The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-05

however inconsistent it may appear to be with
the theories of biologists. anthracite and btu
minous GOALS abound in Mexico-a country of
volcanoes and volcanic strata Precious
stones are also found, including the opal and
the emerald, and, there are reasons for bsliev-
ing, possibly the diamond also.
What is to be done with suoh country on
our Continent inhabited by people who
lazily and indiAerently sleep away their years
with such riches underneath their very door
stepsa Railroads must be built in order to
facilitate the transportation Of troops for the
suppression Of revolts-and in this way give
security to tho capital and labor employed and
to be employed in developing her natural
wealth-and to give rapid and cheap trans
portation.
And now is the favorable time for this new
departure. The Oalifornians on the Pacific
slope are pushing down several railway lines to
the Mexican frontier; powerful combination
of railway men from the East are pushing for
ward the Southern Pacific Railroad, which
within year or two will be in full operation
near the Mexican border from Ell Paso del
Norte to San Diego; the mon of Colorado,
with an eye to "the Halls of the Montezumas'
as their ultimate destination, are rapidly push
ing forward along the eastern flank of the
Rocky Mountains narrow-gauge road down
to Ell Paso, and the Mormons and Gentiles
from Great Salt Lake are going ahead with
road Of the general gauge southwark through
the mining districts of Utah, en- route to Ari-
IONA. All these lines suggest the advantages
to Mexico and to us Of Mexican connections.
Such connections, extending to the city Of
Mexico, are inevitable, and delay in these un-
dertakings is only loss Of time and money
to all concerned.
But we see by the press kilograms that
Mexico is indifferent to railroads ; that
pioneers and capitalists who are disposed to
enter seriously upon their construction in that
unhappy country have not met with the CO.
operation Of the Mexican people which they
had hoped for, and have secured no franchises,
not even the right of way, while late
despatch states that General Rosecranz
has felt hurt at their apathy upon this
great subject, of such vital national i'm
portance. 1t is true that Mexico has no
money or credit with which to foster these
great enterprises and it is also true that she
has also but little or no public lands to give;
yet in her poverty, known to all the world,
she could show disposition to grant rights of
way freely, if nothing more, unless she has
foolishly determined to attempt to wall out q
civilization and progress higher and greater
than those she now eniovs
The increasing commerce of the world
demands an increased circulating medium,
and as Mexico possesses SO abundantly the
precious metals, it threatens to become soon
question of universal interest as to what the
duty of the United States may be relative to
the realization of o supply from that country.
California, Australia and the Old World can
scarcely satisfy the demand, and we must look
TO Mexico and our own mining fields As
We have committed ourselves against foreign
influences upon this Continent-be they politi-
cal, military or pecuniary-Amerioan capital,
American enterprise and American labor must
naturally employ themselves in the solution Of
the problem in question, under protection
which shall be sanctioned by the commercial
necessities and the civilization Of the epoch.
This inevitable issue cannot much longer be
postponed, and now is the opportunity for
new departure by President Lerdo de Tejada
which will mark new and glorious era in
the history Of Mexico.