The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-29
FURTHER LIGHT FROM Mrx,co

FURTHER LIGHT FROM MEXICO.
II IS rare thing when you can get a
free coiner to discuss the case OF Mexico
She is right at our door: she has always
had free coinage OF both gold and silver.
at about tho same ratio as ours: one
Of her gold dollars is now worth two
Of her silver dollars; gold has disappear
ed entirely from circulation; and the
silver dollars are the entire money OF
tho country; and laborers are sun paid
there. I'm the deprecated silver dollars.
at the same rate Of wages that were
paid them twenty-five years ago, before
silver had deprecated. All the condi-
tons. therefore. which would exist here
n we should adopt free silver as our
policy exist there at this moment; so
that by studying them we can see just
what would happen to us II wo should
determine 10 have free coinage Of silver.
Mexico is an object-lesson for us, but
the advocates Of free silver always re-
fuse to look at it. They will talk about
everything else but Mexico. but Mexi-
cos case is they think, d good one TO
pass by. Mr. Bailey, OF Texas, did II
is true. take momentary shy at it in
the discussion at Belvidere Hall. but he
accounted for it by what IS not a fact.
lie said the silver I'm Mexican silver
dollar would buy as much to-day as it
would buy twenty years ago. But this
is simply ridiculous. and is not fact
as We have repeatedly demonstrated.
We take from the New York journal
Of Commerce Of Thursday last the fol
lowing letter TO that paper from a former
citizen of the United States who has
resided for several years in Mexico. It's
writer Mr.. Pernet, is well known in
Richmond lie was for long time an
agent of Or. r. A. Patterson, the we'll
known tobacco manufacturer Of this city,
and Or. Patterson has told us, and
Will tell any one else. that he is as re-
liable a man as lives. Mr.. Pernet
writes as follows:
Orizaba, Mexico, Aug. Il, 1896
LAlNpl OF the douilldl oA Commerce ana
Commercial Bulletin.
Sir,-Nour issue Of the 7th instant hav-
Ing just reached me. 1 observe that Mr.
Joseph NJ. Brown, Of Atlanta. is still
doing you up IN the characteristic way
of the sLyeute who has been TO Mex
iCo.
Mr.. Brown has been 10 Mexico, and has
bought a pair of shoes a baby rattle,
fol f.tn
Now, If he has done all that, why
shouldn't no know all about the none
taIy system of this country. and be in
a position TO advise the United States
or the universe to adopt similar
system?
The trouble with Mr.. Brown is that
he fails 70 see that his shoes. for which
he paid his SC in Mexico, although first
class TO his evidently inexperienced eye
would not rank as third-class in Atlanta.
any more than the rrst-class hotels he
speaks Of would compare in the quality
Of their accommodation with the Kimban
House. in that city.
/ have been I'm this country for about
FIVE years. and my experience. OF which
/ have had considerable. has impressed
mo exactly the opposite 10 the way the
little observation OF Mr.. Brown seems
10 have impressed him; and al OF this
rot about the low prices OF things in this
country, excepting wages Of labOrers and
OF men who work for salaries. is purely
imaginary, and when there IS anything
really cheap in this country. as com
pared with that. il is easy enough for
ANYBODY who will take the trouble 10 DO
so 10 find out that il is in no way due
10 the fact that the dollar used in this
country is worth a little over half or
what tho American dollar passes for. and
the fact that Mr. Brown could and
probably did exchange his American dol
lars before buying the shoes for N.S5
each Mexican. should be sufficient 10
prove il to any mind capable of compre-
bending the simplest problem.
4 gold or other American dollar Will
buy 81 Sc Mexican money. and 81. Sc Mex
lean will. i'm some instances. buy nearly
as much OF any commodity here as
gold dollar will In the States but quality
IS better in the States, and one can get
better value there for the same eQmva-
lent.
The following "a = list OF wages paid here
I'm what may be termed the Fall River Of
Ne, leo:
Journcymen carpenters, 81 10 81 % per
day.
Jourueymen brick and stone maSons. IS
cents 20 81 per day.
Journeymen blacksmiths. 20 cents to 81 %
per day.
Railroad engineers passenger). $50 per
month.
Railroad engineers OreghO. $40 per
m.nth.
Railroad fremen. S45 per month.
Rrailroad brakemen. $50 &c.
Conductors passenger $40.
Conductors freight. 500.
Section hands. 90 l-2 cents 10 81 % per
day.
Common latorers range from 25 cents
IN some sections 10 so cents in others: in
rare cases. a little more; but 81 i-2 cents
per day I. considered the average for
tho country. J. l.. PERNET.
Now, II human testimony Is worth any