inn Trovement in the breed of |
horses, cattle and sheep.
The immigrant is allowed free exercise
of religious worship. 1t is guaranteed TO
him both by an ordinance Of the Empire, |
and a dispensation of the Pope. He is |
also entitled on entering the coun-
try, TO free duty permit for all Of his |
cattle and effects and exemption from all
taxation for one year, and from military /
for five years. lie is allowed /
TO bring IN his arms also, and with his
neighborS to form or sedentary militia, for
heir own defense against robbers who are
daily becoming less bold. But he NAV not
bring in anything for sale, exchange, or
barter, without the payment of full duties.
In the rural districts the Indians gen
orally are honest; indeed in some parts Of
the country, theft. among them is unknown.
They are a gentle and dooia race. Simple
IN their habits they are suferstitious, enter
ing zealously into all the festivities and
ceremonies Of the church.
They seem not 10 care TO earn more than
a dollar or two week, and when they have
done this, whether by two or three dsys Of
labor, they generally stop work and frQlic
hll the money is gone, when they are
ready to earn by labor in the field the next
instaiment. The sabh9lh is not much OBJ
served by them, or the Mexican generally,
except as day Of parade and pleasure. As