The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-01
A BIG CONTRACT.

Mr.. Il. K. Smoot OF the contracting hrm
of OConnor smoot the builders OF tn"
Galveston jttties, is in the city, having ar
rived yesterday from the City Of Mexico,
where he has been, with the exception OF
short intervals for over two years.
For some time 1t has been known here
that the firm of Conner & Smoot has a
large contract with the Mexican govern
ment for ietty work, but the extent and ma
turc OF it were not known until today.
Asked about 1t Today, Mr.. Smoot said:
yes, 1t is true that we have been lie
gotlsting with the republic OF Mexico toi
the performance of certain works which
involve the expenditure Of considerable
money, but as the preliminary papers have
not yet been completed, | am not at lib
erty to state exactly what the various i'm
provements are 20 be. They embrace,
however extensive works in connection
with railroad and harbor improvements,
which will take several years to complete
At the present time the City OF Mexico is
the railroad center Ct the country, and in
its position Is too far away from the
American border and from the Pacific TO
be of the advantage this enterprising re-
public w.shts to obtain as result OF its
richness. The only connection just now
with the gulf, or The only one OF any prom
hence, is by way Of Guaymas. and even
this Is not OF sufficient strength to make
ii at all leading factor Most Of the
tran portation ia by way OF III Paso and
through Arizona to the Pacific, and this
| involves considerable hamperins because
Of the customs duties existing on the bor
der. The Mexican government wishes to
get rid Of this incubus and TO have direct
connection of its own with the gateways
of the Pacific ocean. In order to make a
proper terminus for the proposed railroad
/ improvements It is necessary to make
! changes in the present harbors so that they
will be able to accommodate the traffic.
or course. what these various changes are
to he | can not make public Just now. al
though there has been something sail abou
| what is to be done n connection with tie
| railroads
About what amount Of money will
these contracts call for the expenditure
! of"
ABOUT s35OOO.OOO,' was the reply.
Mr.. Smoot rolled out the mention OF this
vast sum as II he was speaking Of mere
| bagatele and when the reporter recovered
| his comp sure and asked If all that was
! to go to his firm, he replied, just as
calmly, that the railroads are interested
| in portion Of IT,, OF course"
Speaking OF President Diaz of the Mex-
can republic, Mr.. Smoot says that ne is an
extremely progressive man and has per
sonal knowledge az everything nat is goin2
on In his country, Nothing that involves
the expenditure Of any great amount Of
money or relates to the betterment of t. e
condition Of the people is delegated 10 un-
der officials, but comes under the personal
supervision OF the president I'm fact,
said Mr.. Smoot he goes TOO closely in q
the details OF everything for the benefit OF
his health and constitution President
Dlaz can understand the English language
but does not care 10 converse in 1t, as he
Is sensitive about mispronouncing our
words.
Mr.. Smoot will leave Galveston Sunday
and will take with him his family. which
will perhaps reside permanently in the
East, Boston probably. He will then re-
: turn reaching Galveston about October Is
and after day or two stay here will re.
turn TO Mexico to complete the papers IL
the vast enterprises his firm is engaged in