The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-11-19

Agricultural, Manufacturing and Rail
road Matters.

On Sunday afternoon, when the sky was
clouded, the streets muddy, and the rain
was pattering upon the housetops and side
walks, this local wendell his way, solitary
and alone, from his home down to the Ray
mond House, not seeking what be might
devour," but hoping TO run up against
some one, out Of whom he might pick a
little news. Arriving IN the spacious Office,
we met Mr. Prouty, the irrepressible ProutY
Iii man should go to Hong Kong, Salt
Lake City or the Fiji Islands, he would
meet Prouty, and If he was on the lookout
for any particular man, Prouty could not
only point him out, but tell all about him.
We said: "Prouty. these are distressingIy
dull times, and the readers of the STATES
NAN are painting for news; do you know
anything, " and he said ''No. but can find
man who does, " and he found him. In
few minutes we were introduced to
DIR. SANTIAGO SMITH,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Internal
Improvements for the State of Coahulla,
Mexico, who is on his way North and East
to do what he can to induce capitalists to
establish manufactures Of different kinds
in Coahuila, where all manufacturing estab-
lishments are exempted from taxation for
the first five years. DIR. Smith is an Ameri-
can, bu. has resided in Mexico for the past
thirty years. He speaks the Spanish Ian
guage fuently, and is familiar with Mexi-
can affairs generally. He says that the
present government in Mexico is not only
strong, but that it IS giving very general
satisfaction, and that a spirit Of peace and
reconciliation seems TO have taken hold of
the Mexican mind, and that that country
has again been started on the road to thrift
and prosperity. The thieving raids on the
Texas frontier, Of which there has been so
much complaint, are now engaging the atten-
ton Of the Mexican authorities, and the
Commanding General of the armies of the
Republic win soon visit San Antonio to
confer with Gen. Augur, commandment of
this military district, as to the best means
of bringing the frontier troubles to an end,
as well as to strengthen and perpetuate
friendly and amicable relations between the
Mexican people and those of this country.
The Doctor says that the Mexican people
are alive to the
NECESSITY OF RAILROADS,
and that they are particularly Jealous for
the completion of great trunk line which
would unite the two Republics and make
trip from our national capital to the City of
Mexico a pleasant ride of but few days.
The Doctor went SO far as to say that the
government of Mexico would not only give
a liberal subsidy to secure the completion
of the International Railroad into the heart
of Mexico, but thousands Of the people
would actually donate to the enterprise half
Of their immense landed possessions, so
eager are they to encourage an enterprise
which would give them an outlet for their
minerals tropical fruits, coffee, and various
other productions of their rich and unde-
veloped country.
Mexico is one Of the richest countries in
the world, especially in mineral resources,
while in climate and productions it is I'M
surpassed. All that is needed to make it
blossom like the rose is railroad connection
with the United States; but it remains for
American enterprise and capital to develop
the hundreds of rich silver mines in that
country that were worked a hundred years
ago by the spaniards and have laid idle
since that time.
The completion Of great national high
way from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
through Texas and Mexico, is only ques-
ton of time, and we hope that that time
will be so short that the full grown man of
to-day can take a trip over it from sea to
sea before his hair begins to turn gray.