The herald., 1896-09-06

the United States increased over 400
per cent from 1894 to 1895, and, compar-
ing the first ten months of each year,
the value Of the machinery, engines, To-
comotives and boilers imported in
creased from s1.3OO,000 to $1,653,0oo.
What more convincing evidences of
the progress and prosperity of Mexico
can be sought?
But these facts are also strongly con-
f1rmed by reliable external evidence
The Boston Herald lately sent a special
correspondent to Mexico. and here is d
specimen of the results of his investiga-
ton:
Everybody is busy and there Is work
for every man. There is not mechanic
but has plenty to do. All over the city
new houses and stores are going up, and
'the hum of industry" is no mere figure
of speech. Hundreds of handsome edi-
fees are under construction, and whole
districts are being rapidly built up.
Bankers tell me that money is abun-
dant in private hands, and, as a rule,
seeking active employment The tenden-
cy of the rate of interest is distinctly
downward, and capital is compelled 10
invest itself actively to gain good re-
turns
l. Ac AOuUOH ana oOutH African syn
dicate, which recently bought the street
railways Of this city, have taken pos
session, and will soon begin actively to
introduce more modern methods in ur-
ban transportation. Several large busi-
nesses, involving many millions of dol
lars, are fast coming to head, and it Is
safe to say that Gen. Diazs fifth term
Will be a bonanza period for this coun-
try.
The most preposterous misrepresenta-
tion concerning Mexico that has so far
been INDUCED in during this campaign
is credited to I. r. f. Campbell, mayor
of Ell Paso, Texas, whose comparison
of prices in the United States and Mex
leo, to which was attached an affidavit,
originally appeared in the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat, and has been widely
copied for campaign purposes. One of
his many reckless statements was that
1.-The highest price for the very best and
most skilled labor is 50 per day in Mex
lean money" The Ell Paso Times says,
in answer to this:
There are not less than fifty skilled
workmen in Ell Paso who have worked
in Mexico and received from So to IS per
day in gold for their services. There is not
skilled laborer working today in Mex
leo for less than SO, and the majority of
them are receiving S. per day. The cd
itor of the Times has recently paid $40
per day in gold for skilled labor in Mex
leo.
Mayor Campbell's list Of prices for
articles of food is equally unreliable.
He is not content with giving false
prices, but includes in his list articles
that are not uSed in Mexico. For in
stance, he heads his list with articles
that are imported luxuries, and are re-
garded by the Mexican laborer much
in the same light as the American la
borer looks upon terrapin and cham
pagne.
Again, Mayor Campbell quotes the
following articles, reckoning on the one
side in United States money and the
other in Mexican money:
In U. s. In Mexico.
Matches, per gross. go S12O
Beans, per pound.... .03 II
Cheese, per pound. .121a 29
Candles, per box. $500 S11 rs
Sugar, per sack, 100 lbs. $751; so $40. rs
AS matter Of fact, candles, matches,
cheese, beans and sugar are cheaper
in Mexico than in the United States.
Below are given some figures, for the
correctness OF which the editor Of the
Ell Paso Times vouches:
Wheat, $1l per $50 pounds.
Cotton, 18 cents a pound.
Corn, $1.80 per 100 pounds. The nor