The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
PROMOTERS IN OLD MEXICO
SOME OF THE TARIoUS TYPES THAT
COUNTRY HAS SEEN.
Gen. Grants nip Into tho Dusinesp-A Few
who Succeeded In ARRIVING "-Thc Typical
English promotcr-TUmcs Now Changed.

CITY OF MEXICO, May 1.-The Promoters
Club Is passing away. II was tho most interest
Ing social, economic, and impromptu organiza-
tlon ever known on the great North American
continent. When II began no man seems accur-
ately to know. Tradition has 1t that the Book
of tho Genesis of tho Promoters Club notes that
Con. Grant was tho founder of tho institution.
When he came to Mexico on his second trip,
after having been here first on completing his
round tho world Journey, he stopped, not ms
before. in scmi-rcgal apartments in the
huge and massive School OF Mines build
ing, but took rooms ut tho famous old Iturbido
Hotel, planted his chair out under tho tall stono
columns Of the court yard, placed his feet against
those details Of Mexican archit ecturc, and be-
gan to scheme for his Mexican Southern Rail-
way that he never built, but which was carried
out later on ny an English company. Tho result
of Grants mcditations in tho patio ofthc lturhide
was the Incorporation of the railway company,
bearing. | believe. the name OF !" tho Moridional,"
with fine offices UP in New York, much plato
glass, many clerks who put sheets of paper in
side their big russia-bound hooks. and wrote
poetry or letters to their swcothearts, and fooled
the public.
Gen. Grant was n great soldier, but a guilolcss
business man. He had something Of the pro-
moter in him, but he lacked the practical talent
for carrying II great scheme on to success. His
genius was for war. not for creating.
After Grant came many other men, some old
Generals In tho Federal and Confederate armies,
veteran statesmen, and that queer lot who flock
from tho ends of the earth into any country that
is being developed and has got the ear Of tho in
vcsting public. Mexico has had its boom period.
then It's sag, and now for two years past has
been going ahead In substantial fashion, just
saving wood and sayin' nuthin'.
The Promoters Club, when in It's glory, was
composed OF II shifting mum 1r OF members, but
there was always enough OF them TO keep tho
three pairs OF feet to each pillar. Some of tho
n, mbcrs have gone on to fame and fortune, and
their bank accounts have grown fat. and their
port is sublime ms they walk TIE streets Of
Northern or European, cities; but the larger
of the successful. Many have died, rrcnat urcly
old and hrokcn-hcartcd Schemes are bad for u
There was one man who arrived, but after
20 many disGppolntncn's, such saddening set
bnGks, that all who knew him came 10 admire
and pity him. At one time he lived for weeks
on Il two-crnt lonf OF bread night and morning,
kept his room on the sky parlor floor OF the Itur-
department nI encouragement, witch then had
railways under its charge, was ever afnb,e,
specimen Of II human bulldog I have ever seen.
Year after jenr this man came TO Mexico; he
say where. lilo had his original concession
modified SO many times that the clerks who
T T'S'f # "P ii ' i%n S"f fSr l%o I Diar 1H0 J ETFtaf4rs eS MnS
10 look on him as n dcar familiar
H 5TtsHa w w,'hGY E,vS w4 Ssan he he m na,,rFe,a era n,nh in
the melancholy prince. Annexed TO this rail
way scheme were various addcnda emannting
from the fertile brain OF the author of 1t: he
would manufacture curiositics, for Europe, and
master all tho aboriginal tribal tongues, and
n colony Of wise thinkers, who should Just think
thunks and give the result 10 mankind in doses
not too large to upset mental digestion. 1t was
our friends idea that men who should do moth
ing but N and then tap their thought reser.
| chimes. bring Tlpgt rlgity IN IA mint far hpNpn1
Tesla, oHd solve all social problems, They were
There was II" Sach word as failure written on
the hrow o. his ardent promoter. az believing
two continuous rs Columbus was laughed at by
tho saers of salamanca. He just pegued away
and his schemes are indorsed by practical men
with capital who will see him through" Some
prononncoi him crazy: but / never thought he
suffered from anything except too many ideas IA
day. Now we take Off our hats to the man who
has got there
Tho blatant promoter was tho one most in evi.
dSnsG; T." came downstHiTs n the morning
Gent voice could hc heard across the huge
courtyard, and YOU caught in every sentence tho
! thousands" with the talkative promoter. but
forever millions, and many millions, This type
vC!oped a quaint taste in cheap and nasty and
obscure restaurants. never treated, but was o
the track. stccrcd, ns it were. When he could
borrow n quarter the blatant promoter had his
hnir cut when the loar expected was 10 cents
his shoes were shincd.
One OF the tyJe, a long survival from those
oiflrr OF the hotel. He had just come down in
tho elevator There was no elevator when Grant
tcctinG smile, into tho office, saying in u loud
yn:cc, 9ldressirg a small man cnsconced II a
large chair: j We 80 many strings out In Mex
leo That I can't touch your proposition it's tho
hest thing beard OF, lately. but q man must
TE5} little m n =" smiled s !" 4 and merely re-
marked " II Is the biggest in MsXico"
are always millions In It, for the tribe of Col.
Sellers Is never extinct.
Then there was the type of the man who tried
70 be silcnt and communicative who cnmo
The private agent OF the Rolhschilds. Rockefel.
about in cabs with tho curtains drawn. never
left their room door open, Stunned companion.
idyn TINT they might DO Pinkcrton's men, and
"a the si"rnly inc2mmunicaHle Get so we'll that
this way they secured u vast amount OF advcr-
Using most iattcrlnE to their vanity.
week. and YOU Would hear that he had been
taken IL. and had passed away in the hospital.
The poor fellows not ,infreqpently died of a
broken heart, of keen disappointment. for lhoy
almost all, DESPITE effected noncha!ance md bon
homie, kept up II tremendous strain inside.
what diiifsrent., lie Sarriv;cdi IN the "my lord do on
h. travels style, Win a valet, and possibly 9
I'm WV NpN kluN. It uhlllllCl inc country, uu'l
drank innnnerablc brandies and sodas which
his man took 70 his room. And he hirod n
landau by the week, and went out wearing white
fpnts; In Il mouth, he dropped tho 'mnn,"
then he went, higher, Mp In search Of cheaper
rooms, and his wine bills ceased. But he always
got away before he fell to the level OF the Promo
tcrs' Club, and hr absolutely refused to associate
with those horrid Americans" One | knew
who got himself invited to n private house lay
nbcd till noon, called for hot water ut unscason-
able hours, and gave himself, ont ms . sort Of
roundabout by .marringc cousin OF the Prince OF
Wales. This dear bird turned up pennilCss in
Guatemala, and rumor says he IL Teaching his
variety OF English down there among the palms
and parroquets.
One gentleman had discovered that the noun.
tRins of GuanajuatO were illled with gold. He
gave me a calculation to print. There was
enough ore. according TO the document, TO keep
100000 men AT work for two cent urics, possibly
three, or even four. Ho was suhsisting0 On thirty
'dobc dollars "A month, and was the happlest OF
men. lie came to he known as the Golden Idol.
He worshippod himself and his colossal scheme.
One chap there was a Scot, tall. thin, medita-
two; and a walker who ever walked. He seemed
10 think best on his legs. like The pcripatetic
nIIIngnnl.r. A,I sInl, I,,,o' ~ Ia l,,.l p, 70.