The New York herald., 1879-02-10
Difficult Problems To Be Solved Be-
yOnd the Rio Grande.
NEEDING A STRONG GOVERNMENT
Profits and Prospects of Existing and
Projected Railroads.
CAPITAL WAN MI E d,

CITY OF MEXICO. Jan. "a. 1879.
Abandoning for while tho festiye scenes that fl
the hours of the American excursionists sit down
to discuss as best can few interesting questions
relating to the possibilities of opening trade with
Mexico. find by inquiry among Mexicans who do
not tell the truth that there difficult
ties in the way. Although the United States and
Mexico have a common border line it is that
truly separates land Of active enterprise and polit
cal stability from another where the very opposite
conditions prevail Our Canadian frontier does
not arrest the flow Of trade and mark by a
line of angry breakers the reefs and sunken
dangers whereon international friendship may be
wrecked. There is practically no line between us
and our Northern neighbors far as our general
social and commercial organizations are concerned
and traveller from either country the
border only to find that he is among kindred peo-
pie. speaking the same language and influenced by
the general ideas those whom he left ut home
But Southern frontier the very opposite is the
case. A few miles of travel brings the American in
contact with race very different from his own-a
bright. intelligent race will adnit-but whose
habits. dress, language and institutions are as
sharply contrasted with those Of the people of the
United States they differ in Sweden from the
ditions Of life in Greece.
The consequence is that we cannot, with any de-
gree OF certainty ourselves that tho rules of
commercial procedure which We believe essen
tial to successful and mutually satisfactory inter-
change of trade will apply in our dealings with the
Mexican people, any more than can hope that what
produce for home uses will fnd ready market in
country where the peoples wants not similar to
own.
MExICo's DIFFICULTIES.
Merchants and producers, manufacturers and spec
ulators entering Mexico with the idea Of finding
market opportunity for enterprise, find them
selves face to face at the outset with three difficulties
not easily overcome These want Of security,
want of commercial facilities. and very sad want of
capital in the country. Perhaps the first of
these is the main root Of all the evils from which
Mexico suffers 1t certainly prevents the creation Of
commercial facilities. by mpoverishing the nation
and detcrrng foreigners from supplying the needed
capital to carry out useful public improvements:
and the absence Of commercial facilities parayzes the
native industries and leaves of the richest coun
tries in the world practically undeveoped 1t throws
into the of designing agitators idle popua-
ton and supplies the motive for series of distur-
Dances each Of which may beget that which follows.
Furthermore. succeeding revolutions have cntailed
on a struggling commerce and industry taxation
that keeps both in the most feeble condition: for
there has been little time allowed for recovery and
blow followed blow until the world wonders at ma
tional vitality that can survive such persistent
assaults This state of things 10 not deuic by Moxi
who really dosire to their country prosper
ous and who continually dcplore Its condition Yet
when you ask them why they do not try to remedy
It they unable to assign reason suggest
plan, and continue to lament. am satisfied that II
in Mexico until strong government Is
able, at moments notice. to extend its
and with mailed hand to grasp and crush the pro
motors OF sedition who now. unfortunately, cannot
be reached until they have acquired such importance
and influence AS to raise DOUBT in the popular mind
to which hforce-government or rrcvolutionary-rep-
resents Legitimate authority. Let it be rerle1n-
bered that President Lcrdo occupied the National
Palace in Mexico, and exercised all the functions of
the recognized executive Of tho nation when General
Diaz issued his J,ronuncaniento and mustered his
forces for the overthrow of the Lerdo government
To-day President Diaz sits III the palace fhe con-
stitutional ruler and Lerdo is fugitive Tomorrow
SO the red ball of revolution keeps rolling
leaving on every hand the blight marks Of its prog
ress.
WANTED. A STRONG aovKnxMESr
The most fortunate thing that could happen in
Mexico to-day would be the instalment of General
Disz President for life. He possesses q popu-
larity with the mass Of the people which would be
TO him apowerful weapon in suppressing the host
of candidates for Office, each of whom is = by no
means contemptible centre of revolutionary
activity. II not DiN then Palacio, Romero-
anybody in fact who will consent to act with firm
ness in performing the great work Of srangling the
hydra scdtion with its twin attendants. spoliation
and idleness: l mention these facts regarding the
"a
them essential to the formation of correct dca of
the possibilities of trade between the United States
and Mexico. As the oflice-hoder is generally tho
creature OF "thc man on top" at least owes his
position to the fact that lie not the other side
II follows that his tenure of Office depends that
his chief. and as the chict may be displaced by
revolution the same anxiety prevails In Mexico in
places nearer homo to make hay while the sun
Shines" How does this affect trade? Very de-
cidcdly, because it renders possible all kinds of
abuses and makes honest trade next 10 impossible.
HOW SOME TRADERS THRIVE.
IN tyM Nav bx,a oil.
foreign merchants. 1t may be asked. Why cannot
every foreign merchant make fortune there il he
only attends to his business? There is great
difficulty TO be before sncccss In ut all at
tanabe and that is in taking the edge completely
of the conscience as to be in position to do any
thing and everything so there is profit in it. One
must be prepared to deal in contraband goods and
uerscll his neighbor II piece of cotton fabric is
marked and sold as being one hundred yards in
length. but is really only eightyve yards there IL
margin of profit ON it even II disposed of below the
current price. Any honest merchants engaged
goods not Of special msnufastnroE cannot
compete with dishonest merchants who cheat the
Custom House and the purchaser. gaining profit
while undersclling their neighbors From the hon
est dealers exacted the heavy forced loans that
raised indiscriminatcly by the ''ins" and the
''outs" who always confending in Mexico; but
the smart fellows who.know how TO put their cash
'.where IL will do most good" escape much OF the
heecing These matters not openly discussed in
Mexico. believe IL is because everybody is sup
posed to know all about them. But in the quiet
OF the cafes and in places where sharp bus
ness rivaries come into play the mystery OF many
mems wealth is explained at the expense Of their
regulations
EXISTING AND PROJECTED RAILROADS..
Tho English line from Vera Cruz 10 Mexico, in
length 263 miles. and its branches TO Pueba and
ward Jalapa. are really the only railroads In Mexico
of any national Importance They are. OF course.
owned by one company and are operated with inte-
gence and maintained in exceptionally good condi-
ton. have rarely better laid and kept track
than that OF the main line; but in determining the
route originally the bluner perpctratcd of max
ing IL conform to the supposed requirements Of
important points, when it could have been made
much more direct and at less expense. Now all
through freight 10 the city of Mexico must be
hauled over grades that became necessary only
because the line runs In this crooked way.
Instead OF making branch TO any town whose trade
was worth the cost. and laying ont the main line
with view to its ultimate extension the
country TO the Pacific coast interoceanc rail-
road, considerable and unnecessary extra length of
the railroad must be traversed by through freight
and Mt a heavy expense. The branches, OF course,
serve their purpose very we'll in feeding the main
line, but ~ the freight is limited the receipts afford
..-Il~ -