The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-29
THE FUTURE OF MExfCo.
Geu. Parsons Lecture on the Prospect
Opened up by Recent Railway cOnces-

Ceu. Parsons Lecture on the Prospect
Opcued up by Recent Railway cOnces-
AiOnS.
New York World, November u.
Gen. W. II. Parsons, Of Texas, formerly
OF the Confederate army, and who has
since devoted much time to the study OF
the mineral and agricultural wealth Of
Mexico, its natural lines OF development
and the value Of a more intimate CONNER.
cial and political relationship between
Mexico and the United States, lectured in
the hall OF the Cooper Union last evening
on "Mexico: It's Commercial and Mining
Resources and Railroad Development"
He first spoke Of tho three general levels
into which Mexico Is divided - the
coasts, the plateaus between 1900 and
1000 feet above the level OF the sea, which
form the most extensive area and have the
most salubrious climate, and the table.
lands more than 1900 feet above tho sea.
Within the area Of few leagues, be said,
may be found every variety OF climate,
from that Of the tropiC to that OF the frigid
zone. The variety and abundant growth
Of every kind Of fruit and vegetable are
unsurpassed. Mexico raises spontaneously
all the products Of the United States and
Europe almost by the side OF the most
luxuriant tropic vegetation. Her tobacco
and sugar are better than those OF Cuba,
and her coffee is superior TO that OF Brazil,
Her cotton is unexCelled. The total pro.
duct of her mines has aggregated over
nNA M nOn aud hnr fnN
nal commerce amounts to S500,000,-
900, almost the whole OF which is trans.
ported on the backs Of mules. OF her
9,5000O0of population 5000, 900 live south
oil the twenty-third parallel Of latitude,
leaving tho great Northern States but
sparsely settled. Here is the outCropping
OF the great mineral backbone Of the con.
tinent, the veins Of precious metals lying
deeper and deeper Rs one goes south and
north. Here the richest OF the Mexican
mines have exisled. But since the great
uprising OF the Apaches near the middle
OF the last century, hundreds OF the most
productive Of these mines have remained
in ruins, and the richest veins yet remain
uuexplored. The commerce OF Mexico
in 1900 was: Exports, 81, 900; i'm.
ports, ST., 100000. Sixty years later It was
almost the same. In 1870 her exports
were 1000 900 and her imports SIS, Co.,.
900, Of which latter Great Britain sent $l5,.
100000, France S5.000,0O0, and the United
States but 50, 100000. In seven years we
have imported 5000, 100000 products from
South America and the West Indies, and
have exported but 500, 900, 900 thither. In
the same time we have imported from
Mexico $95,OOO,0OO and exported $50 0OO,.
900. Mexico can furnish all the products
of these countries, and with proper trans.
portation facilities between US and Mexico
balance OF trade against us Of Sl25, 0O0,0 900
annually would be wiped out. The Vera
Cruz and Mexico Railroad Is not able to
meet the demand Of trade. The har.
bors Of Mexico, both east and west, are
mere roadsieads, unsafe in rough weather
The natural mears Of communication are
overland, The two mountain ranges Of
Mexico spread toward the north like Y,
leaving au almoet level table land from
santa FO TO tho City of Mexico and almost