Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-06-13
How a Thriving Business is
Sustained.
EVADIN G MEXICAN GUARDS.
Mezieans From Sonora Who
Evade Mexican Tariff.
Their Plan Of Operation-They are
Kieksrs and Kick for Reasons
of Their Own.

In human nature there is always that
propensity explained liz the sUying re
gardlng forbiddea frui' being the sweet
est. Often with no other incentive than
doing something forbidden mischief II
committed, and when there is hope
of profit nothing SO allures. as SNUG
Cling.
| Keen, alert line riders might contin-
| ually remain 10 sight Il one ano, heI,
and might be SO vigilant as ever is pos
sible , ct IL . attempt at evading them
would always be made. There is cheap
| mescal in Mexico and cheap calico,
clothing and boots in Arizona. The diff
ficulty ia not solved by the Mckinley
bill, and getting the contrbapd articles
over the line, and the question OF evad-
ing all payment Of duty thereon thus
becomes leading in the vicinity of the
boundary. Therefore in a chance of
making profitable haul, very consid. T.
able risk OF capture is disregarded.
On visit to an uptown corral any
day MeIicans may be seen arranging in
to convenient parcels of about hun
dred pounds each, quantities OF the dry
goods and boots sforeme ntioned. These
are securely bound in burlap tied in
pairs with lariat pieces and placed on
the back OF the inevitable cayuse. The
natural inquiry is answered with what
is already surmised, that the goods are
bound for Mexico, and that they will
meyer be inspected by the everything
customs employees There is something
peculiar in the manner liz which the
packs are arranged. The Mexican
mounts his animal just in front of his
packs, letting them hang SO low that
with either foot lie may give burro
kick and land his merchandise fifteen
feet in the rear of mis- horse. The cause
for it is seen on arrival at the border.
Through the brush caref ii reconnoitre /
is made, little heed being paid the line
riders on the Arizona side. Not so |
those over the line. The y are the men |
to be feared, and very due evasion of |
them is sought. All being clear the at
tempt at running the gauntlet is made. |
The pony is mounted, given the spur,
and the grand dash of the excursion is |
made. Generally it is successful, for
the task OF keeping a whole line under /
surveillance would make heavy drain |
on Mexico's exchequer, Not always |
is it so. The zest of making |
acros: is sometimes added to from cell /
OF "hoya" in an occasional trip, and |
their foresight is seen in the arrange
ment of the packs. In second they are
kicked into the bushes and the owner is
making for Mexico at no SLOW gait. Per-
haps the line rider finds the packs, in the /
event OF which they are confscated. |
Only perhaps though, for generally he |
doesn't, and probably on his return the
finds them in the brush await
ing him.
Arrived in MEXICO the trip to Tucson
is not found subj a bad quest from a
point of view. The Mexican
villagers are willing purchasers of all
goods, particularly as they are
offered at rates with which the honest
merchant who pays HE duty of leo to
l50 per cent cannot compete. The pur
chasers never would give away" the in
whereby they cen save % cents
On every dollar invested. A good mar
gin is always left the smuggler to COM
pensste him for his late risk, as he can
do living business at the rate Of profit
ot receiving $40 for q pair of boots sold
him in Tucson for So.
Often four and sometime Six or eight
outfits 60 to Sonora q day,
and these to Tucson merchants are an
Item of trade.
Into Arizona mescal is the principal
article encountered, and
successful runs are made
across. The profits from this also are
OF inconsiderable, as mescal is made in
Mexico unhindered by revenue taxes, as
q Uncle Sans dominion.