The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-03
ADVANCE in MEXICO.
UNDER REGIME OF PRESIDENT oIAz IT
NAY BECOME A PROMINENT NATION.


| Railroad Construction . Leading FesAurs
of It's Industrial DsveIopmont-No Pos-
ssbility Of Hsxieos Near Adoption se .
Gold Bas1s.
william Guggenheim. ore Of The
members Of the well known mining and
smeltex firm which. is operating ON q
large scale in Mexico. arrived in Dem
YER recently after q trip through the
Mexican republic. He says the awaken
ing in Mexico Is moving steadily for
ward, and capital Of Europe and Amer
ica Is seeking investment in the silver
republic.
Mexico" he said in the course of
an interesting interview last evening.
sis producing 55, 900, 900 or go, 600. 900
ounces Of silver a year; but, strange to
say. the copper and lead product has not
advanced in the same ratio. This is evil
denced as all the smelter stacks erected
within the past five years are not rum
ming, although we happen to have all
of our furnaces in blast at the present
time. The smelters are suffering from a
shortage of fuxing ores, and lead and
copper fux is needed in order to keep
the smelters in operation.
''It is only question OF time when
railroads will be completed, by means
of which sufficient fuxes of all kinds
will be furnished
Railroad construction is progressing
with the same rapidity as in the past.
The most important railroad in course
of building just now is the road to the
Pacific ocean, which Colonel Joe Hamp-
son is building. The government Of the
republic is taking lively interest in
this road. 1t passes through magnifi-
cent agricultural and mineral country,
sufficient to warrant handsome returns
upon the investment if nothing but the
local business were to be depended upon.
A railway from Chihuahua to the Paci-
fic coast is also considered, and it is
likely this road will be built within u
reasonable time.
"The agricultural districts have been
visited by abundant rains, insuring
good crops. This, however, is not looked
upon with favor by the large manufac-
turers, as the wants of the Mexican la
borers are 80 few that it may be very
difficult to secure workmen in the man.
and smelling establishments.
When good crops come, the laborers are
not inclined to seek for work. So much
capital has been invested in the country
within the last few years that a scarcity
of labor is already felt. This is particu-
larly true of the northern part of Mexi-
CO, where the cost of living. is higher
and the wages are double what they are
in the southern part of tho republic.
This may be partly accounted for by the
higher prices of commodities in north
ern Mexico, but it is certain that wages
are Oh the increase in the same region.
''In addition to the mining industry,
which is the greatest industry Of the re-
public, considerable interest is shown
in raising coffee, tobacco and other agri-
cultural products, as well as in manu-
featuring cotton goods, which are in |
large demand in the country. The de- |
velopment in these directions will be |
something remarkable.
Mr.. Guggenheim says it is physical |
for Mexico to move to
gold basis and there is not the slightest |
sentiment In that direction. Paper mon |
ey is not used to any great extent, ex-
cept between commercial houses, and |
the laborers are all paid in silver. The
tariff agitation in this country is not |
any attention in Mexico, as
the people are too busy with their ow
affairs to worry over the troubles Of the |
United States.
II notice the sad experience of Amer |
leans seeking fortune in the goldfields |
Of Bolivia" said Mr.. Guggenheim. |
"The American workman should bear
in mind that there is no place SO favor
able as the United States so far as his |
own welfare is concerned. Mexico pre-
sents field not for the laborer, but for |
the capitalist. Cheap labor invites capi- |
tai to Mexico. The cost of living, as |
people live in this country, is much |
higher, as all commodities must be i'm |
ported. The tremendous investments of |
foreign capital are due largely to con-
fidence in the administration of Presi- |
dent DiaZ, one of the most remarkable |
men Of public affairs in the world. If |
the plans of President Diaz and his cab |
met are carried ont. Mexico will soon
become one Of the prominent nations Of |
the world"
Mr.. Guggenheim says although he
passed through Chihuahua he heard
nothing of the finding of the remains Of |
Schlatter, and in fact never heard the
name of Schlatter mentioned i'm Mexico. |
The visitor will remain several days in
the city, after which he will make a
trip to the Kootenai country. Denver
Daily News.