The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-19
M II X q O.
Important Letter from General Early
Lands and Land TiLIes-DiGIiculttes tn
the Way of Colon lists Their DIssatis-
facIiOn-AdvIce 60 Emigrants.

Lands and Land Titles Difficulties tn
the Way of Colon lists Their DIssatis-
factiOn-Advice TO Emigrants.
HAVANA, April 1e 1866 70 the Editor of the
New York NetOS :-Sir:-l have just returned from
Mexico, after a sojOurn OF three months in thu
country. Having received from VIrg MIA seve raj
le leis OF inquiry in regard TO the PROSPECTS for
emgrants 70 Mexico, and having learned that many
persons III that well as the other southern states
ue>,re TO emiRrate, 1 will state through yolr
the information received from Others on whose
judRmentft could rely, must state, in the nrst
place that my personal Observation of the country
confined to what saw III passing ana reJassiDg
over the stage route from Vera Cruz 10 the City OF
Mexico, the Rleater part OF my time having been
Oisiict and about Orlzaba through which the stage
route passes, unquestIonably rich, and intelll-
gent gentlemen, who had seen other paris OF the
country, informed me that there were other
districts IN which the lands were very rich, and
capable OF being made very productive BY the
proper use of capital and labor. But colonIsts
viii have many difficulties 10 encounter in all
OF them. There has been no systematic
effort to survey or ascertain the LOCALITY OF
the pu0lic lands until tnat recently made
under the sUperintendence of General Magruder,
CHIEF of ;he Land Office, All the iands al Cordova
winch have been surveyed a. puOic lands have been
air, auy pa celed out and have supplied but small
nj mber of coonists Land titles IN Mexico are in a
unsett ed condi ion, and but lew men know tue
boundaries OF their OWE lands. SO unlniormed is
the Government itself in regard to tne iands
to which 1t has claims, that, in making
contract with General Hardeman of rexa5
TO- me survey OF til, pubic lands IN Durango, the
have been thrown on him and he IS TO receive com
pensaon only in the event of his being able to find
and survey the lands, the Government not even un-
deriaking 10 furnish HIM protection Against guerll-
las and robbers, while he is engaged in fulfilling his
contract. The lands offered by private indlvidua
in alternate sections to colonists SO far am
formed, are in remote districts, whore the Liberals,
or Dssidents, they called, have control, and
the Government can afford no protection. The very
highly colOred accounts OF the country and Its re-
sources which have been published, and the expec-
tations OF iarge influx OF emigrants which lave
been excited have caused DrODrIetOrS having lands
ior sale to increase enormously the prices asked for
them ana many persons who have recently arrived
in the country have Teen uuaOe to procure lands,
either from the Government or from private indivI-
duals. The legitimate consequence of all this has
been, that many are returning great state OF ais
satisfaction while Others, who reled on the deuslve
promises OF and from the Government find themselves
not only without the meaus of obtaining lands but OF
returning to their former homes 1t IS exceedingly
difficult for those who have succeeded in getting
anos to procure labor TO put them in state of cu-
tvstlon, as the native popu alton cennot be relied
for that purpose. All idea OF procuring assistance
from the Government must be abandoned by those
WHO desire TO emigrate to the country. have no
doubt that Mexico has resources which, under a
stable Government and with capital and labor sufi.
cient susceptible Of very considerable develop
ment; but those Who go there expecting to fluid the
beautiful and fruitful land which is described in
some of the published accounts, will be doomed
to sad q disappointment that expe-
rieDced by the old Spanish conquerors in their
search for the iabIed FL Dorado. On the railroad
which is being constructed from Vera Cruz to the
City of Mexico practical and experienced engineers,
contractors and mechanics may find employment,
Uul OlueIWlse very lew pOsluOuS are open u LuOSe
who do not wish 10 cultivate the SOIL Physicians
who can peak the language can get permission to
practise their professions but beyond this there is
no opening whatever for any of the learned pro-
LESSONS.
Al to the stability of the Government 1 will state
that have no information, except what may be OBJ
tanned by any sojourner in the country who cannot
speak the language. Though remained the
Onal capital for nearly three months did not see,
even casually, so far as 1 know, the Emperor, EN-
press, or any minister of the Government, nor did
teek to see them. think, however, am warranted
in saying that any one who desires to make Mexico
his permanent home, must 90 so without reference
nation as to the length of time which that Govern
ment is to be maintained Ill the country is not to be
obtained IN Mexico.
i have not advised any of my personal friends to
emigrate to the country, and my knowledge is not
sufficient to justify in now giving any positive
advice either way; but, though my own determna-
ton to remain IN exile is unchanged, feel deep
interest IN the welfare of all my countrymen OF the
| Sou hern States ana the knowledge which OBJ
tanned from my own observation as well as from the
information OF others is sufficient not only to
thorize me, but, IN my estimation, to make 1t my
dut, to advise all those who desirous ofseekIng
new homes not to give up their present ones and
emigrate to Mexico, until they shall have examined
the country In rson or ascertained, through some
| friend on whose Judgment and experience theF
rely that their situations will be bettered. Above
| all let no man who has q wife ana children carry
them to Mexico until he has secured certain home
| and fair prospect OF support for them. BY OBJ
| serving this caution much disappointment and suf
| lenng will be avoided.
| Isend tins communication TO your paper for pub
hcation, as have no doubt that in that way 1t will
sooner reach the mass OF the readers for which it Is
/ intended than in any other.
Respectfully, j. A. EARLY.