The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-12
HOW FREE SILVER
" WORKS IN MEXICO
Testinosy Of aa Americas Who Has
Lived There and Knows.
HIGH PRICES IN LAND OF SILVER
Free Coinage Below the Rio Grande
Makes the Cost of Living a Burden.
Some Sample Quotations.

City of Mexico, Aug. Ito the editor
Of the Chicago Times-Herald: After
reading various papers published in the
eastern, middle and western parts OF
the United States 1 am lost in amaze
ment atSthe ignorance and false state
ments made in each and all of them In
regard to Mexico and its so-called pros
perity under the free silver standard.
If some of these writers and free silver
politicians who indulge in such flights
of eloquence and Oratory could live in
this state of prosperity CD and attempt
to provide for the necessities and very
few comforts of life with these silver
dollars they would soon long for a dol
lar that would buy dollars worth of
supplies.
In the first place, we will say. for the
sake of comparison, that the salary re-
ceived here for a given class OF work is
the same as in the United States, and
we will suppose it $75.. Out of this
man with wife must live, dress, pay a
possible physicians or dentists bill, and
provide for some other absolutely ne
cessary expenses. We will not even
consider pleasures. His house rent is
perhaps the most important item, and
for this $50 or $25 is cheap, and that for
house that Is not a house at all, but
only a succession of three or four con-
Meeting rooms. built around an open
court or patio" which is common lawn,
playground and back yard for six or
eight other families living under the
same roof.
Then he must furnish his house
somewhat--at least, he thinks so-when
he first arrives in this land with a sill
yer lining. The average Mexican knows
better. He does not attempt to furnish.
He has a bed, to be sure, table and
two chairs, and sometimes wardrobe.
An ordinary three-quarters iron bed.
painted blue, with here and there
high light of gold paint, with a woven
wire mattress permanently clamped be-
tween the head and foot boards, has
cost him SIS, and on this he has a mat
tress and pillows stuffed with wool or
cotton which have cost him SIS more.
He sleeps between blankets for which
he has paid Sc, or perhaps on one sheet
that has cost him at the rate of 81 cents
"vara," with the blanket over him.
Sl1otl SoMr oINlo.
The American does not consider this
comfort, 'but still he buys the same,
with the addition of extra sheets, and
then feels that he has spent more
than he can afford. The chairs, table
and wardrobe he will buy of Mexican
manufacture, the four pieces for pos
sibly $35. or, If second hand. little
cheaper, but the cabinet making will be
most Indifferent, and the material pine
wood that has only been stained. He
will also buy a skeleton washstand,
that consists of ring above for the
bowl to sink in, a bracket for soap dish
and diminutive platform below for
the pitcher, and a toilet set of white
enameled ironware, the whole-The
very cheapest-ocsting $71.
All of the better grade furniture is
imported and prices sky-high.' In ev-
cry one of your Sunday editions is ad-
vertised very pretty three-piece oak
bedroom suits at from SIS to $50. That
same furniture sells here for $50 to
$500. and, of course, Is considered very
choice
carpet is out of the question. Amer
lean ingram sells for $125 to 81, Brus-
sells for $3.50 to SO, and this is not q
yard, but a "vara." which is but thirty
three inches. Mexico, too manufactures
carpets Of an inferior grade, the cheap
est made being kind of ingram for
81 "vara."
Can the average wage Garner afford
this?
And now, the other side of the ques-
tion. Does this depreciation of silver
protect the manufacturer, who can make
carpet that sells for 81 "vara". To be-
gin with, he imports all his looms and
machinery in order to start business,
paying nearly two of his silver dol
lars for every dollar on the cost mark
OF the article purchased, and in addition
to this, heavy freight bill and custom
duties, making a tremendous first cost.
Wool for his looms is raised here, but
instead of being cheap. because Mexico
has plenty of cheap money, the price
Is regulated by the price the "ran-
cherO" can get for it in gold-uslng coun-
tries. and so the manufacturer pays two
Tor one. also for his raw material.
FOOD PRICES HIGH.
But carpets, and even wardrobes, are
1uxuries we can do without with smil-
Ing cOuntenanceS DrOvided xye baya