The age-herald., 1900-04-02
DIAZ'S MESSAGE TO MEXICAN CONGRESS Shows Republic to Be in Pros-
 porous Condition. GREAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM There Has Been a Steady Progress in Educational Matters and Many
 More School Houses Are
 Now Being Built
GREAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM

City of Mexico. April 1.-Pfesident Dlaz opened the spring session of congress this evening. The salient points of his message. were as follows:
 He. notes the satisfactory terms of the suits entered in New York against Mexico by the Woodhouse bond claimants at the time the Morgans issued the Mexican loan. The president says that not a moment did he recognize that Mexico could be sued in foreign court, and that the American highest courts sustained this principle. The president reviews the Well and Abra case, which the American courts decided so satis- factorily for Mexico, displaying notable im- partiality. Mexico will take pleasure in well coming the Pan-American congress- The l new treaty of commerce and friendship be- 1 tween Mexico and China will soon be sent | to the senate for ratification. The Dresi- l dent dwelt on the precautions taken to pre- | vent the spread of yellow fever in Vera Cruz, and on the gulf coast, and denies that the bubonic plague has made its appearance in Mexican territory.
 Regarding the reconstruction of the drainage system of the City of Mexico, the president shows that already there have been built 11.00O meters of large collecting or main drains and 2S00O meters of side sewers. In educational matters steady and gratifying progress has been made in the federal district terrtorities, as well as in the several states of -the union, and it is noted that the carefully kept criminal sta tistics show a gratifying dimunition in all classes of offenses. Measures will be taken for the building of new school houses in the federal district Note is made of the many enterprises of manufacturing character, which have utilized water power directly and by means of electricity thus generated. During the last six months 1908 permits to operate mines have been granted.
 Increase in Copper Mining
 Great increase in copper mining is men, tioned, and antfmony, lead and other min erals, formerly not regarded with interest, now command the attention of enterprise ing miners, backed by large capital. Col onization makes progress. The new Rus span coloney established in the state of Chiapas is prospering. The Yaqui colonies in sonora, established by the government, continues to be populated by peaceful Tn- dians. Tho new census of the republic Will be taken in October. The harbor works at Vera Cruz and elsewhere are. making excellent progress. Preliminary work for the port at Coatzcoalcos at Saliua Cruz have been commenced
 The postal receipts continually increase and there Aas been a similar gain in the service of the federal telegraph. Two ca bles have been laid on the gulf coast. As to finances the situation of the treasury continues excellent. During the last half Of the fiscal year the income rose to Ss1 oe,OOO, outstripping estimates made on a prudent basis Stamp taxes showed a gain of a million dollars. Gratifying conditions of finance enable the executive to carry out many works of public improvement authorized by congress. The new banking concessions have been guaranteed to the benefit of interior states Bonds for the Mexican debt newly Issued at 5 OCT cent are quoted above par I'm Europe and the United States.
 Army in Good Condition The army is in good condition and is be- ing improved in many branches of the ser vice. The president says the Yaoui war is not Mkely to be prolonged and pays n trj bute to the efficient cooperation of the na- ttonal militia of the state of Sonora. It is
 
 the Yaqu prisoners to different parts of the republic and have them instructed in the arts of civilization. Decisive measures against the rebellious Maya Indians are under way, and a new flotiMa will operate l in conjunction with the army against these l Indians. s.
 The message gives general satisfaction as showing unchecked progress of the nation dn every branch of the service, and demon- strating the superb condition of the na- tional finances
 The contractors of the new building of the Central bank must have it completed by the last of this month. The building cost half a million dollars and is of American steel l frame structure.
 | Two members of the family of the late l Sonora Grades who went insane from hay- 1 ing a nail driven into her head have been l committed to prison, suspected of. having l committed the crime, the woman dying as ] result of this extraordinary act. The l theory that the woman did it herself is not 1 entertained by the judicial authorities 1 It has now been decided that 120 streets | here will be paved with asphalt. The con- l test has been between the Barber company. I of the United tSates and the Neuchatel l company, of London It was at first pro- | posed to pave eighty streets, but the num- | ber has now been Increased and the Bar Der company gets seventy-five and the Eng fish company forty-ive
 Exports From Savannah Savannah Ga, April 1.-The exports from