Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-27
Advice to Emigrants.

! - NN AASecSh~AN &AAAOA AAtc~eAOAAe
Advice to Emigrants.
c.RBovA, MEXICO. March 2, lsG6.-My Dear Sir: (:
/ am receiving
BY each American steamer an immense number
Of letters from all parts Of the United States
which my whole time. If fdevoted to it, would not
be sufficient TO answer. These letters show the
existence Of n lively interest in colonization in
Mexico. and especially in the valley Of Cordova.
Several Of the last steamers have brought large
numbers Of immigrants from the United States.
| The lands owned by the Government in this
valley have all been taken by the immigrants
Gently arrived. and were not sufficient to supply
the demand Of those already here; but there
a great many large and valuable estates in the
valley. and some Of them adjoining the colony.
which can be purchased of private parties on ae-
commodating terms. We purchased yesterday,
for some friends recently arrived. an excellent
hacienda Of $3.50 acres. adjoining the lands of the
colony at s. 20 per acre. one-third cash. and the
balance credit Of one and two years. without
interest There is a considerable amount Of sugar
and coffee already growing upon this estate. and
a fair proportion Of land cleared and in eultiya-
tion. with number Of Mexican houses on the
place. In view ofthese advantages. / think these
gentlemen have done better in purchasing this
estate than they would have done to have pur-
chased land from the Government. 1 did, and
begin in the woods with houses to build and farms
TO open, etc. etc.
The Government has lands in other and desir-
able localities Of the two classes g. e. the public
A. IL,
Iaads Of the Government, and those that have
passed into private hands. been reduced to culti-
Vation. and subsequently acquired by the Gov
ernment. Lands of the first class are given TO
immigrants in limited quantities for actual and
immediate settlement. Those of the latter class
are sold TO them in limited quantities for the
purpose. at very low rates and on credit. The
lands upon which the colony is planted in this
district. are of the latter class They sold to
US at 81 per acre. payable in FIVE equal annual in
stalments. with six per cent. interest.
| find all Immigrants arriving at Vera Cruz
anxious 10 settle in this valley. 1t is natural
that they should. as il is beautiful rich healthy
and highly productive country. very well timDer-
ed and watered by several bald. clear, rushing
mountain streams and large number of most
excellent free stone springs with large number
of Americans already settled here. But those
who settle in this valley hereafter, will have
20 make their own arrangements with private
parties for lands; and my advice to those
who wish to do so. is Cor ten twenty families to
unite. send agent with authority and the means
TO purchase lands for them, or tG examine the
lands owned by the Government in other lOcali-
ties and determine where the colony is to settle,
and make all necessary arrangements preparatory
TO the coming Of the families. The purchaser of
private property is entitled to all the benefits of
the DEGREES for the encouragement Of colonization
The year is divided here into the rainy and the
dry season. The former beginning in May and
ending in October. Wegenerally have bright and
beautiful mornings during the rainy season,
though about one. two. three or four O'Clock in
the evening you may calculate with certainty up
on shower if not n heavy rain. During the dry
season. we have occasional light showers but not
often.
The best time for planting nearly all crops here
is May. June and July. Tobacco is planted in
September. October, November and December.
The best time for families to to this country
is in the dry season. and the earlier in that
the better II gives time to Prepare shelter before
the rainy season, and get ready for a crop.
Families moving here should bring with them
their bed clothing and few Collins axes. Farm
ing implements be procured here with less
trouble and as cheaply as they can be transported
from that country.
Good Spanish mules and horses mot equal in
size and form 20 the American yet very hardy and
serviceable,) can be bought here at from fifty to
one hundred dollars; inferior at from fifteen to
fifty dollars; well broke oxen. and as fine as |
have ever seen anywhere, at one hundred dollars
a yoke. In the market at Cordova beef is worth
ten TO twelve cents libra (which is little more
than the American pound; corn one dollar per
bushel; -four eight TO ten dollars a hundred; su-
gar twelve TO twenty cents; coffee twelve to twenty
cents lard twenty-five TO thirty-seyen and half
cents: eggs thirtyseven and half cents a dozen.
Fruits and vegetables always abundant and very
low. Dry goods and hardware of almost, every
description. abundant at about double what they
would have cost in the United States before the
war.
Vegetation is always green here, and stock does
very well through the whole year without being
fed, though the higher attitudes generally pro-
duce better grass and less brush hence is better
stock country. |
This soil and climate offers a better living and |
larger rewards TO agricultural labor than any that
have seen. and it presents harvest equally
rich to the enterprize Of the industrious manufac-
turer or mechanic; but the man who is not willing
To work should not come TO Mexico.
There is an ample suficieney Of good timber /
here for building purpose. but very few mills /
hence, lumber is worth from six to eight dollars /
a hundred feet. Most Of the Spanish houses are /
built of rough stone and mortar. covered with |
tile. The Indians live in little bamboo huts COW |
cred with long grass. l don't remember to have
seen brick house in anypart of Mexico, though /
brtal ala
The fences here are generally stone or hedge. |
The woods are filed with deer. squirrels pheas-
ants, and. regret to add wild cate and panthers;
and Col, White. lone Of the surveyors tells me
the monkeys evinced. disposition to take his
camp few evenings since. The wild parrot is
seen in the forest every day. You may assure the
ladies that have seen but one snake. only two OF
three tarantulas. and no eentpede in all my ira
yels through Mexico, and the flies and musquitos
are not half SO abundant here as they arc in the
United States; but don't choose TO say anything I
about fleas.
We have TO rely upon the native Indian chiefly
for labor. They are capable of making excellent
hborers. but they have a great aversion to work.
We pay them 50 cents a day, they finding them
selves, and work by the task. Labor can be OBJ
tanned more cheaply in other portions of Mexico,
and is generally obtained here at lower rates. but
at this time the econstructon of the railroad in this
immediate vicinity has caused such demand
for labor that ii cannot be obtained for less
Having taxed you with this rather lengthy
though plain aud unvarnished. statement of the
leading features Of this valley. viii not prolong
it 10 tell you Of the infinite variety of delicious
fruits gaudy and fragrant flowers. or the beauties
or profits of coffee plantation. Visit me few
years hence and you shall see and ENJOY them.
Very respectfully, your friend.
isHAN q. HARRIS.
RADIcALIsM Is CosTLY.-The following
article from the Columbia (Pa.) Spy is one
of many Of the same purport which come to
us in our exchanges;
sTAGNATIoN IN BUSINESS.
The last three or four weeks have been remark |
al hle the SIS in branch nf |