Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-08
LABOR IN MEXICO.
Wages Paid and Way Of Living in Free Silver
Capital.

l
pondent of the Mail and Express writ
ing from Mexico says:
Here in the garden city Of the re
public. if anywhere in Mexico. the con
dition of the laboring man, skilled and
unskilled, can be accurately estimated
II the free coinage of silver assists la.
| Dor promotes commerce and conserves
| the interests Of the farmer, its gooo
offices ought to be observed in tbs
greatest city Of all the Spanish Amer
lean republics, for to this point come
the merchants of Vera Cruz, Tampico
| Durango, Zacatecas, Monterey, San
! Luis Potosi, Guadalajara. Agusa Cali
entes, Guanajuato Puebla and Oaxaca
| 70 trade, the thousands of tourists to
| see what is historic or beautiful the
| haciendados to spend their money, the
mine investors to do business and the
| land investment companies to catch
the unWary. Add to this the pregnant
fact that all the railroads make their
common point at the famous capital Of
The republic. and ii viii be agreed that
here the stimulating advantages of
free silver coinage ought to be dis
played. both for the laborer and the
products Of the farmer. Here money
should be plentiful, the price of labor
high. prosperity at least up to the nor
NAL notch and poverty only mere
side light in the city's life. The facts
will speak plainly and ought to con
Vcy a lesson to every American Ia
borer who for the moment believes
that he can better his condition ano
broaden the avenues of trade by cut
ting the money value of his labor IN
two.
The multiplicity and the bildness Of
the beggars will be first noticed by
stranger in Mexico city. one does noi
mind them AT the many stations alont
the Mexican Central road. because tn
channels Of employment in the country
are few. and restitution abounds. no1
does the mendicant Of ZacatccaS
Aguas Galleries. Irapuato or Quere
taro cause surprise: but that The,
should abound In the Garden CITY
many hundreds Of them. is astonishing
to those who have no knoledg" tina
begging is a distinct yocati0n ia ihe
silver republic. This was 50 long De
fore the time ~ Diaz II is lass So Ia
day. because his efforts are untir!ne
suppress it. but il viii continue unit
the state and the cities assist the poor
as IN other civilized countries. an(
until such time as the finances VI To
nation permit the construction @
necessary public works and the cou
Scqueut employment Of many noU I'm
able to earn dollar. This mendican
class has to get along tor itself *
cept for little assistance ir q few
the cities but there is more eXpeude.
on the poor ana sick of New York cit
in one year than on the same class b
the republic of Mexico In a decade
As a result. even the worthy poorhav
t. live an open charity They mus
aslto receive. ana it IS his latter fac
that makes beEgary So notable IN IN
City Of Mexico.
In this city labor receives its hghes
reward. The rate OF wages is NOR
than that paid in Chihuahua but
rent is much higher the total Of resul
is about the same The common
lanorer wears no stockings ana onl,
cheap sandals 10 protect the soles g
his feet Many lahorcrs are Away
harefootrd Not more than one in
OF the skilled workmen-perhaps one il
100 would be the truer figure Wearpoor
ly made Mexican shoes, which eos
them 81 and s. per pair The other
wears the universal sandal. piece q
half-tanned skin bound around tn
soles Of their feet With throngs of hid
This is the footwear of the mason, tn
carpenter. the tile setter. the brick
layer. the roofer the stonecutter am
general trade workers of Mexico City
The climate does not require them t
wear much clothing, but if climati
conditions were severe. their wage
would compel them to be content viii
a piece of coffee or charcoal baggin
for coat.
The Hotel Jardn. a well-kept ant
modern establishment. is to have
finely built restaurant in its great gar
den. When finished il will be the hes
equipped dining places in the republic
The laborers and mechanics are now
work, and with the building half Wa.
completed an excellent opportunity wa
afforded to compare the Mexican an
United States artisan. on the buildin;
We're marble workers, stone cutters
bricklaYers, stonemaSons tile rooferS
metal workers carpenters and laborers
| counted in all 81 men. The marhl
and Mexican granite is cut on tn
ground The domestic brick from
Monterey. twice and a half as large
ours. is trimmed there Here was al
object lesson in industry free silVe
and low wages. The worlingmen die
not stop to talk. nor did they smok
during la Dor. Under the Watchful eye
of foremen with wide and fancifu
sombrerors, they pegged away during
the hours of toll and made good pro
gress Like the miners Of the republic
these Mexican artisans are hard and
skillful workers. Their only handicap
is the deprecated coin in which they
are paid
Not a man in the lot Wore stock
ing or shoe. a few We're barefooted
but many had the rough made sandal
to cover the soes of their feet The
other attire of these sturdy fellows was
as mixed as the arguments Of the free
silver coinage men. a waist and trouS-
ers Of cotton. with a hat of native
straw were worn by more than half Of
those on the building. But the cotton
waist was patched up with all sorts of
stuff, and the pantaloonS, if | may use
the expression. showed the work of
good housewife in StreakS of wooden
pieces. shoddy and old cotton SeVeral