The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1882-10-21
Saturday, October 81, 1882.
MEXICAN EMIGRATION.
From the Kansas City Journal.

lnNuSlOlI vi Iull-l Ouuc, PlCSSlto 'OAy
few advantages to the settler when
compared with the United States.
A large portion of the great tract is
situated from five to seven thousand
feet above sea level with that highly
rarcfied atmosphere, acknowledged
as unfavourable to long life. Almost
all the remaining portion is a pestif-
erous belt lying along the coast
where the excessive heat generate
all manner of malignant diseases.
Very often has Mexico been invaded
and occupied by people reared under
healthier skies, and very often have
they failed to maintain themselves
there, in all probability because the
effort was too great and the result
too small.
There is not q navigable stream in
the republic, and scarcely q seaport
suitable to maritime purposes. OF.
her 10, 600, 900 OF people fully three
fourths arc Indians in a hopeless
state of barbarism and accustomed to
live at a mcrenominal daily expense.
Concerning herpresent government,
itmay safely be said, that at no time
inner history has it been SC encour
aging. Within the last four or five
years Nexicans have taken upon
themselves the privilege of selfgoy-
eminent. At the present time the
country possesses a constitution
which guards therights ofthe people
as religiouslya as ours are defended by
our own constitution. Prononciamen
tos have ceased and in their place
has come a desire for freedom and
peace.
While it is true that Mexico
offers land at a lower figure than it
can be purchased here, possessing
no public lands, it can make no
grants with its railroads. Those
emigrants who are willing to risk
much in going so far, find climate
and a strange tongue their first
disadvantage; they must compete
with a class oflabor used TO existing
off less than 1853 cents per day and
are confronted with hat most ex-
pensive OF all farming necessities
irrigation,
The recent oval of the old
Notifications around the city of
Vera Cruz may be taken as acertiti-
cate of changed aspirations, senti-
ments and a more advanced civiliza-
ton, and although, the Mexican
government exhibits many elements
Of stability, we mustnot lose sight of
thefactthat the people are almost to-
tally withoutpolitica education. In
promoting and advancing immigra-
ton into her midst, this present
stability can not be taken as a surety
for future safety. 1t will take a
long time to educate the Mexicans
as a nation into due respect for the
arts and industries of progression.
In receiving II railroads Mexico
does. so grudgingly and slowly.
The railway ventures which would
intoxicate many a cool civilized
head, have no effect upon the stolid
natives.
Although the natural resources OF
Mexico are great and the soil rich,
when we consider that for eight
onths of the year not a drop OF
rail- falls, we can easily realize that
agriculture implies a costly system
Of irrigation where such n thing is
possible. Until the photographic OF
the country has been thoroughly
studied, nothing can be definitely
stated; but it is certain that the
scarcity of water iswhat has left the
country so long undevelopod.
Among the inducements offered
settlers is the vast mineral wealth,
which, granting that its value and
extent has not been overestimated,
is always a questionable advantage
from an emigration standpoint as il
attracts many of therougher classes
from other nations who come t.
prey upon rather than to build NJ
the resources OF the country.
There Is not a single coal mine al
vet opened in Mexico, and although
it is stated that abundance may be
found along the Texan frontier,
there is no better proof of the state
ment than mere surface evidence.
The Vera Cruz road is III by fae
brought from England.
For the last year or two the emf
gration into Mexico has consisted
,eify of Italians and negroes, who
We been brought there by railroad
~ltractors to work upon the road
tertheir work is completed they
I'LL either return home, snccumb e