The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-26
.-ss.er from Con. Harly I'm Regard.
TO Mexico.
HAVANA, April Is. 1866.

To tie Editor. Of the Ner York; Neus.
SIR: / have Just returned from
Mexico, after sojourn Of three
months in that country. Having re-
ceived from Virginia several letters of
inquiry i'll regard to the prospects for
emigrants to Mexico, and having
learned that many persons in that as
we'll as the other Southern States de-
site to emigrate, I will state, through
your columns, the result of my own
observation and the information re-
ceived from others on whose judg-
ment I could rely. / must state, in
the first place, that my personal OBJ
servation of the country was confined
t u, what [ saw i'll passing and repass-
ing over the stage route from Vera
Cruz to the city of Mexico, the greater
part of my time having been spent in
the latter city. The lands in the Cor
dova district and about Orizava,
through which the stage route passes,
are unquestionably rich, and intelli-
gent gentlemen, who had seen other
parts of the country, informed me
that there were other districts in
which the lands were very rich, and
capable If being made very produc-
tive by the proper use of capital and
labor. But coionists will have many
difficulties to encounter in all of them.
There has been no systematic effort
to survey or ascertain the locality of
the public lands until that recently
made under the superintendence of
Gen. Magruder, Chief of the Land
Office. All the lands at Cordova
which have been surveyed as public
lands have been already parcelled out,
and have supplied but small num-
Der of eolonists. Land titles in Mexi-
co are in very unsettled condition,
and but few men know the bounda-
rles Of their own lands. So unin-
formed is the Government itself in
regard to the lands to which it has
claims. that. i'll making Il contract
with zen. Hardeman, Of Texas, for
the survey of the public lands in
Durango, the whole risk and expense
OF discovering those lands have been
thrown on him, and he is to receive
compensation only in the event of
his being able to find and survey the
lands, the Government not even
undertaking to furnish him protec-
ton against guerillas and robbers
while he is engaged in fulfilling his
contract The lands offered by pri-
vate individuals i'll alternate sections
to colonists, so far rs am informed.
are Ill remote districts, where the
Liberals, or Dissidents, as they are
called, have control, and the Govern
ment can afford no protection. The
very hiShly-colored accounts of the
country and its resources which have
been published, and the expectations
OF large influx of cmigrants which
have been excited, have caused pro-
pretors having lands for sale to in
crease enormously the prices asked
for them, and many persons who
nave recently arrived in the country
have been unable to procure lands
either from the Government or from
private individuals. The legitimate
consequence of all this has been that
many are returning in great state of
dissatisfaction; while others, who re-
he'd on the delusiyc promises of aid
from the Government, find them
selves not only without the means of
obtaining lands, but of returning to
their former homes 1t is exceedingly
difficult for those who have succeeded
IN getting lands to procure labor to
put them In state Of cultivation, as
the native population cannot be re-
he'd on for that purpose. All idea of
procuring assistance from the Go
vernment must be abandoned by
those who desire to emigratc to the
country.
l have no doubt that Mexico mas
resources which, under a stable Co
vernment, and with capital and labor
sufficient, are susceptible of very
considerable development; but those
who go there expecting to find the
beautiful and fruitful land which is
described in some of the published
accounts, will be doomed to as sad q
disappointment as that experienced
by the old Spanish conquerors in
their search for the tabled Eldorado.
On the railroad which is being con-
structed from Vera Cruz to the city
OF Mexico, practical and experienced
engineers, contractors and mechanics
may find employment; but otherwise
very few positions are open to those
who do not wish to cultivate the soil
Physicians who can speak the Ian
guage can get permission to practice
their profession; but beyond this there
is no opening whatever for any of
IA.