The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-12

spectful that it often makes a
brusque matter of fact American
feel Ill at ease. They never hail a
person by calling to him loudly upon
the street, but if they fail to attract
his attention by slapping, their
hands together, the usual method of
calling attention, they will endeavor
to overtake him, and succeeding, no
matter what may be the urgency for
the interruption, they will be certain
to apologize for having caused IT.
A little incident that occurred to
myself few days ago, illustrates
this point in the Mexican character
very aptly. / entered a barber shop
for shave, carrying in my hand
A COPY OF THE STATESMAN,
which l laid upon the table and
failed to take with me when leav-
ing, but after getting four blocks
away was overtaken by the barber,
who, after offering many apologies
for disturbing me, handed me the
paper.
After ten o'clock at night this
city is as silent as graveyard. Not
sound is to be heard except an occa.
sional dog. bark or the braying of a
jackass. On the 10th of this month
a grand celebration in honor of
Mexican independence was given by
the state authorities, and, although
no saloons were closed, and
thousands of all classes attend
ed the festivities, which con-
tinued until ten o'clock that
night, l saw but one drunk
en- man, and my opportunities
for seeing others, had there been
such, were excellent, for l was all
over the city and in all parts of the
crowd. Indeed, drunkenness is a
vice L have rarely witnessed in the
natives of this city.
The business outlook is variously
stated. Some say that with the
COMING OF THE RAILROAD,
now looked for in February next,
there will centre at this place large
and profitable mining, mercantile,
agricultural, manufacturing and
stockraising interests. They claim
that the facilities offered by Saltillo
by reason of being contiguous to-
indeed the feeder for-large agri-
cultural, mining and stockraising
districts which are yet but poorly
developed; the abundance of water
power, lead, copper and silver ore
the close proximity of large tracts of
timber lands; the low wages paid
mechanics and operatives, to say
nothing of the dozen cotton and
grist mills already in profitable
operation, are sure within a short
space of time to command both the
attention and capital of fbusiness men,
while others, less sanguine, declare
they can see no reasonable grounds
for such sanguine expectations. L
am inclined TO adopt the views of
the former class, for reasons already
given, and from the further fact
that Saltillo, in days gone by, did an
enormous wholesale trade with
the interior, much of which
now goes TO other points on
the frontier because of cheaper
freights and railroad facilities, al
though in this line her merchants are
still prosperous, and with such IN
ducements as are only to be had by
railroad connections with other
parts, and proper industry, there is
no reason why the former patrons of
the city should go sixty or hun
dred miles further OH, when they
can buy and sell at as good advant-
age nearer home. The same argu-
ment applies with equal force to new
enterprises that may come into the
country. So soon as the railroad,
the Mexican International, reaches
here, Saltillo will then be in direct
connection, by way of Corpus Christi,
with all the Gulf ports, all of the At
lantic ports, as well as with all the
leading American cities by way of
railroad connections at Laredo.
Already the "boom" has struck Sal
tillo; houses are being repaired,
new ones erected, an enormous
opera house is we'll under way of
construction; also new peniten-
tiary, new hospital building.
English and American capitalists
are coming in seeking investments.
There are here at this time repre-
sentatives of an English company,
negotiating for the purchase of a
large body of land belonging to the
government, for which they have
offered $3,000,000, and upon which
they intend to settle large English
colony.
SENIOR EvERIsTo MADERo,
the present governor of this
state, is gentleman OF
broad, expanded views, and astates-
man, thoroughly lmbued with the
importance of modern progress as
applied to the affairs of state, COM
munities and individuals; he will
not accept cent from the public
treasury for his services, but has his
salary applied to the support ofpub-
lie free schools. lie accords to the
stranger a most cordial welcome,
and does everything in bis power to
afford an insight into Mexican GUS
toms and business prospects. To
him is due the honor of establishing
and enforcing the present system Of
free schools, vaccination, and that of
the registration of births, marriages
and deaths, besides many other re-
forms that are fast placing this state
to the front in advancing civilization.
He sees that the laws are rigldly en-
forced and will tolerate no shirking
of official duty on the part Of the
state employees.
A FEELING OF PERFECT SECURITY
seems to have settled upon every
one; the most perfect order prevails;
industry and an effort for honest
gain characterizes the daily scenes
encountered in Saltillo, while peace
and contentment, from the present
outlook, are threatened by no har-
bingers of approaching danger. In
July last, an election was
held in this state, Coahuila,
for representatives to the national
congress, representatives to the state
legislature, and upon the same day
for municipal officers for this city,
but so quietly and orderly were
these elections conducted that none
of us Americans knew anything of
it until the following morning. This
circumstance, L think, speaks in
louder praise for the good order and
system that obtains than anything
else that can communicate.
PERSONS COMING HERE
should bring with them, If possible,
letters of recommendation from
well known parties. On leaving
Monterey, for this city, they can
take their choice of one of three
stage lines, two conducted by Mexi-
cans, and one by Mr.. j. w. Orr. OF
the two former, can not speak ad-
visedIy, and the latter is too well
known in Austin and other portions