The Coconino sun., 1901-07-06
SONORA AND CHIHVAHVA.
Proposition for tho United States to Purchase These States From tho
 Mexican Government.

pOrbo UuuU uu clOrb lS uOW UcluB tuduc by the citizens of the states of Sonora and Chihuahua to arrange for their purchase by the United States. If the Mexican government will set a reasonable price thereon, it would be a great benefit to the citizens located there, and to the United States as well. American capital in railways and mines is developing these rich states. The example of Alaska will be exceled by this purchase from the Republic of Mexico. Star.
 The above item was referred to gen. tleman stopping at one of the hotels in this city who has spent many years in Mexico and is thoroughly conversant with the conditions, politically and socially, existing in the states men, tiOned above. He said while the an- nexation of this territory was "a con- sumation much to be desired," yet it was highly improbable because both the rich and poor classes would oppose such a move, even if endorsed by Presi. dent Diaz and his cabinet
 Under the present regime the poor pay all the taxes. Land is exempt from taxation. In Chihuahua Don Luis Terrazas' cattle range extends in one direction for over two hundred miles. This year he branded over one hundred and twelve thousand calves. He pays his cowboys half what is paid for the same service in the United States, and that in depreciated currency-Mexi- can silver. If Chihuahua should be- come American territory his expenses would be increased at least $l5O,OOO a year, as, in addition to the enormous amount he would be compeled to con- tribute to the state or territorial treas- ury, he would also be obliged to pay living wages to his employes-and their number is nearly one thousand, includ- ing labOrers and others. No one SUD- poses for an instant that this noble don cares enough for the star spangled ban ner to donate this sum toward it's SUD- port Don Luis Terrazas has been a cabinet minister, governor of Chihua- hua, and held other important offices
 The person interviewed said he had talked with General Terraz Is on the subject of annexation and he was strictly opposed to it, and that he would do all in his power to stop it-which means that every prominent Mexican in the state of Chihuahua would do likewise, as he is one of the controlling powers of the state.
 The peons have an inherent hatred for the "gringos''-for what reasons it is difficult to say, as their condition would be much improved under Ameri- can rule.
 Valuable concessions have been granted for four mills, breweres and factories which stiHe all competition by prohibiting like industries for a radius of hundreds of miles. The owners of these extraordinary privileges are not anxious for radical change.
 A certain don of Hebrew extraction who skipped across the line before there was any extradition for embez- zelers, and who is now one of the wealthiest merchants and landed pro- prietors in Sonora, said that he owned both the courts of the state and the people who worked for him and that no paper in the state of Sonora would dare to publish his past history. Such a man would hardly desire to resume his citizenship in the northern republic.
 Many more instances could be given