Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-08-25
MEXICAN RAILROADS.

which some philanthropic persons have
it in mind to build in one of our sister
republics There are two distinct
schemes before the publc-one known
as the the Boston and the other as the
Denver and Rio Grande. Both parties
are confident of success Both agree
that Mexico is the greatest mine OF
wealth in the world. Both are sure OF
to the future peace and prosperity OF
the country which they propose to i'm
prove, and both have the only real con-
cession to build railroads in Mexico.
But to most persons in the United
States the land of MonteZuma and Cor
ties is terra ignota, and, in the words
of the historian, onane ignOtum pro
magnifco. The mines of Mexico are
undoubtedly very rich the soil is pro-
ductive; the great differences in alti-
tude enable the inhabitants to produce
the fruits of the torrid as we'll as those
of the temperate zone But the inhabi-
tants of the country are lazy the poll
ticians are treacherous and dishonest /;
the Government is weak; the country
is almost always in rebellion against
some one or other, and property has
none of the safeguards which render
investment of capital in new land ad-
visable. Why, then, it is asked, should
we invest our spare funds in land
where everything is uncertain. in
stead of using them in developing our
own great resources?
There is one answer to this which,
although it will not recommend itself
to some persons, is still true. The
Credit Mobilier system can be worked
in Mexico much more eesily than here.
The profit to the concessionaires is
larger, and the less probability there is
of a profitable investment for the pub
lie, the greater chance the promoters
have of filling their own pockets
President Diaz is undoubtedly we'll
meaning and honest man, for Mexi-
can, but he has never hesitated to
grant concession to any person whom
he wished to oblige. The Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel contains as many Mexican
concesSionaries as Lombard street, and
the Cafe de la Bourse can also show q
fair quota. In Mexico city half the
Chucos and Joses that one sees play
ing billiards and drinking cervega in
the Iturbde or the Cafe de la Concor-
dia have their pockets stuffed with con-
cessions which they are anxious to sell
to 4" los perfdo Yankees" These con-
cessions are worthless, unless Congress
approves of them. and getting things
through Congress is expensive in Mex
leo.
But let us suppose that the Mexican
Congress has approved a concession
granted to American company. The
hatred begotten of fear is deep in every
Mexican's breast against the powerful
neighboring country. Every obstacle
is thrown in the Yankees way. His
life is in constant danger; his pockets
are emptied every day. Vexatious law
suits are brought against him /; he may
be kidnapped, buried under the floor
ing Of II room, or escorted into the
mountains.
uC OtilN SICab uOW III WV
ration in Mexico is the magnifcently
constructed road from Vera Cruz TO the
capital. 1t was built for the most part
with English capital, but the exact
cost of it will never be known. During
the French occupation, millions of
Government money were spent upon
it. 1t is and will always be the great
outlet for Mexican produce yet so lit
tie business is done that one regular
train day over the line is sufficient
What is called freight train "event-
ual"-that is, train which turns up
at q different hour every day-com-
pletes the programme. No railroad
that can ever be constructed in Mexico
will equal this road in it's possibilities,
yet the common stock is selling in
London Mt cents on the dollar. the
first preferred at 22t cents, the second
preferred at IA ! cents, and according TO
the officers of the road there is not the
slightest chance of dividend being
paid for many years to come. Here is
what an intelligent Mexican lately
wrote about this road:
"Ncver did line of railroad cncoun-
ter so many difficulties, or require so
long a time and so much money for its
construction. The number of years we
can count; we also know under how
many Governments (forty Presiden-
cies) it passed, we might say suffered.
But how many lives and dollars did it
cost Quicn sabe? We are told that up
to the 30th of June, 1874, it had cost
the Government $l2, $4,000"
There are ut present two or three
short roads running out of the city OF
Mexico, one train on each more than
suilicing for the business which is done.
Two or three Third avenue cars are
fastened together and wheeling loco
motive drags them along badly laid
and worse graded track. So great is
the danger from brigands that the last
car Of every train carries guard OF
soldiers. generally more numerous
than the passengers. The country
through which it is proposed to build
the new roads is exceedingly mountain
Gus, and would require an enormous
expenditure of capital for bridges and
embankmcnt The floods of the rainy
seasons will carry the embankments
away unless they are very strongly
built, and the pronunciados will blow
up the bridges just for the fun Of the
thing. Besides, every time that rev.
olution occars all parties raid upon the
cash boxes of the railroads, and the
working expenses depend more upon
the peace of the country than upon the
success OF the corps or the price OF
fuel
AS for any promises mudc by the
Government to aid in the construction
by granting a subvention of so much n
kilometre, it is only necessary to say
that Mexican three per cents are sell
ing at llMlla, and the issue of 1864