The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-08
A FUTURE FOR MEXICO.
Wafer Powers That Are More VAL
liable Than Vast Coal Beds.

The great progress which Mexico has
made is not generally recognized in this
country. To us it seems hardly credita-
bic that that country should really be de-
veloping into n nation,,with exports and
imports worthy of respectful consdera-
ton building up valuable industries and
marking out Il brilliant future, yet the
statistics and the facts All indcrse these
statements. Passing by the phenomenal
increase i'll the imports and exports,
which have been steadily rising for the
last twenty Years, the rapid building up
Of home industries before unknown in
the country, is Il most remarkable phe-
nomenon, and now it seems that both
English, American and German com pa
MES are interested in bringing colunists
to increase her population.
Mexico has an abundance Of conl but
unfortunately, but one of her coal beds is
being developed,as the railroads have not
reacht d the others. Minerals OF AL kinds
are plentiful, from iron TO gold, and,
while uucl If her territory is com para-
live desert, there are large tracts and en-.
tire States If the richest agricultural
land: but uohe of these can be considered
of themselves. or jointly. as of the great
est value To The future prosperity OF the
country ~ her wonderful water powers
the great veal, h. producing factor of the
futuit and the nation that has the cheap
est power will be the one to win in the
industrial race of the coming century,
The twentieth century will he the clectri-
cal hge,htd electricity generated by cheap
water power will he the universal solvent
OF All future engineering and mechanical
Problems The question OF the transmits
sion OF power 10 long distances is the only
problem which remains to be solved TO
make electricity the CON plete mistress OF
the future industrial world.
This will undoubtedly be solved in the
Immediate future. and, If not,It will only
mean that all Industrial centres must be
located around the sources of rower.
In the State of JalscO. the falls of
Juanacat IAN, located fifteen miles from
the city of Guada jara. which is now sup
piled with electric light from this fall. II
great source Of power exists. Juanacat.
Ian has been appropriately called ''thc
Niagara of MeXico.'' Here the river
Lerma. which drains Lake Chapala, with
width of over 200 feet makes leap of
sixty feet. The cotton mills OF Tlalpan.
suburb of City Of MeXico,urc now being
moved by these falls. In the northwest
EN- part Of the State Of Pueblo whole
river makes II leap of 997 feet. Near the
station OF Rascon, on the,Fampico branch
OF the Mexican Central railroad. is the
Abra de Caballos. where another river
falls in n series of cascades some 800 feet,
and i'll various pan ts of Mexico from the
State of Chiapns, in the South, to the
Northern States, there are multitude Of
similar falls, where valuable powers exist
The conformation of Mexico is the most
favorable fer the creation of water DOW
ers, as the largest part of the country is
All elevated table land, which acts as a
LARGE roof, and on all the slopes wher.
the water falls down 10 the lowlands
there are probably more valuable water
powers than in any country of like en-
tent in the world This fact will contrib
ute more than any other 10 the future Of
Mexico. All of the Central American
States have most wonderful resources.
but, unfortunately, they have never :>cen
developed.
The period of revolution is matter of
history. Capital is flowing in, and the
country is experiencing II resurrection,
which will soon place her in position of
wealth and power. The future of ''our
sister republic" will hinge more upon the
utilization of her water-powers than even
upon her wonderful mineral wealth.
HOW TO PREVENT PNEUMONIA.
AT this time of the year cold is very
easily contracted, and if left to run its
course without the ail of some reliable
cough medicine is liable to result in TINT
n on1 HisaaSn rnounNopiu \Va l,no,,. - 4.