The evening times., 1899-12-13
OPPORTUNITIES IN MEXICO.
A PrOmising Field for the Invest.
ment of Capital.

las none of the Latin-American coun-
tries areEexIeriencing such steady COM
mercial md Industrial progress as Mex
leo. no oshef offers so many openings to
the MINER. planter, capitalist. and manu-
facturer. Among the many causes of this
progress and activity, may be mentioned
4 the natural resources of the country, the
absolute security of life and property. the
cheapness of labor, the absence Of strikes
| and other labor disturbances and the con-
fidence In the strength and stability of
the Government. which was SO openly ex-
emplifed by the recent ready negotiation
| OF the per cent loan in the United States
4 and Europe.
Zone Of the most gratifying evidences Of
/! the progress of Mexico during recent years
has been the constantly increasing impor-
tation Of labor saving machinery. The to-
tai importation of machinery during the
year ended June 30, 1897. amounted to 49,.
| 754,625 while during the next fiscal year
| 1t was S., ,439. .233, an increase OF 81, ,6S4 $40
| or nearly so per cent. New manufacturing
! plants Of almost every description are be-
ing built all over the republic. In TO coun-
1 try In the world are cotton mills paying
such large dividends on the capital invest
| ed, and the magnificent water-power facili-
| ties, unused for centuries. are now being
utilized. Immense mills we're constructed
| only last year at the falls Of Juaracatlan,
| near Guadalajara. Besides all kinds Of cot
| ton goods. Mexico today manufactures
very good quality of cassimeres and woolen
goods. blankets stockings, knit underwear,
| shoes. and all kinds of leather goods, and
hats OF wool, fur. and straw, blocked In the
| modern and prevailing style of the country.
| She is also beginning to make linen and
silk fabrics, q determined and somewhat
successful effort being made at present to
raise the silkworm in the State OF GUIANA
| juato. Sugar and alcohol are also manu-
factured.
The establishment OF these new enter
prises. fostered by the protective policy of
the government, is giving an impetus to
every industry and offers to the American
manufacturer OF machinery a most inviting
field. Prices should compare favorably with
those Of European houses, and arrange
ments should also be made to allow as long
credits as possible. for, in almost every in
stance, excellent security will be rendered.
The business should be entrusted TO men
thoroughly conyersant with the language
and well acquainted with the peculiar GUS
toms of the inhabitants and the agricult-
ural requirements Of the country. The ma
planned to the native farmer. The Mexican
is conservative. and when an instrument or
tool has been accepted, IL is difficult to con-
vince him that another is more meritorious,
thus for the small amount of extra ex-
pense to which the manufacturer has been
subjected in Introducing his wares, he will
be doubly compensated in the future exteu-
sion of bis export trade.
Another source Of profit TO the Ameri-
cy toward municipal improvements the re-
suit CT which is the construction Of street
railways market houses. and electric -ligh;
plants. as we'll as the introduction of i'm
proved drainage system all over the re-
public.
"A great deal OF American capital has
been and is at present being invested in
land in Mexico. mostly in coffee and rubber
plantations in the more southern states,
and in sugar properties along the Pacific
and Gulf coasts; and in almost every in
stance. when these have been managed With
discretion and have advanced to the stage
where profit could be expected, they have
met the most sanguine expectations OF
their owners. In the northern states, how
ever. if We except the hourishing Mormon
settlements in the State of chihuahua,
capital has not been as generally invested.
although at present there are some most
favorable opportunities for investment on
a large scale in irrigated sugar and orange
haeiendas in the southern part of this
consular district, along the line of the
Monterey and Mexican Gulf Railway.
These properties are especially valuable. |
not only because of their low market price |
and abundance Of water. but because they !
are situated below the frost line. Farther |
north, along the Rio Grande. San Juan. |
Salado, and Marina Rivers, there are many |
thousands Of acres capable of successful |
irrigation, which, in the event of the con- |
struction Of the contemplated railway along |
the border, will become immensely valu- |
able. However, as no foreigner is allowed |
to hold landed property within 30 leagues
OF the frontier. this privilege will first have
to be granted by the government; but I
have been told that, when properly pre-
sented, the request is seldom refused.
I'm the City of Mexico, where several |
companies are handling city realty. many
building and loan associations are estab-
lished. There is also one in Monterey; but.
as a general rule throughout the republic.
if We except the federal capital and one or
two other cities, rents do not return fair
rate Of interest on the price asked for city
realty, except when, in some rare instance, |
it may be bought at forced sale.
"A very large amount of American cap
ital is invested in mines throughout the
republic, and many fortunes are being |
mduc- III June. 1872. ldWS we're paSSeQ
which granted valuable franchises to the
person denouncing mines and a total ex-
emption from the principal taxes for a
period of ten years. The encouragement
extended to immigration. and the liberal
laws relative to the mining industry ex-
emplify, as much as anything else, the
broad and progressive policy of the gov
Silver mines predominate. and
Of the entire number existing in July,
1885, 1850 were silver alone. and ,620 we're
gold and silver. OF course. investments in
mines present a great deal of uncertainty,
but this item is reduced to minimum in
the case of those who buy already devel-
oDed mines of reliable persons.
The more attractive offers are being
rapidly accepted, while active prospectors
are at work in almost every state. and
scores of mining announcements are pre-
sented each month to the Ministry of
Public Encouragement. In the States of
0axaca and Guerrero. especially the lat
Ter. there are many sections rich in min
erals as yet unexplored and undeveloped.
but they will soon be as thoroughly ira
Tersed as those of Durango Sonora, and
Chihuahua today. The value of the pre-
,ious metals exported during the fiscal
rear 1898, was $75,042. 1892 (silver currency,
.qual to- $36, ,020. .319 gold)."
An Everyday Occurrence.
From the New York Tribune)
For a man to be walking about with broken |
leck is commented upon as something extraordi-
lary. YET there are lots of men at large who |
cd to losr bea al her l q