, 1881-04-24
TIE MEXICAN ELDDRAD1.

Prosperity and enterprise go hand lit hand,
and there is n contagious quality about both.
The recovery aMong the people Of the United
States from the long era of depression which
succeeded the panic of 1872 has led to almost
unprecedented commercial adventure not
only 4. holnc, but abroad. Extraordinary
impulse has been given to railroad building,
and, among other new fields, capitalists and
cH:rcprcncurs have persuaded themselves
that there is al undevcloped E.dorado in
Mexico. AS Il consequence, some 400 miles
Of railroad trayersing the Mexican Republic
have been projected by Americans under the
influence Of promised Mexican subsidies, and
some forty or fifty millions Of American
capital will probably he expended within the
next few years in the development Of NIexi-
can trade.
III view Of this spirit OF adventure in the
direction of Mexico. THE TRIBUNE has Ell
hea:orcd, from time to time to present to its
constituency unvalnishel pictures of tho
actual condition Of that country. 4 year or
two ago it gave prominence to the obserya-
tions OF ex-A1inister Foster, who enjoyed; ex-
ceptionai facilities for ascertaining the re-
sources of Mexico, and yesterday 1t printed
graphic account Of the country which was
taken from the lips of DR.. John \. Rice,
Wisconsin scientist, who hxs recently re-
turned from a SECOND Mexican tour. Both
these gentlemen agree rs to the essential feat
ures Of Mexican life, habits, pursuits, and
resources. and neither Of them confirms the
roseatc views which have been put forth in
tie interest Of railroad building.
The area Of Mexico is about COO, 600 square
miles, or one-third Uf the area of the United
States east OF the Rocky Mountains. But it
is estimated that not more than onc-tenth Of
this area is arabic land, and much of the
latter requires constant irrigation by
artificial appliances. Hence the population
of 12,ooocoo is crowded into certain
where people are almost as
thick as the 1eas that infest the bodies of the
modern -Aztecs. Ttis population is made up
mainly Of three classes, as follows: III The
Crcoles, or whites OF Spanish origin, WHO are
the large landowners and who have hereto
fore resisted efforts at enterprise that came
from abroad under all apprehension that
their own wealth and power might thereby
be impaired: there are about one million of
these. G) The Mestizoes, or half-breeds.
who number between o,000,00 and 3,0o0,-
0o0. and are for the most part lazy and
worthless SET who live from hand to mouth
III the listless style which the climate per-
lnits and their social condition encourages,
C') The Indians, who COMPOSE the bulk Of
the population, whose condition is little bet
ter than that Of serfs, and who regard all !
whites. but especially the Spaniards, with
mixed hatred and suspicion. The elements
0f tile Mexican population are certainly not
favorable to rapid development and progress.
The resources Of the country are generally t
There Is sort Of ronlanticlsm |
about Mexican life at distance which is
confused with the dttlcc far nicntc of 4 luxu-
:ious existence. The only luxury in Afexico>)
S laziness. The silver mines show signs of !
exhaustion. Agriculture is pursued under
pecial difficulties in country where not
more than tenth Of the land is tilIable, and
hat with laborlous processes Of irrigation.
Trade is more or less mythical among a peo-
lie who work for 81 cents day and are sat
SIZED with howell and single garment Of
4othlng. There is no. doubt that the rail-
Dads will ln1use new life into the country.