Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-27
LETTER ON MEXICO.
Advice from Gen. Early-Dificulties in the
Way of Colonists. 1

Correspondence New York News
HAVANA, April Is. 1866
SIR: have just returned from Mexico,
after sojourn of three months in that
country. Having received from Vir-
ginia several letters of inquiry in regard
to the prospects for emigration to Mexico,
and having learned that many persons
in that, as we'll as the other Southern
States, desire to emigrate, | will state,
through your columns, the result of my
observation, and the information | re-
ceived from others, on whose judgmentI 1
could rely. must state, in the first
place, that my personal observation of
the country was confined to what l saw
in passing and repassing 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 Cordova district and about
Orizava, through which the stage route
passes, are unquestionably rich and in
telligent gentlemen, who have seen other
parts 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
will have many difficulties to encounter
in all of them. There has been no sys-
tematic 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 parceled out, and have sup
piled but a small number of colonists.
Land titles in Mexico are in very un-
settled condition, and but few men know
the boundaries of their own lands. So
uniformed is the Government itself in
regard to the lands to which it has claims,
that, in making contract with General
Hardeman, of Texas, for the survey Of
the public lands in Durango, the
whole risk and expense Of discovering
those lands have been thrown upon 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 guerrillas and robbers while
he is engaged in fulfilling his contract
The lands offered by private individuals
in alternate sections to colonists, so far
as | am informed are in remote districts,
where the Liberals, or Dissidents, as they
are called, have no control, and the Gov
ernment can afford no protection. The
very highly colored accounts of the
country and its resources which have
been published, and the expectations of
a large influx Of emigrants which have
been excited, have caused proprietors
having lands for sale to increase enor-
mously the prices asked for them, and
many persons who have recently arrived
in the country have been unable to pro-
cure lands, either from the Government
or from private individuals. The legiti-
mate consequences of this has been, that
many are returning in a great state of
while others, who relied
on the delusive promises of aid from the
find themselves 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 a state ef cultva- !
ton, as the native population cannot be |
relied on for that purpose. All idea of |
ASclobdnlC AhC
ment 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 sufficient, are sus-
ceptible of a very considerable develop
ment; but those who go there expecting
TO find the beautiful and fruitful land
which is described in some Of the pub
lished accounts, will be doomed to as sad
disappointment as that experienced by
The old Spanish conquerors in their
search Of the fabled Eldorado. On the
railroad which is being constructed from
Vera Cruz to the City Of Mexico, prac-
.ical and experienced engineers, con-
tractors and mechanics may find EN-
Dloyment, but otherwise very few posi-
ions are open to those who do.not wish
o cultivate the soil Physicians who can
peak the language can get permission
o practice their profession, but beyond
his there is no opening whatever for any
,f the learned professions
As to the stability Of the Government,