The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1882-10-21

LET us get a clear idea of the ground to
start with. The main trunk lines of sys-
TENS now concessioned by Mexico to Ameri-
can builders are as follows-companies
and mileage:
Mexican National palmer & sullivan)- 1000
Mexican 1000
Guaymas gSonoru)- )-,----------------------- 800
Mexican Southern n-------------------------1 600
internationai GErsbie & :.iiii Huntingtonj ,1SS
Pacific Coast (Frisbie). 5000
Oriental (Gould-De Gress)-----------------1 400
Total II, $50
There have also been granted since 1873
charters for at least thirteen other smaller
lines, all existent in 1881, besides the several
isthmian routes.
"These roads, however, rapidly classify
themselves into two important divisions
those on the ground and those on paper
The National, the Central, the Sinaloa and
the Guaymas have each several hundred
miles of road built in Mexico, their aggre-
gate mileage being, say 1900 miles. All
the other roads, believe, are represented
so far by surveys and prospectuses, and in
one or two instances perhaps q little grad
ing. As it is the object of this paper to
present facts and not speculations, / shall
bear this distinction constantly in view, and
shall never confuse the issue by comparing
built roads with projected ones, or group
| ing the two rs basis for common inference.
The systems now building will, when COM
pleted, have cost-say 1000 miles at $685.
900 per mile-somcthing over 500, 600, 600.
This capital, however, is not wholly taken
out of this country. There are three other
sources which go to make it up in part. A
Capital secured by the American build
ers in Europe. This is very large item
of the whole. B-Mexican Government
subyentions, used in construction, which on
hundreds of miles amount to $4,000 in
silver. C-Earnings used in constructions
Dali the rolling-stOck, steel rails, and
material for these roads is bought in the
United States or Europe. Further, the
moneys paid for salaries and expenditures
of the general offices in New York, Colorado
and Boston never leaves this country at ALL
MIR. Bigelow cites the road from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico, and asserts that,
although built in 1873, it never paid divi-
dend until 1879. While this is true, Mr.
Nevin says it should not be taken as a pre-
cedent, as it was the first experiment, and
constructed under the most unfavorable
circumstances. He asserts positively that
it has always made handsome earnings, and
its stock was quoted in London at 143 on
September 8, 1882 He adds:
Further, detailed statement will de-
monstrate that the average net earnings of
this road, up to 1S7S-long before they
could feel the stimulating influence of the
American enterprises-were little over ST.
OOO,O per year, or 81, 300 per mile This
earning would pay six per cent on
liabilities of sos 600 per mile. Tho Mexi-
can National is bonded not to exceed $25,-
600, the Central not to exceed S32 900 per
mile.
at is perfectly true that if Mexico does
not develop the American railways there
will not be a success. Without losing our
selves, however, in our own doubts or fears
or ignorance as to what Mexico is going to
do, let us see what she is doing-she is
bounding forward. For twenty years she
stood stationary"
He then shows by quoted government
authorities that in five years from 1877 to
1882 the national revenues of Mexico have
increased from $16,000,00O per annum to
30,0oO,O 900. Her exports in the three years
from 1879 to 1882 increased from Sc 7G1 ,2S4
to 81 ,172, 1873; and imports from S14, ,O47 ,S19
to Sf7 ,454, ,126. The writer then proceeds:
Evidences of the solid development of
Mexico within the past three or four years
can be marshaled almost indefinitely, but
there are limits to a newspaper article. Let
me only index few. Banks with large
capital are being chartered in the City of
Mexico-a new departure; new steamship
lines have been concessioned to run to
Europe and this country; the postal service
of the republic is being enlarged and the
postal rates reduced Orizaba is lighted
with electric light new census Of the
City of Mexico is decreed; coal mines are
being opened; American machinery i'm
ported the sleepy towns on the Rio Grnnde
frontier are starting forward like "citiesn in
Iowa OF Minnesota; Monterey elevation
1000 feet is now handsome place of 40
600 population, and the old Latin style of
building, the square, fat-roofed house, with
interior court, is giving way in the new
quarters to American architecture
To explain away Mr.. Bigelow's doubts
Mr.. Nevin then groups them under the fol-
lowing heads:
II. Topography and physical configura-
ton of Mexico. 2. The Mexicans themselves
do not contribute by subscribing for the
shares of the new railways. 3. There is no
immigration to Mexico. a. The hostile in
fuence of the Roman Catholic church s.
The poverty and ignorance of the mass of
the Mexican people. 6. Want of coal"
Quoting from Mr. Bigelow:
Climate and Physical Geography = The
greater portion of Mexico is from $3.50 to 1000
feet above the level OF the sea, and Is invested
OF the remainder OF Mexico lies along the
coast, Is very hot, and is never free from ma
regarded as an active, civilizing force-has
the Mexican plateau, or In sOhigh an average
temperature rs her sea-board plains. People
born under better conditions have frequently
Invaded and occupied Mexico, but all have
failed to maintain themselves there.
The population of Mexico is found on
her upland plateaus, from 1000 to 5000
feet above the sea- As far, therefore, a. this
mefanyc Of history, social science, and ply
sical geography is an argument against
railways in Mexico, 1t is equally NO against
the railways of Colorado or Utah, which
are taking very good care of themselves.
Mexico itself is but the extension south
ward of the great Colorado plateau. Hindu
stan is a country whose physical conlgura-
tion is very like that Of Mexico--s vast
central platcau, with periphery Of fieryu
cdiiente, or low1and coasts; yet the narrow
gauge railways of Hindustan arc emincntIy
prosperous. As to the charge that people
born under better conditions have frequent
y invaded and occupied Mexico, but all