New-York tribune., 1891-05-03

intervening spaces have not been hlled with new
Villages growing and thriving under the stimulus
of incoming population. IL has been only after
Iaborious struggle and with admrabie manage
nent that the principal trunk lines, the Mexican
National and the Mexican Central. have been
placed ON paying basis. American engineers and
contractors are entitled to great credit Tor tne skill
and energy with which railways have Deen built
in Mexico; but even more arduous ana brilliant
has been the service Of the American managers
and section superintendents In rescuing these
enterprises from bankruptcy by virtue OF perfec-
ton of organization and practical sagacity.
This remark applies with special force to the
Mexican National, which seemed at one time
doomed to ruin, but which has been brought TO a
high state of efficiency in operation mainly
through the ability and organizing power Of
capable men like r. d. Klein and b. w. Thacher.
This railway is conducted with as much order.
system and precision as a wellequipped line In
the Northern States. There Is an excellent sleep
ing-car and drawing-room-car service, trains ar
rive at and depart from stations on the minute,
and there are excellent restaurants along the
road While IL is q narrow-gauge railway. and
consequently placed OF a disadvantage in terminal
facilities for moving freight at the border, 1t is
the shortest and most direct route by hundreds
of miles from either NewYork, Chicago, St. Louis
or Kansas City to the City Of Mexico II also has
the attraction of the most picturesque scenery on
| the Mexican plateau, passing through Monterey
| Saltillo. Catorce. San Luis Potosi TO Acambaro,
whence there is passage over the mountains at
great elevation to Toluca and the National
capital The scenery from Tolnca to Mexico and
on the branch road from Acambaro to Patzcuaro
is unrvalled in the Republic for variety bold
ness and beauty.
| The only interoceanic railway that is approach
| ing completion is the Tehuantepee' from the Gulf
to the Pacific The Interoceanic. having practi-
cally finished its line from Mexico to Vera Cruz,
will now devote its energies to the extension of
its system through the State of Guerrero TO
Acapulco The Monterey and Gulf and the
Tampco branch of the Mexican Central are among
the most recent railway enterprises in Northern
States. There is, however. pressing need OF i'm
| proved communications with the Pacific Coast at
San Bias and Manzanillo, without any immediate
prospect of the completion Of the railways which
have been surveyed. In the far South progress is
gradually making with lines which will bring
| Guatemala into connection with the railway sys.
tens of Mexico and the United States. and will
open way for the construction of o trunk line
through Central America.
The completion of the leading railways has in.
volved fair increase In the volume OF trade with
the United States. The exports of merchandise
from Mexico to American ports in 1883, were val
ged at 81 These have fTS risen tho 10
United States to Mexico, which amounted TO
$SsSSe4$ in 1874 have increased trodS DO
is largely to be attributed TO the improvement OF
railway communications Well marked as IS this
expansion Of international exchanges, the results
not so large as might naturally have been ex-
pected from so many thousands OF miles OF rnii- i
way connecting with the American system. Inc
exports from the United States to Cuba in is0O
J were 81, 3,0e4, AIS almost great an aggregate
as that OF the exports to Mexico The exports 70
Brazil during the same time amounted ~, 70
S11 ,072,214, Notwithstanding the defective facin'
ties for transportation. The imports received from
Cuba were S53, sol ,591, and those from Brazil
$50.31s,756 in comparison with S22'oS9,V ~ - .
from Mexico This large excess In favor Of Cuba
and Bra5 is explained by the importations OF sugar
and coffee but the exports received In those coun
tries from the United States are pracucaIy az
, great as the American imports Ii Mexico, ana
with vastly inferior facilities for uansportadon
this result seems remarkable. -, A.
3 The railways have not profited so much from
the development Of internatonal exchanges ~ Ion
local traffic. Trade between the two countries nae
been enlarged but not SO heavily as the projectors
of the railways their Government patrons antlc
, pated Herein lies strong argument that can oe
| addressed to the Mexican Government, Which mas
subsidized the railways ana is ,a nc SoTorer az
cial reciprocity between the nations opera'eo 10
counteract the advantage of cheap and rapid rah-
sit between Mexican cities and the great mercantue
centres of the Western States-Chicago, St. LOUIS
and Kansis City. The tariff war now conducted on
the border in live stock and low-grade ores is par
alyzing the business of the railways which havf
established stable government ana Rron9,ea. or
> and political progress in Mexico. The cher worE
of President Diaz and his Government mas peeh w
4 | establishment Of the railway system Keclproelo,,
: alone with the United States will crown that Wori
with enduring success l. ~ l.