Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-04
THE RESOURCES OF MEXICO.
General La Grange Telling what
Can Be Done In That Country
by building Railroads.

Van ne EtOnt IN AHAA &OUmtFy
by building Railroads.
New York World. Nov. 2s.t
General o. H. La Grange, who was Su-
| perintendent of the San Francisco Mint
for eight years, is stopping at the st.
James Hotel. He spoke enthusiastically
last night, of the prospect Of developing
the u of Mexico by building rail-
roads in that country with American capt.
tai. In speaking Of a recent trip to Mex
| leo, he said 1.-THE climate is the most
| delightful on this hemisphere, and has
this advantage over Southern California
that the table lands are protected from
the cold winds of the Pacific by Lower
California, which acts as a '~breakwater,'
30 to speak. The mountains in Mexico
differ from those in Nevada in finishing in
abrubt and detached ridges. There is a
lack of timber, although the mesquite
shurb would probably be amply sufficient
for railroad ties. The soil on the table
lands is dry, and affords but poor pasture,
but the valleys, which are naturally irri-
gated, are very fertile. They are very good
for grain-growing. 1t is a mistake to sup
pose that there is no coal in Mexico. /
saw samples closely resembling the anthra-
cite in character at the Office of Mr.. Chas.
McDermott at San Francisco. They we're
taken from the Baranca mine, about
ninety miles from Hermosillo, and there
is every reason to suppose that rich coal
mines are waiting to be opened by Ameri-
can enterprise. Little r~ivulets abound on
the mountain sides, and, when they are
not lost in their parent slopes, flow into
the rivers in the canyons below or give
abundant water for stock. Northern So
nora and Southern Arizona border upon
the limits of the buffalo range, which has
long been regarded as the great pasturage
ground of this continent. l am told that
on this side of the range thousands OF
cattle will die this year because the plains
are o~verstocked. On the Mexican side
there is plenty of pasturage, and I have
seen fields of grass, knee deep, which
could be cut with a machine. The expert
ment would yield at least one or two tons
OF hay to the acre."
"Will not this natural grazing country
be brought into use by the building Of
railroads ?"
"Most undoubtedly, and when the
opening up of new railroads demon
strates the facility with which the sea-
boards can be reached, as we'll as the inte-
rior cities of the West, such as st. Louis,
beef will be shipped to the latter point
direct. as well as to England, by way Of
Galveston"
"How about the mines ?"
"They are not as rich as those Of Ne
vada. The low-grade ore is of such q
different formation that very little en-
couragement has been given to the estab-
lishment OF stamp mills. There are a
great many base metal mines, and although
the production of bullion does not exceed
81 ,000, 900 annually, l believe that the in
PRODUCTION of the economical methods in
use for milling would increase that amount
t~wenty-fold in a few years with the help Of
the railroads"
"What is the feeling in Mexico with
reference to the prospect Of introducing
railroads 2"
1.-THE leading men in Mexico are men Of
intelligence and appreciate their response
bility. Many of them are highly educated,
and / was brought in contact with several
leading officials, among whom were the
Master of the Mint, the Governor and a
member of the House. We were at dinner at
Hermosillo, and / sounded them to see if
there was not a native prejudice in
favor of English capital. They agreed
in saying that American assistance
would be more acceptable. Some Of
the more intelligent merchants told me
tudt ali clOlb was mdhinS W 5bIu6Sic
against the obstacle OF poverty which was
supposed to have been in the way hereto
fore of inducing American capital to build
railroads, open mines and bore artesian
wells. They mean what they say and
promise in good faith every protection. l
believe that an American citizen would be
safer in Mexico now than in Deadwood or
Tombstone"
Are any inducements held out to in
luence American capital?"
"Well, the mining laws, which are based
upon the old Spanish grants, are very lib
eral. There is no tax upon material for
mining, agricultural implements, and in
Sonora, none on land. The railroad grants
distinctly specify that all equipment can be
introduced free OF tax. / understand that
the Guaymas and Ell Paso railroad will be
completed by next July ninety miles, and
this will be a pretty good preliminary test
whether or not railroads will develop the
country. With regard to subsidies, the
promoters of all railroad enterprises must
bear in mind that their original outlay can
only be returned as the of the
country increases. General Grant ex-
planned this very correctly when he in
formed those gentlemen who listened to
his talk on Mexico, that any railroad build
ing must be considered a commercial and
not a political enterprise.