The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-15
AS A FIELD FOR INVESTMENT
The Associate Justice OF the Supreme
Court Of North Carolina Writes of
Mexico's Many Advantages.

TT rom AARNNAAt EhNANNGtt
Nothing is more sincere or less senti-
mental than capital Whittier capital
flows in a steady overwhelming, aud
ever-deepening stream, there must be
good cause for it,. Men who are shrewd
enough to anass large fortunes and keep
them are usually .men Of good Judgment.
When such men send their capital 10 for
eign parts in preference to investing 1t
in their own country. it is good proof that
the foreign country offers greatly sllpe-
rior advantages, That large quantities
ct American capital have sought and still
seek investment an Mexico is matter OF
public and common knowledge seen and
known by all who have visited that coun-
try. but lest this be too general, l viii re-
fer to the official evidences of it.
In a special consular report recently
issued by the State Department of the
United States. entitled, Money and
Prices in Foreign Countries, on page
rs, Hon. NJ. w. Ransom, United States
Minister to Mexico. reports: 1T is not
extravaganza to say that in the last ten
years citizens Of the United States have
invested in Mexico, in mines, railroads,
lands. and other undertakings, sums
much larger In the aggregate than the
whole amount OF money in circulation in
the republic" sand on the page before
that he estimates the money in circula-
ton as S106, 100000 to $134, 900, 900.
| Again, on page 134 Of the same volume,
| he says: in .my judgment, the money
| that is flowing in millions from the Unit
| ed States into this country, and the en-
| terprising an1 intelligent citizens who
| are coming with it, are among the great
/ est promoters OF the development and
| improvement of Mexico" Minister Ran
/ som is an avowed si,9le gold standard
man, having abandoned his former adyo-
1 cay Of the retention Of silver. This re-
| port, therefore, by gold standard min
| lister TO gold standard administration,
| OF the steady outflow of capital from
I.this gold standard country to find supe-
| rior investments in the silver republic =
| is not tainted with any suspicion of any
| bias towards the white metal. 1t is
| good as gold"
As to single instances Of large invest
| ments. Governor Crittenden, United
States Consul General to Mexico, in the
| United States consular report, 1896, on
page 5S4, informs our State Department
that Americans giving their names) had
bought the street railway systems of
1
put S12,0000000 thereon besides in ims
provements.p When $20,000,000 are thus
invested in single enterprise in a single
| city of Mexico, it is proof conclusive that
the cautious, prudent owners. of large
capital deem Mexico safe and profitable
field for investment. Indeed Minister
Ransoms estimate OF JOG to 100 millions
| of money from the United States in
| vested in Mexico is a very conservative
one. The true amount has been probably
three times, and certainly as much as
| double that :sum. Nearly the entire rail-
| way SYSTEM of Mexico, with the excep-
| ton of one railroad built with British
| capital, is owned by citizens Of the Uni
| ted States.= Our people have invested
| in nearly every species of property. Mines
| they have bought OF course, but coffee
| culture offers large profits, and has at
tracted large sums for Investment Next
| can coffee is Of a very superior grade,
and all that is shipped to this country
| commands prompt sale. Orange groves
| are far more profitable than in Florida,
| being exempt from frost, and over 400
| carloads have already been shipped this
| season through to Chicago and others
| of our large cities. Trucking is profitable,
| tomatoes and other vegetables being ship
| January. Zee and electric plants are be-
ing established and operated in the
| Mexican cities by our people, and com
mand large profits. Americans are also
extending the railroad system, which has
not yet, by any means, reached the limits
| of the deTaand. Corn enough for the
needs of Mexico is rarely raised in that
Republic, and brings more than double
| the price it does in our northwestern
States. The same is true of wheat. With
the cheap labor they have in Mexico, and
remunerative prices, active, enterprising
American farmers would find a profit
south Of the Rio Grande in their bust
ness.
No land offers better or equal advanta-
ges for the establishment of sanitariums.
The scenery is unsurpassed, and the
climate, liz the more favored parts,
around Guadalajara, for instance, recalls
the poets ideal s'Island Valley Of Ava
1on,"
"Where falls not hail nor rain nor any
snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly
The South of France nor the Riviera
can rival the scenery or the table lands
of Central Mexico. If the magnificent
hotels of Florida were properly located in
those table lands they would be filed
many times to overlooking. Indeed, there
is scarce any line OF business which will
not offer inducements, if there is reasona-
BILE Judgment and discretion used.
Life and property are as safe in Mexico
as in the most settled of our States; in
deed, acts. Of violence are far rarer, and
when committed are more certainly and
promptly punished than by our courts.
OF course, in Mexico, as in all coun-