The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-04

I! adopting American methods and ideas in many
walks OF everyday life and business. Possibly
they follow uucOnsciOusly the example set, by
their AngO Saxon neighb0fs, But none the less
the widespread adoption Of northern habits and
customs is becoming more notable with every
year that passes,
The opening up Of through railway communi.
cation bstw zen the city Of Mexico and the | nlted
States has helped greatly to break down former
preiudices and served 10 harmonic many formerly
conflicting Iterests. An interchange Of The com
modites II the two countries has been established
on a sound commercial footing and business re-
lAtions, especially during the last decade, have
expanded ~ a manner satisfactory To both nation
aliiies. There has been no aggressive policy
on the part uf the United States Government
10 alarm the MEXICAN people or disturb friendly
feeling between the two ADMINISTRATIONS on
the other hand American capital has FOUND thhl
Mexico offers many facilities for investment ana
that protection ~ afforded 10y the AUTHORITIES To
bona hde undertakings. The union between
the two countries has q nsequcntly become steadily
closer and the example and precept Of American
citILens tends always 10 exert indirectly al m
cteasing and beneficial influence over the bulk
~ the population. IL produces competition ana
stimulates trade, two qualities in which the ldhn
races are lamentably deficient when left 10 them
selves 1t also helps 10 develop a spirit OF IN
dlyIdual initiative, a most necessary anu valuable
characteristic in a country OF great natura! ana
comparatively undeveloped resources such ~
MeNcn is 10 day ana will be- for years 10 come
\ factor In the present situation OF Mexico Is
the fashion which has sprung up Of recent years
IL making Mexico Il resort Tor many Americans
who wish to escape the rigors OF a Northern win
ter The effect Of this custom has been 10 reyolu
tIuniIr the social aud economic conditions IN many
directions Twenty years ago II was the eNccp
tiOn To- hear the English language spoken IN the
streets Of the national capital; 10 day the reverse IL
the ease. and English is heard in the streets, and
Is spoken IN the majority OF the stores and hotels
In all the principal towns. The indux OF winter
visitors has brought new branches of trade into
existence to supply the fresh wants created, and
the custom IS r0 pldly producing q better under
standing between the people OF the. two conn-
tries. II must not be forgotten that Mexico offers
the point Of least resistance To any overflow from
the United States, both on account Of climate
and the general conditions Of life. As the popula-
ton Of the tnit-d States increases, and lands
become dear-r for farming PURPOSES, the drit
will certainly be toward the south and into Mex
lean territory, as, indeed, is already noticeable TO
some exten, The children, Of these settlers are
Mexican citizens. and a. the proportion OF this
fresh blood becomes greater Mexico as a nation
will grow stronger,
The present condition Of Mexico Is described
by President Dia1 in his message to Cong ress on
the occasion Of the opening " the Chambers on
Sept IS, 1899, and the facts set forth are remark
able evldenc" Of the progress made in the past "
decades. The President says.
"lhe country's railroad system now agg tegates
1880 kilometres 1886 niles. including 1913
kilometres OF private branches connecting with the
lines subject to Federal Jurisdiction, and 1872 kilo-
metres Of tramwav belonging TO the States, The
upward movement Of the Federal revenue, which
began some years back, far from ceasing, was
maintained with grra,nr yigor during the last
fiscal year, tine normal revenue for that period,
which was estimate at S5l $50, 900 when the
budget was presented To- The Chamber. having eX
ceeded SjS,OOO 900, a figure which the annual
yield Of the plhllc revenue has never before at
talned. The greater part III this Increase is due
to larger receipts IN the way Of import duties and
the stamp taxes, the former exceeding the collec
tons ut 1897 DS by 81, 1000 900, while the latter
were more than S23, OOO. 900. whereas they were
estimated in the budget at only s2l 20S,Nm Its
a pleasure 10 mo to lnfOm Congress that the
amount Of revenue collected exceeded the q pondi-
ture authorized both by the budget and by Suhsa-
Qucnt laws, and that after all charges have been
met q surplus has remained on hand, which will be
added 90 the funds already deposited In the l|anco
Naclonal de- Mexico"
No better proof of the improvement in Mexican
nationHl credit can be- quoted than the recent con
version of the external gold debt. Bv this oucra-
tiun the rate Of interest was reduced from q per
cent ~ J per cent, and the different loans con
sOlldated, thus eiFeCtlng Il further saving IN the
sum Of gl3.gO,0W was taken by banker in
Europe and the United States ut % per cent with
the option Of purchasing the remainder NJ the
new issue at 81. per cent IN" total amount u
the first portion received by the general public
that the bankers interested Immediately exercised
the rightot option for the remainder over and above
the frs, Cl3OOO 600 already mentioned. The
bonds yielded, thereforr, the total Of SOP 7oO.0Oo
to the Mexican Government The operation is a
most useful indication Of the confidence President
naZ has succeeded in establishing in Mexico nv
the maintenance OF T~racefll conditions through
out the Republic during his long tenure Of office,
and forms n most encouraging view ot the Cundi-
tons existing in Mexico in comparison with those
existing in the remainder of Spanish American
countries. equally wealthy in natural resources,
but cursed by the constant presence Of internal
disturbances, and +, should serve as a useful
object lesson to South Americans.
The commercial situation In Mexico can best
he Judged by the statistical returns published
for the fiscal year ending on June 3Olast. These
official returns are somewhat confusing in the
form in which they are compiled owing to the
fact that the value Of imported merchandise is
given in gold dollars. Will" that II the products
exported IL calculated in silver To simrlify
these conditions in the present instance all values
have been reduced to he epp~Nimaie equivalent
in United States currency. The official claSsif-
cations and values Of imports fr tho years 1898
and 1890 are stated Ia be as follows
c,,,,s.,,o, Value IN I. s. CON.