The New York herald., 1876-01-21
MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES.
Can the Boundary Line of the Rio
Grande Be Changed2
The United States Said To Be Negotiating
for Mexican Territory.
A Glance from Cuba and Spain to the
Mexican Republic


The long continuance of troubles on the Mexican
border has unnaturally turned attention TO the
question whether, for the irregular inconstant and
arbitrary boundary line of the Rio Grande. might not
be substituted natural and, therefore, exactly
defined boundary, easily guarded and well marked,
and good deal shorter than tho present line. The
question Of such improved boundary has attracted
attention. only in this country but even in Europe
Several English Journals have lately spoken OF it. and
have given currency to report that the United States
were negotiating a acquisition Of territory from
Mexico and that supposed debt Of $50 100000 or
more, due 1t said, by Mexico to American claim
ants, was to be assumed by the United States in
change for such territory.
II ought TO DO generally understood that there Is
nothing In this wild report The Mexican and Ameri-
tan Claims Commission has nearly completed It's work.
Under the treaty claims of our citizens against Mexico
are Offset by claims OF Mexcans against the United
States II is that the balance against Mex
co will probably exceed So Ooo 000 and cannot go
beyond $5 600 O0o and the treaty gives Mexico fifteen
PEARS pay any balance due, at the rate of
Ihan $500 900 per annum, and without interest This
lrning sum the Mexican government can always pay.
Nor is there any reason to believe that q with
Mexico would be popular or tolerated. Our people
know that a commercial treaty with that country, such
rs has been urged by General Elijah Ward, OF New
York, and Mr.. Randall Gibson, OF Louisiana in the
present OF representatives,
Dur Minister to Mexico, is known TO favor, would IN
crease the prosperity Of both countries while war,
TOR which there is no excuse, would only nnict losses
On both.
The rectincation OF our boundary can be brought
lbout by discussion in the journals, followed by pa
tient and honorable negotiations, whose object must
be convince the Mexican people and rulers that the
proposed change would be beneficial TO them, would
greatly and rapidly increase their prosperity and
would their safety, under all circumstances,
from violent attempts the part Of their northern
neghbor II is with this view that present to you
n
ton that they will now be adopted by our government,
bun to attract the attention of statesmen OF both
ties here and OF the leading public men OF Mexico TO
question which deserves their study, because 1t is
one OF the great questions OF the future, which somc
The length or present United States and Mexican
boundary line is l. 573 miles This line is III the high
est degree Irregular arbitrary and liable to dispute
For instance Grandc marks eastern part OF
It, but tins crooked and sluggish winds through
forms alter every great frcshet new channel often
cutting of some square miles OF territory at single
point and transferring Mexican ranchos TO tho Amer
soil and American farms to the Mexican soil These
pieces of real estate thus transferred Immediately be-
come the sanctuary OF thieves and robbers OF
both soils, who fee to them for safety
against the pursuit OF the authorities, and
half Of boundary troubles arse out
of such irregularities. SO great has this be-
come that has been proposed more than once to try
10 cut the knot by making the Rio Grande, wherever
itmay at any time rum the actual boundary until t
and insufficient remedy. Under such rule
might be an American to-day and Mexican tomorrow
pwner OF property the border would contemplate
such vicssltudes with patience.
Again, the west, by blunder which would never
have been tolerated had the rapid settlement of
Western territory been forcsecn the line from
the head OF the Rio Grando in a nofthwestery
direction, by which tho mouth OF the
Colorado River left within the Mexican
limits, whfic almost the whole OF this important
ytream hes within own lines Tho Colorado is
yable by steamboats, for 600 miles from its mouth; It
has its in the centre of the Continent, for the
Union Pacific Railroad crosses the Green River the
borders OF Utah Territory, and the Colorado Is formed
by the junction of this Green River with the Grand
Blue OF course its upper waters inaccessible from
the sea- but the lower Colorado important American
commerce already exists, which must
territory through Mexico This Is necessarily
slant source of trouble.
Again, our troubles with the Apaches in Arizona.
arise mainly from the fact that these savages seek
refuge across the border of Sonora, and the Mexican
government cannot, in State sparsely settled
as Sonora is, keep up without ruinous expense
people against Indians who pillage and murder
rst the Americans and then tho Mexicans and fact
prevent the settlement and development OF both
Nor can our own forces act effectively for they are for
hidden the border into Sonora, which thus be-
the unhappy asylum OF the savages and is itself
constantly harassed by them.
An absolutely artificial ine IL straight and well de-
fined, would be better than tho existing. In
map which take the liberty of sending you here
with you will that line Is laid thc twenty sixth
parallel OF latitude This has at least great advan
tagcit is but S72 miles long while the present boun-
dairy measures nearly twice as much-namely 1873
miles 1t would, therefore, be far less troublesome
protect against disorders Moreover this line would
have before many years
A study OF a good typographical map of Mexico re-
vcas however, yet another possible line, which is
founded upon the natural conformation OF the country
and adopts the watershed the boundary in such
manner that, running along the SUBMITS oil mountain
ridges this line leaves all streams running southwark in
Mexico, while all running northward would be Ameri-
can. This line has been carefully studied out by
pcient engineers from the best charts II only
500 miles in length You will observe that
these ancient ways, guided and necessarily
conforming to the difficulties OF the mountainous
region through which this proposed line runs. have
been able to pierce II at only five points All the sys
tens of road north and south converge these
passes, which arc, therefore, the only practicable
points so Tar known along the line small garrison
Of 500 men at each of these points OF convcrgcnce
would guard the whole line. either the Mexican or
lhe American side Such boundary, formed by ma
tqre. and not liable TO variation nor subject TO dis
pute and easily and chcapy guarded and defended
By either side, would be an assurance OF pcrmancnt
pc &C.
TO US so large territory would become II this
proposed boundary were established In fact, she
would give US not less than 397 square miles But
mexico Is IN tne position OF man the greatness Of
whose estate cuts him or from communication with
.he world and who Is too poor to improve his property
II such man can dispose OF part Of his outlying
estate 10 friend who will build roads
through II and improve II he in fact doubles his own
wealth by the Improvement Of that which nc retains
Mexico has population OF about 10, 10000 OF tins
Total seveneghths live south OF the proposed boundary
hno and Of the Onccighth who live In the territory
which by the establishment OF such line would be
saded us not than 900, 900, at tue most
900 OOO are Mcxicans and civilized people The 10.
niainder arc Indians, agricultural and settled
In villages but considerable proportion nomadc and
predatory IL sale TO say that Il our iiag were
stretched this territory more than half million
Of people would remove TO u Within eighteen
months and the emigration would Amcricanzc Il
thoroughly, and do very great deal 10 develop u in
The first i've years But TO Mexico II Is OF
weakness. She needs, To make her prosperous
that railroads should be built through II TO carry her
coffee sugar. cocoa cochnca and other tropical prod
ucts and her many ingenious Manufactures tof which
last know nothing hcrel 10 our markets chcaply.
With this great unoccupcd territory IN our hands less
than Eve years would Tho completion OF several
railroads tapping the rich Mexican country. But for
years citizens have vainly sought money
from capitalists to bud such roads through Mexican
territory. Tho Mexican government ~ unhappily not
able TO give proper assurances Of safety and perma
nencc to capitalists would undertake such enter
priscs. II has the will, but IT'S arms arc not long
enough strong enough TO reach from the capital TO
tho far distant border Under our flag tins almost
deserted region would become populous. and It's tn
habitants would be large consumers OF nexican