The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-05

ernment or patriotism. good healthy
citizen sometimes gets on good,
healthy drunk. He is escorted to the
police station and placed in room to
sober up. On his awaking in the
morning he is presented with papers
duly signed by himself which go to
certify that he has Joined the stand
ing army for four years. IL he refuses
he is shot as deserter. He decides
to take his chances Of being shot else-
wheys and is uniformed and marshallcd
out fullfedged soldier.
Police in the cities make life safe.
On every corner is a policeman with a
red light on duty all night. His light
is placed in the middle Of the street.
A reward is offered by the Mexican
Government for light that can be
stolen from policeman. The fear Of
this induces the latter to watch his
light closely. Every hour there is
merry whistle all over the city, which
means, "All is WE'LL" and each police
man picks up his light and advances
one block. On his way he tries all
the front doors to see if they are
locked. Room mate and I were read
ing one night, when Of sudden big,
burly policeman fell in through the
door. His apology was: Excuse
me, you should lock your front door
at night"
Upon arriving st Ell Paso, Texas, I
was met by an American agent OF the
Mexican Central Railway, whose duty
it is to give pointers to persons on
their way to the interior Of Mexico.
His FIRST advice was: "Get your
money changed" I wanted to know
what is the matter with Uncle Sam
money. He said, laughingly: "It's
worth two for one in the United States,
but it isn't worth anything in Mexi-
co." it is great fun going down to
have money changers throw out two
for one, and the excitement continues
by having the pockets bulge out with
money after each pay day, but the
feeling is reversed upon returning.
However, think man should con-
slider himself fortunate in return only.
Much has been said for and against
the value of the Mexican dollar. This
much can be said in it's favor: sIt
goes in Mexico" At the time Of the
drop in price Of silver Mexico lived
upon agricultural products. buying all
foreign manufactured goods. The
drop in silver doubled the price of
everything imported. The result was
that importation stopped. Foreigners
took advantage Of the situation and
began building home industries in
Mexico, employing native help. The
change has been marvellous. Aguas
Calients four years ago was city Of
beggars. To-dayit is the beginning
of enterprise.
The prices paid for labor in Mexico
to-day are as follows: At the smelters
and manufactures, laborers, 25 to so
cents per day; carpenters, Is cents TO
$3.50; machinists, 81 to 81; clerks, s25
to $50 per month.
Industries managed by Mexicans
only: Farnsss' help, Is 20 % cents
per day and board; tailors, so to IS
cents PEE day and board; carpenters,
30 cents per day and board; servants,
81 to 90 per month. In many cases
the servant boards himself on salary
Of $40 per month.
A Mexican could not get employ
ment in the United States at any
price. The majority Of natives lack
skill, have great inolination for rest
and are very careless.
At the smelter it was found advisa-
bic to hire United States carpenters at
81 gold per day in place Of Mexicans
at Is cents gold. The reason why
labor is cheap in Mexico is because it
is cheap labor.
was going the rounds one day and
found four men unloading car of
lumber. One man was inside the car
throwing out plank once in a while
and three men were sitting under the
car smoking cigarettes. I looked at
the crowd rather sharply and they
crawled out and went to work. I came
back in about Eve minutes and found
chem smoking as before. The only
way the Mexican element can be
worked to advantage is to hire an
American "cussing" machine as
foreman for gang.
Being anxious to learn Spanish i
would often ask foreman what he
had to say to his men. He would
sometimes reply: "You had better