The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-20
They STRUCK IT RICH
Montana Men Own Valuable
Mines in Mexico.
WHAT ARCHIE NEAL SAYS
Mexico Is a Good Place for Capitalists
but Offers No Inducements to
Laborers-Is a Healthy
Climate.

Archie Fl. Neal returned Thursday
from two years trip to Texas, Mex
leo and New Mexico. Mr.. Neal is elated
over his journey and declares that he
never had such an enjoyable time as
he had during his stay in Mexico.
Mr.. Neal was seen yesterday after
noon at his residence, Ala Cherry
street, by a Standard reporter, to whom
he told an interesting story about his
journey. He said:
IT returned on Thursday after a 20
months trip, and to tell you that l
greatly enjoyed myself is putting it
lightly. The weather was as perfect
had nothing to do but to take in all
the sights and amuse myself, the trip
was a very nice one. l spent most of
my time in Chihuahua, a city with a
population of 10000. This place is
called the American City, and more
than 1000 Americans reside there.
These are all interested in mining and
railroads, and some of them are old
timers from Butte and Anaconda. The
natives are very friendly towards the
Americans and they do everything to
make friends OF our citizens.
Mexico is not a good place for a
man without capital. If a man has
some money he will be all right there,
as there are many enterprises in which
he can invest his money profitably, but
if. on the other hand, man has no
capital, the best thing he can do is
to keep away from there; as it is i'm
possible for him to compete against ma
tive laborers. The natives work in the
mines for so cents a day and they live
well on this amount. Some of the best
men get rs cents day, but these are
very scarce. Some of them work for
pay they lay off and live like kings un-
til their money is gone. Then they go
back to work again.
Mexico is a great health resort and
large number of consumptives go
there to recuperate, A tourist can live
very cheap in Mexico. The best hotels
charge six pesos a day, which is $270
in American money.
Il was not looking after any mining
interests while / was there, but then l
visited several mines which are owned
and operated by Montana men. An old
timer from Butte is the owner of a
mine called the Sante Ulala, on which
work was first begun by some Spaniard
about 800 or 400 years ago. 1t is very
rich property and the Montana man
knows it and is holding out for his
price. The mines are all named after
some saint, as the natives are superst-
tious They believe that if their mine
don't bear the name of a saint it will
not pan out good There are several
Butte, Anaconda and GreaS Falls min
ers who are the owners of rich claims
there. During my visits l met a large
number Of mining men who We're great
~ disappointed and who were sorry
they had ever gone there While /
was there a valuable claim was located
in Chihuahua by Butte man, whose
name | cannot recall.
Il was in Arizona during February
and had an interesting experience
there. Late one evening l left my
room and came out on the plaza for
the reason that the intense heat kept
me awake. l rolled around in chair
and as it was impossible for me to go
to sleep, I went back into the house.
got copy of the Anaconda Standard
and went out again. l sat down, I'M
wrapped the paper and on opening it
up to read the local news, the first
item which caught my eye was that
about the freezing weather in this city
How | did wish then that / We're here!"
Mr. Neal says that the Americans
seem to like Mexico. but there is one
thing which it is hard for them to get
used to, and that is to take off their
hats when they meet native whom
they know. 1t is the custom in Mex
leo for man to go half way across
the street to shake hands with a friend
who is on the other side. If the native
has four or five friends with him you
are supposed to tap them on the back
and shake hands with them even il
you have never been introduced to
them. If man meets a friend on the
street, he has to take his hat off
Mr.. Neal does not expect to go back
to Mexico before next fall, as he pre-
fers the winter season in that country,