San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-09-27
MEXICAN COTToN INDUSTRY.
The Great Cotton nils OF Observation-Disclosures
Cotton Mostly UGtd,

| Ire Ofeht tOtIOn iiiis VI HuV'''"'" '"'''''N
Cotton Mostly Used,
The city of Queretaro, which is the
capital of the State OF the same name,
and is one of the most progressive OF
Mexican cities, now furnishes to the
Mexican Central Railroad, according
to correspondent or the Mexican
Finaneier, more business than any
other place on the line OF the road.
Great quantities of grain are shipped
here, particularly corn and wheat, not
only to the capital but northward up
the line. The surrounding agicultu-
raj region is very fertile, and the rail
road is proving of great advantage to
the people in furnishing them facili-
ties for the quick and cheap shipment
of their products, and they are learn
ing to value it, for many of them have
made a great deal Of money through
the increased profits which thsy are
enabled to get thereby. Queretare
has consider he mHnrfortureS IT
wooden goods, p,.t III gJuut INDUSTRY
is Gotten manufacturing, at carried on
by the Hercules Cotton Mills, and the
two branch establishments, the Blu
rissima and the San Antonio, which
form the largest cotton manufacture
ing enterprise in Mexico. They give
employment to over 1000 persons,
and indirectly supply business to a
great part of Queretaro, as IN all INC
tory towns. through the disposition
of the money paid the operatives. Of
course neither these, nor any other
mills in Mexico could exist, were it
not for the high protective duty I'M
posed on foreign goods in their taver.
AS it is, however, they are highly
profitable, and since the railroad has
been built they make more money
than ever, on account Of the facilities
afforded for shipping their goods and
for receiving their cotton. Although
Mexico is a cotton producing country,
and labor is very cheap, there are va
rious reasons why cotton goods could
not be manufactured here in compe
tition with those imported. One is,
the quality Of the LABOR itself. 1t is
true that individual labor is very
cheap, but then two operatives here
would hardly do SO much work az one
factory hand of the same grade in the |
North, therefore labor is really dear
er. Perhaps this may be remedied |
in time by the development Of a
trained class of operatives, and the
introduction of automatic machinery.
Men, women and children are en-
ployed, and the wages paid averages
from 25 cents to 81 day. Many are
paid by The piece. Another great
reason why manufacturing is not
more extensive is, That although Mex
leo is a cotton growing country, and
has great cotton-producing capacities,
nevertheless The greater part Of the
cotton used is from New Orleans.
The reasongfor this are tWo-told, one
being the great cost Of getting cotton
from the regions whore it is grown to
the manufactures, and the other the
poor quality of Mexican cotton, which
makes the even-running American
grades preferable, for with the latter
they are always sure Of the quality,
and know exactly how to go TO work
with it, while with the former it diff.
fers so that there isno depending upon
it, the cotton from no two haciendas
being of the same grade, co that it
makes terrible work in the mills, as
cotton throws the ma
chineIy al out OF running order. As
good cotton could be grown here in
Mexico as anywhere IN the world, but
the trouble is with the careless meth
cd of cultivation and picking. The
cotton comes to the mills in the most
shape, full of dirt, and par
5icularly leaves, SO that it is impossi-
bic to cleanse it. The Mexican cotton
that is used is carefully gone over,
and the good and granddaughter
IN certain proportions, so az to make
the average required.