The Portland daily press., 1881-02-11
L. W. WEIGH. sec'y.
The Advance on Mexico.

generation of American citizens except
when it has been the scene of political revo-
luton or military violence, is now more in
teresting to us than at any time for the past
thirty years, owing to the efforts being made
to secure its commercial annexation to the
United States. The position of Mexico on
the map of North America and the almost
positive assurance we have that the future
of Central America is to be shaped to con-
siderable degree by northern enterprises that
are akin to colonization. render the future
of Mexico also of great Importance.
1t is by railroads that it is hoped to COM
plete this peaceful conquest of Mexico-by
extending across our borders the agency
that so wonderfully transformed our Great
West from wilderness to magnificent
empire within the memory of men DOW liv-
ing. glance at the map will show that the
extension of our railway system southwest
is the most feasible method of reac hing the
interior of Mexico, and contradictory as it
may seem, of developing the few seaports
she possesses. Mexico has no navigable
rivers of consequence, and it is difficult to
reach the interior from either coast; hence
it is by an inversion of the ordinary rule that
the wealth of the country is to be devel-
oped.
The present government of Mexcois pro-
gressive and especially friendly in sentiment
toward the United States. 1t has granted
liberal concessions to foreign enterprises
that promised to develop the resources of the
country and improve the condition of the
people. Witness the liberal grants made to
encourage the investment of railroad capi-
tai from the United States, the substantial
aid promised to ship canal across the 18TH
mus of Tehauntepec, the readiness with
which American labor-saving inventions
and implements are received and adopted,
and the gradually increasing demand for
American goods and manufactures. A New
Englander, just returned from business
tour through the cou try. reports that for
all sorts of New England manufactures
there are many excellent openings in Mexi-
co; and American goods are fast superseding
the English. There is but one railroad of
much account in Mexico, now in operation,
that running from Vera Cruz to the City of
Mexico, distance of 263 miles, conducted
somewhat on the English plan. OF late two
new companies, organized in the United
States, controlled by American capital and
encouraged by concessions from the Mexi-
can authorities, have begun the work of
constructing railroads through the interior
of the country. One of these is the Mexican
Central, New England enterprise; and the
other the Mexican National. inaugurated by
New York and Western capitalists. The
Mexicans express great interest in both, and
feel confident of their success. The Mexi-
can Central is to run from the City of Mexi-
co northward through Quaretero, Zacatecas,
Durango and Chihuahua to Ell Paso del
Norte, where it will form a junction with
the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe and be-
come southern extension of that line. 1t
will also have division from San Bias
on the Pacific, through Gaudalajara,
fourishing city of SO,O 900 inhabitants. to San
Louis Potosi and Tampico on the Gulf of
Mexico. The Mexican National is a narrow
gauge road, the main line running from the
OAoy " AhS-AANO W IOluOeb3 JuCuCC W udfdN-
clio, thence northeast to San Luis Potosi,
Saltillo and Monterey to Laredo ON the Rio
Grande. From Mayavello it is designed to
run branch line to Manzanillo on the Pa
cific. The road is in operation from the
capital to Toluca, and engineers me en-
gagged in locating the remainder of the main
line and the branch A bill to incorporate a
third cOmpany-the Southern Mexcan-of
which it is said General Grant is the chief
promoter, and is to be the principal mana
ture. The road which this corporation pro-
poses to build is TO run southwark from the
City of Mexico and connect with the Te-
hauntepec railroad, now being built across
the isthmus of that name, a. ultimately to
penetrate the Central American States.
By tracing these routes upon the map the
reader will perceive that they divide Mexico
directly through the centre from her north
ern to her southern boundary, with direct
line east and west connecting her two best
natural seaports, and improving them, and
connecting, by means of the third line, the
capital of the country with Texas and our
Southwestern railroad system. All these
routes traverse the most valuable sections of
the country, and it is said that the mineral
wealth and the agricultural value of the
lands through which they run exceed any
account yet given.
This is the shape which the present ad-
vance of the United States upon Mexico has
taken. 1t is tedious and difficult, but if car
ried to completion the results to both ma
tions will be grand. The work of perfect
ing gigantic railroad system like this
through new and sparsely populated |
country will require immense capital and in
domitable perseverance. The restless nature
of Mexican politics and the predisposition
of the people to political revolution render
any attempt to form close commercial rela- |
and patient labor is necessary to substitute
our American business system for the dila-
tory, slip-shod and discouraging Spanish |
methods; if we are to obtain commercial su-
premacy in Mexico we must enter at |
once the territory by numerous small en- ter |
prlses which will gradually expand as the
Yankee managers Of them ascertain the |
tastes, wants and habits of the people and |
uproot the hold which English, German and |
French merchants already have there, by |
skilful competition of American goods. In |
this respect the fed is an open one for
American energy. 1t is for the interest of |
Mexico to seek commercial annexation with