New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-18

that serve as an apology for pavements, and the public
about with heavy bundles and barrels on their heads or
shonlders The plaza is brightly lighted by gasoline
cert While the promenades are crowded. There
headed senoritas guarded by watchful dnehas,
spring bottom trousers and long tailed coats are not
in the height Of fashion. Then the night patrols Q,
CARVING huge square lantern in hand and rife
In the other which replaces the sxshocers they wear
In the DAYTIME Despite the seeming righteousness y.
their appearance and their constant calls throughout
the night, chihuahua is an exceeny poncea "i half
tremeiy orderly city. Any disturbance brings nl,
dozen officers at once TO the spot and there no t
for the ender until he has siisFfd thing
to gang Of conyiets AZ W9 5rs and revolvers
But there is one thing the policemen are p9TeI ;t
cope with, and that Is the neas anu c fonnd on the
almost every house. ana when w, az e''" 1''''
pine trees in the forests TO the west
ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS TO INpusihi.
As recardS the effect of the railroad, onn'niu" p
ont reasons good in themselves for the quickenhg OF
trade the enlistment of capital and the deVeiole' VI
,v Industries The Sierra Madre range and nearly all
the mountains between this State and Sonora are rch IN
gold silver and copper. 1t seems proeane lnh' inc
great mineral Of the Continent VIII ne disclose"
among these mountains at the point where tne oerrh
Nevada and Rocky Mountains unite. Westward from
this city are the famous BatOpias mines showing true
assure veins of native silver in decomposed quartz
where Boss Shepherd, whose memory abides In the
District of Columbia is reaping abundant reWarus LOT
himself and the Eastern capitalists who nave purchaser
mines southwest Is Parrll, winch Wouu NC
Leadyile were in the United States. and IN the same
general region Cuirishiac, and dozen mining camps
all showing fine properties. OF the mining region as
well as of the entire State this city with the mint ana
Government buildings = naturally the centre although
in one instance-at Batopilas-the bullion Is shipped
westward across Sonora 10 the Pacific coast Between
this city and FL Paso grazing grounds with ALUM
dance of gramma grass from July until January ana
which as has already done 10 very limited extent
can be rendered in part available for agriculture oy inc
employment of capital in irrigation In the southern
mart Of the State cotton growing is largely carried on
and there are many vineyards, while the merits oil Oh-
huabua corn and wheat have already become known
The climate is at this time not at all oppressive
During the middle Of the day the suns rays are very ho
but il is dry heat that is not severely felt The even
ines and nights are always cool and even chilly simply
as winter resort the clear pure air and beau ihou
tain scenery about the city offer many attractions
So far as natural resources goi Chihuahua mas oeeh
richly endowed But to the development OF these re
sources by American capital and to the establishment oil
manufacturing industries AMI new branches OF business
there exists very serious obstacle in the eX0rbtaht
duties and taxation refer not so Innch TO me IRON
here ut this city. Americans nave come mere sounl
of their existence and assured that their only dntes
were paid the frontier But they were told deet
story on reaching the line OF custom houses srIOunu
tinC down 10 the poems basket OF except IRE
wood AT the frontier the duties average about 100
poods Tins on canned goods the duty Is u cents
kil0oranme and the vessel containing them IL taxed al
the same rate. This bears with especial severity On
the comnissary department of the railroad CONTRACTORS
and engineers, for although permission was gwen tor
construction. rolling stock etc. 10 enter
free oil duty this did not include supplies for the camp
After the frontier duties come the municipal duties on
goods brought into the city As heaily az Cali
these about per cent ana TO TINS a. We h 10
the municipal taxes is added one-quarter OF he amount
i'm the former instance for the state and III the laer lOr
the Federal Government In the city the sce OF aNa
ton follows: One-han per cent on country pIoPI
erty; three fourths per cent on clly IoperI3i On an"
a half per cent for movable prOpeIty-SeWOueues
business; two per cent on manufacturing hdusIlesi
two per salaries and incomes from proiessOns'
tyo and a half money out al interest
And in each ease there is added One-quarter OF te
,,t 80 tho fov for fhe Fcdcrai Government, while
the revenues from the tax itself 90 to the state Ins
s e nd ON reachina the civ and taxes follow him
within its gates. To prevent the necessity OF paying
more than one duty in addition to two taxes merchant
snnnt of espfai he Intends to invest is then
charged with the municipal tax ana the Pn f nod
into the city up to that amount free OF the mucipa
duties But when the value Of the goods brought III e&-
ceeds the of his capital he is called upon ior the
municipal duties on the excess -.
These municipal duties with the quarter OF the amount
in addition are particularly OdiOus TO Meucans as wen
as Americans. and am told that taxation Is more severe
With the adopti6n of a reciprocity treaty between Mexico
and the United States which would do away WIN lhe
Chihuahua into active and prosperous business cee
until this il done there are serious obstacles 10 me
investment OF American capital III the many pIOIIs
ing enterprises which this new field presents
RISE IN PRICES.
Since the near approach of the railroad there has been
general rise in prices, sometimes TO three times the
former amount This has been shown particularly in
building material real and rents. large house
near the plaza formerly renting for $50 month no"
commands 800 and "A store near by rents for 500 as
AGAINST $50 a year ago The increase in rentals has
been followed by an increased taxation upon real prop
ertv But While the majority OF the wealthy citizens
have been buying up houses and lands and feicatlng
themselves on the RISE others have improved the oppor
tnty to sell all they possessed The reason gwen Tor
this course is the fear that the location Of the freight
depo round and shops the other side OF the
river may cause the growth Of a new town. which Will
monopoze the benefits expected from the railroad
Bt the general opinion that the advent Of mills and
smelters Will make Chihuahua more than ever mining
centre that the abandoned wooen factory viii be set
running and that new manufactures viii give fresh life
10 the city, The price of labor has shared the universal
rise Where poems could be hired for three bits day.
they now obtain six bits and dollar.
use the word peOn, which means simply laDorer ana
not slave as has been mistakenly supposed. The OLD
system OF peonage was not like negro slavery III the
soutb The peous were furnished with supplies by the
Dons for whom they worked at exorbant prlces They
work ont that debt forbade them 10 leave the estate or
their master until the debt paid and cOmpeued the
children of peOn dying in debt 10 fulfil his obligations
OF III former times where the peOn was copeGo
purchase the necessities OF life at any plcc IRON his
employer the consequent Indebtedness amounted ptsc
tically "A lifelong slavery AT present the haisneI
features OF peonage have disappeared although sem
bance OF the system stu exists icons on country
estates get supplies from the owners al hlg prices anu
their debts sBut they free TO leave at any
time and their children are not responsible for Their
obligations, although havesknOwn of one Instance
where the children voluntarily. assumed the dent The
lines of caste drawn here with true Spanish strin
gency and II will be Interesting To see whether the Amer
icanizng process ever bridge the gulf between the
peon and the Don.