Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-14
MATTERS In OLD MEXICO.
A GREAT MINING B00M-BANkS
AND BANKING SYSTEM.
immigration From the United states
Creates a New Issue in
Mexican Politics.

LPSN~--
CITY OF MEXICO, January 5, 1888.
The principal issue in Mexican politics
this year seems to be los Anses-icdnos, iudg-
ing from the prominence given by the
Mexican press TO the question of Ameri-
can immigration and colonization. The !
intolerance exhibited by the anti-Ameri- |
can faction will do more toward bringing
about that nightmare Of their existence
or an American protectorate-
than any other influence that could be
brought to bear.
The United States may have no desire
TO extend her borders south of the Rio
Grande, but she must insist that her citi-
zens who settle in Mexico shall not be OPP
pressed or ill-treated, so long as they be-
have themselves. If they cannot enjoy
the same rights and privileges in Mexico
that are accorded to Mexicans in the
United States, Uncle Samuel should de-
mand the reason why.
The Diaz party are intelligent enough
to know tina: there is no danger OF Amer
lean interference with Mexican affairs if
Americans are properly treated, and that
the closer the connection between the two
countries, the better for both. By his en-
lightened friendship for the United States
and cultivation of more intimate relation
ship between the sister Republics" Pres
ident Diaz has done more for the material
progress of Mexico than any half dozen of
his predecessors. Never before in the
history Of Mexico has there been so much
ACTIVITY IN MINING
As at present. This is largely due to the
fact that Mexicans are being aroused from
their traditional lethargy by the great
success of the many Americans who have
invested their money in mines here. Last
week, from the little southern harbor of
Mazatlan alone, the sum of S1l3,42S SO
was reported iii silver bars.
A number of northern mines are re-
ported in bonanza. In the State of Nuevo
Leon the mines of "Santo Miro" Of the
Carraivo group; the San Antonio" Of
Santa Catarina; "Durasno," and la
Americana" (all owned and operated by
Americans) are yielding as never before.
In the States of Coahuila, Chihuahua
and Durango are thousands of Americans
all busy as bees, digging wealth from the
hills or reaping it from the plains. Several
new mines have lately been discovered in
the Sierra Madre and so great is the rush
thereto that the stages have been doubled
on the lines, and all are crowded. At
Zacatecas, also, new American companies
are taking hold OF some of the oldest
mines and contracting to put in machinery.
The San Nincente," near the city of
Zacatecas, is now paying dividends of
$24, 900 per month.
was talking the other day with Hon.
J. B. Grinnell, of Iowa-an ex-Congress-
man and the author of several books-who
came down to Mexico City and has since
gone to California. Said he: al know
millions Of dollars that have gone into
Mexican lands within the last few months.
What is catching the eyes of capitalists is
the magniicence of the corn and cotton
lands. | have seen thousands Of acres in
Mexico that have been constantly farmed
for hundred years, and yet, this very
year, produced
ONE HUNDRED BUSHELS OF CORN TO THE
ACRE"
Mr.. Grinnell himself invested largely
in Mexican lands during his trip.
Though gold in the ore is so rich and
plentiful in Mexico, it has been proved
beyond question that Cortez did not fine
much of it during his day, and that he
lied abominably in his reports to the
Spanish Emperor-probably with a view
to thus enhance the value of his discoverie;
and win more honors for himself. At the
time of the invasion the Aztecs had never
learned any better method of obtaining
gold than by sitting it from river sands
Montezuma told Cortez-says that indus
trious chronicles, Bernal Diaz-that tn,
gold of his people "was obtained from tho
province Of Zacatula, where the eartf
which contained it was washed in woodeI
vessels, and the gold-dust sank TO the bot
tom" 1t was also said to exist in Tustepec
''where it was collected from the beds o
rivers" In speaking of the various ex
petitions sent out by Cortez in search o
mines, Diaz tells us that Gonzaio d,
Umbria, who went to Zacatula, found the
natives there washing gold out of thu
sand in small troughs."
If this were the only means employed
land no other is anywhere mentioned a
belonging to that period), it is certain tina
the statements of Cortez and his crew wer,
grossly exaggerated. Another proof o
their vivid imaginings lies in the fact tina
with the exception of a few small trinkets
not a relic nor trace remains, either il
Mexico or Spain, of the many marvelou
things in wrought and beaten gold whici
they so glowinglv described.
Neither do the chronicles record that
very great amount of treasure was actual,
gathered by the rapacious conqueror; ye
all the schemes which his bold mind coult
invent must have been directed to this on
object-not only to satisfy personal greed
but to meet the expectations of the En-
peror, TO whom, when he feared that h
was to be deprived of his command, h
had promised untold wealth and treasure
Though torture of the most barbarou
description was used TO induce the native
to reveal the riches they were supposed t
have hidden, no more was obtained; an
so, in order that his Spanish sovereig
might understand the absence of the prom
ised treasure, Cortez cautiously wrote tina
it was all lost in that disastrous revolutio
which first drove him from the city. Bu
if lost,
WHAT BECAME OF IT?
Gold will not melt away and disappea
like salt or sugar, and if hidden never S
securely, it would surely have come t
light before to-day.
The Mexican Treasury Department h.
recently determined that the reales (twelv
and a half cent pieces and the medias Isl
cents), so long in circulation, shall b
taken up and coined anew. 1t has ais
ordered that Government officers shall ne
receive money which has holes therein, {
is short in its legal weight.
Soon after what was known as Ii
"nickel riot" the Government sold ii
four million dollars worth of nickel col
stored in the palace, at a nominal valu
to the London Bank, acting as agent. I'll
amount paid was 100000, and the nick
went directly to England.
When paper money was first issued
Mexico, popular prejudice against it W
so strong and general that more formidab
opposition to its introduction was antic
pated. Business men, and those accu
toned to handle large sums of money, ha
nothing to learn in regard to the superiC
convenience of paper; but it require
some time for the small traders and ii
populace, whose prejudices in favor
metal were deeply rooted, to discover tn;