New-York tribune., 1885-07-06
MEXICAN STATES FOR SALE.
RUMoRs OF OvERrUREs TO Mr.. BAYARD.
WHAT THE LANDS PRODUCE AND THEIR COST
THREE SCHEMES suGaEsIEn


THREE SCHEMES SUGGESTED.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-The financial condi-
ton of Mexico has resulted In many for tho
sale OF Mexican territory to this Government
that letters have been by the score ON tho
President and Secretary Bayard touching upon this
question and making suggestions OF varied import.
There also report that President Daz has intrssd
to secret ambassador the making of overures IN this
direction.
The most popular Of the plans pushed for.
ward Is one for the purchase OF tho
six States Of Mexico which lie on her northern boundary
next to the United States, Tamanlpas. Nueyo Leon,
Coahuila. chihuahua, Sonora aud Lower California.
Sonora aud Chihuahua have recently been opened up by
American lines OF railroad. They are both exceedingly
rich States. The embraced In this proposition
Is about 100000 square miles. Texas contains only
23723l and California only 1Ss0S2, while New-York
and Pennsylvania the largest Of the older States of tho
East have only 10000 square miles each The southern
boundary OF the United States under such change
would be somewhat Jagged than at pres
ent, and moro difficult Of adjustment and maintenance
or all these States, Sonora Is probably tho weathiest
Her coinage in yearas far back 1860. l18.
397 Her annual production OF gold and silver Is now
about Si.0O0,O00. All the cereals produced in tho
agricultural ands aud copperas, aabater Jasper
donate of soda and nitrate OF potash found In her
forests are copal gum arabc cochinca and valuable
drugs and dyes Chihuahua has silver mines that have
her mines enabled the early Catholic mission
aries TO construct o cathedral at the city
OF Chihuahua costing 100000. 1t is In tho
Sierra Madre Mountain range, in the southwest cor
ner Of this State that Boss Shepherd, formerly Of
this city, is taking fortune annually from mines In
his possession Considerable American capital has found
its there. Stockrasing s the principal industry
after mining Coahuila is noted for s whey ards wines
and brandies. Mining Is conducted limited scale.
Nuevo Leon is mountainous with numerous rivers that
sweep down prccpitous IN great torrents Maize
Is the principal production and making the chief
industry. The sugar product has amounted to about
100000 year. Tamaupas is rich in silver and copper
mines that seldom worked Stockrasing is tho
great industry.
Lower California is little developed. but tho mines
Of pure salt the Island Of Carmen
said to be marvel of the world They yield hand
revenue to the Mexican Government
The value of the territory thus sketched when put
into figures variousy stated from 900. 900 to
S3OO.Oo0OoO In the condition OF financial distress
in which President Daz finds his Government 1t Is be-
eved by friends Of the purchase scheme tina; he would
embrace any offer between those two amounts.
A second scheme provides for the sale Of Sonora,
sinaloa and Lower California only. Tho Sierra
Madre Mountains, running down and forming tho
eastern boundary Of Sonora and snaloa, form o
natural line of defence these three states against
Mexico This and the Rio Grande River would to-
ge her form complete southern boundary Datcr.
ally dcfcnsible line This country These states are
Inaccessible to the Government at the City Of Mexico In
order reach the little sharp pointed State OF sinaloa
or souora they must either go down to Acapulco aad
the water, to Ell PasO aud around by
rail through the United states sinaoa would be moro
valuable acquisition than any OF the other states except
possibly chihuahua, because OF her numerous Paciic
tidewater harbors, and her rich mines Of gold
and silver, from which, even In their unfeveloped
state. from $5000O0 TO S2O0o000 is annually taken
ont These three States have an area about equal to
California.
st third project is being pushed on the attention OF
the Administration by the American projectors 0f tho
rehuantepcc Railroad Company. IL Is for The acquire
nent strip OF land nifty miles wide across the lsl-
mus Tehuantcpec, anu enough iaud at Cape Catoche.
Yucatan. for the construction OF forts. u Is ilought
this cession could be obtained for S5o.0)OOJO. or
million dollars for each strip mile vide and l3o miles
long The oJcot in having fort Ut Cape Catoche, cay
the friends OF this scheme, IS 10 form O land
locked and tortressprotcctcd OF tho Guf OK Mexico
when Cuba finally acquired by this country. with
Florida aud Cape Catochc III the possession OF the
United states, they say would be complete pro.
lection OF approaches Of the Mississippi River and
the southern Gulf coast. ,,
Just what view OF these various schemes VIII be TAKEN
by the Administration IL difficult to forcshadow Tho
Tehuantepec scheme has the adv OF requiring less
money than the Others but Mr. who has become
mey sensitive of criticism Will possibly oppose
because 1t is presented by railroad corporation