The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-14
American Development of Mexican


The proposed Mexican system under Amer
lean control is OF gigantic proportions. The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad
whose supposed objective points Guaymas, on
| the GfHlfoi California, the Texas Pacific and the
Southern Pacific railroads all come together
at ID Paso, ON the Rio Grande frontier Of
1 Mexico, While the Atlantic and Pacific taps
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe at Albu-
querqae, farther to the north. The Southern
Pacific aims to reach the Gulf OF Mexico at
GALVESTON Via San Antonio, where it also en-
counters another branch Of he Texas Pacific
system. Ell Paso and San Antonio are thus
the two most southerly points in the territory
of the United States OF a great railroad loop
which curves round from san Francisco to
/ New York, the arc having Dnumerabe chords
and tangents From san Antonio to Laredo,
on the Rio Grande, over against Monterey,
and thence by an airline to the City of Next
co. the Mexican National railroad is proposed,
while from the City OF Mexico to El Paso via
Guanajuato, Durango ard chihuahua the
Mexican Central railroad has been laid out
Each of these great trunk lines will have
| branches to the leading ports on the Gulf OF
Mexico and on the Pacific, and by theirmeans
Mexico will secure all the transportation tacil-
| tiles which it needs or can make use of at
present
EX-Presdent Grant was among the first to
recognize The importance and benefits to be
I derived from the extension of our railway
system to Mexico and the first to speak OF
them in an authoritative way, and it only
needed some such authority TO reveal the adj
vantage lying ready Tor our occupation He
! clearly sees that the condition OF Mexico is
such that its development would not make ii
the rival, so much as the tributary 10 the Uni
ted States While it is very rich in mineral
! deposits and particularly III the precious met
ais and in fertility OF soil for the production OF
the staples Of subsistence and commerce. it is
without the supplies Of fuel for the establish
ment of manufactures. In the manufacture OF
the goods which tile Mexican people would
use and the preparation for the final market
of large portion OF its products, it would
necessarily have to depend upon the United
States OF some other foreign country. That
it would come to this country, by the influence
OF contiguity, is evident, ii the means OF con
venient intercourse were supplied, and there
was no disturbing cause, and, in fact, the major
position OF the present foreign trade of Mexico
is controlled 10y the United States. The guam
tity of that trade is greatly IT. the future and
dependent upon the development OF the pres
ent Idle resources of the country, the awaken
ing of its people to enterprises and industry,
and the general results ofan industrial and ed
ucational advance, but that such things are
inevitable III the near future is dependent only
on a condition of reasonable political stability,
which Is now to be hoped for, and which the
influence OF an intelligent foreign emigration
will do Il great dead to help The attractions
OF Mexico, as u place Tor enterprise and invest
ment from the United States, are very great
and the next development OF the time promis-
es to see them utilized III various directions
limo Unforeseen disasters 0ecur,It will be very
valuable work, not only rewaldng those who
engage in il, but being Il great service to CIV
iliZdtIOn and tbn filfiIlment of the work of the