The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-11
MEXICAN MATTERS.

MEXICO CITY, Mex, Jan. IU.-Ine SCeauy
rise in foreign exchanges is working in,
creased hardship on Mexican merchants
and others having foreign obligations to
pay Mexican dollars yesterday were
quoted on the border at 54 cents in gold,
and New York exchange at S211 per cent
premium This is the direct outgrowth of
the prevailing price of silver, and is as
great a discount as the silver coin of Mex
leo has ever reached in the regular chan
nels of trade. It is not thought exchange
will go any higher, and this it will not do
unless another slump in silver should
occur. Some few people are prophesying
that exchange will reach the hundred
mark before the present silver question is
settled. but this is hardly thought prcba-
BILE by persons well Informed on the situa-
tion in the north.
The work of doing away with the inter-
ior customs houses goes steadily on. The
bulk of the duty collections in Mexico will
hereafter be done At maritime and frontier
ports. The various states will nearly all
do away with the state import duties
which have ruled in the past: instead they
will raise revenue by direct taxation. rs IS
being done in the states of Jaljsco, Agues
Calisntes and others already. Despite the
objections which are being raised to the
plan it is thought to be the best one prac-
blCaDlo 10 CCVSE tuc uSctS VI tuc COUhtiy.
The receipts of the Mexican customs
houses for December was 81 403, 4797S.
The annual report of the directors of the
Monte de Piedana, the world d-famous
national pawnshop of Mexico, has been
rendered the secretary of state. During
the year 1898 over 81, coo, 900 was loaned by
the institution, mostly on jewels, valuable
plate and ancient family heirlooms which
necessity may sometimes compel the
~ fT II
present need. The business of the Monte
Pity" as the name in Spanish signifies,
was not quite SO large in 1898 as in the
preceding year.
Father Felipe Castenada, one of the
active partisans III the unpleasantness In
the state Of Guerrero, who escaped from
Belem prison last week, has not as yet
been found. The police are searching for
him in all directions. aud he is evidently
being harbored by friends either in or near
this city. 1t is thought some of the guards
on the wall of the prison may have been
connected with the missing priest in the
escape, and interior investigation is being
made.
The Mexican government has granted
a concession TO Emelio Robion and Samuel
Morales Perera for the dredging of the
river Tempool flowing into the gulf OF
Mexico at Tampico. The river to bs
opened up to traffic in the interior country
is rich in coffee, coal asphalJum and other
valuable products, and when the work OF
canaiization Is finished must be able to al
low the passage of boats of sixty tons bur
den for every kilometer, or about two thirds
OF Z mile of improvement, the concession
aires to be granted a subventlon OF TO- 030
acres of public land wherever desired, SUBJ
ject to the approval of the department. of
public works. The opening up of the
river TO Tampico harbor will greatly add
to the activity of TamDIco AS port OF
export. The concession runs for ninety
nine years.
L. w. Nelson of the department. Of agri-
culture at Washington, ID. c., is in the
city and will shortly start for the state of
Chiapas, on the southern frontier of Mex
leo. He is field agent for the department
OF agriculture, ana will get specimens in
ornithology and mammaiogy for that in
stitutiOn.
CHIHUAHUA, Mex, Jan. 10--This has
been the severest winter experienced for
many years in this section. The roads in
the Sierra Madre mountains are blocked
with snow, and several mining camps
have been entirely cut off from communi-
cation with the outside world for the past
two weeks. 1t is impossible TO do any
travelling or freighting in the mountain
districts. Several Mexican charcoal
burners were caught in the storm and lost
THAR lives through exposure.
PUEBLO, Mex, Jan. 10.-Three companies
of infantry from the First battalion, with
a Gatling gun and carriage, have arrived
from the City of Mexico, TO Go guard duty
over the district which has been agitated
of late over the Indian movement. The
soldiers will keep the peace at all hazards,
and take prompt steps to suppress any
outbreaks.