Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-08-27
Letter from Mexico.

JlMIENEz, CHIHUAHUA, Aug. 20, 1892,
DEAR tDlToR;-Two weeks ago l iet
the City OF Mexico and IT. entertainments 10
lace once more the uninterestins desert OF
Northern Mexico. | arrived in JimmenGZ
after al uneventtul railway journey OF two
days, and at present an about60 miles east.
ward Of the Zine of the Mexican Ceutra' Ry.,
near no other town than IimenC2; am assis-
ting in the location ola line of railway to
be built from JimmcneZ to Jaco.
Jimmene2 il $50 miles north Of the City
OF Mexico and about $50 miles south of Fl
paso. Texas. 1t il tic center Of the driest
belt on the western hemisphere, rainfall be-
ing less than throo inches per annnm, gud
during the past five years, | am told, it haa
not averaged two inches,
The town Is rodelcd aflct other Mc&icnN
villages--a pretty shady plaza OF park in
the center, with dirty, narrow, crooked
streets running out in different directions,
low. tile covered, enc story houses Of the
Spanish type. with occasionally one Of two
stories-usnaily that occupied by The Pres
idente OF the town,
Twice OF three times A week the band
comes out and plays soft music during the
earlier hours Of :be night, While dnik.oyed
senoritas, logged in their best, promenade
around and back sind forth. TIE BOYS md
men prOmenading in one direction snd The
girls with their irrepreSslble Clapcrons N.
She other. A very disgusting custom to G
fellow who wants TO tax to his girl, that II.
/ mean the walking in opposite direction,
Is disgusting. | think 1t a very pretty Gus
tom to have sweet music, where 4 person
can 90 and spend an hour OF 80 with mia
neighbors, and when Il fellow ouGo finds hu
can't talk to bis girl, no indS good dua! Of
enjoyment in coming where he can bee hoi
occasionally.
! learn that JacO-the tcrninag-while
not as ~pfetentious a place As J'mcnc1 rs
salticf any way, as In aud around the place
are numerous salt lakes, the water OF which
is 40 heavily ladcned with salt that The
owners have decided TO build q railroad
out there, enabling theta to deliver then
salt IN the markets at a much more reduced
rate than heretofore, OF more likely TO de.
liver it 1T tie markets at the same price.
and make more profit on the salt. AS that
seems to be the way enterprises OF this kind
are generally run.
From Jaco the Company intends building
south to Sierra nojadaa and share The froirbts
ofthat rich mining district with the NORTH,
ern Road Witch has 50 long been e|ni0yino
Il monopoly Of freight rates on the ricl Ill.
vcr ores OF the nlmorou5 mines Of Sierra
Gojaaa. Twas told that dis Company tle
horthern) charged tor 4 car loud Of lead
and silver from Sierra MQiada to Esealon, 10;
hiI0Detres, about one third as much az the
existing rates to Liverpool; no woN1er This
is the best paying road in Mexico. Owner.
Of mines in Sierra MoJada are looking for.
ward to the building of this Jaco road, AZ
their only redemption. But il is likely the
two roads will combine and charge the
same as present rates. That is the way ii.
nanciering IL being carried on now. and Q
good way %too-goOd for the financier,. Ye,
when we think that we could not easily
pass q law preventing tIese companies
from charging or agreeing on q rate, Other
questions arise, such as government owner.
ship, but if the governments buy the roads
to keep capitalists from robbing the people,
unless they take the capital also 1t viii be
useless, us they would soon be using their
money In some other manner, worse per.
maps, than extortion on transportation and
the like,
Funny, isn't 1t? We can't tell inst low
1t VIII all turn out, perhaps, though, q
couple Of hundred years hence it can all be
seen in Looking Backward"
JPUv